Development Assistant

Full-Time Development Assistant at Missouri Main Street Connection

Available Openings: 1

Posted Date: September 30, 2025

Apply By: October 9, 2025

Pay Type: Salary

Compensation: $41,000 - $46,000

Education Level: N/A

Missouri Main Street Connection

Applications Accepted Until October 8th or until position is filled.

Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC): The State of Missouri launched a state-funded community revitalization program in 1989, and in 2005 MMSC became a not-for-profit program for the benefit of communities throughout the state.

MMSC provides communities with the knowledge and tools to economically and physically revitalize their communities. MMSC works to ensure that the historic commercial districts in Missouri’s cities and towns remain essential elements to their sense of community, their cultural heritage, and to the state’s economy. Downtown and district revitalization is encouraged through economic development within the context of historic preservation. The primary purpose of a local Main Street program is to ensure the long-term success of each community by creating, educating, training, and empowering a comprehensive, professional, volunteer-based downtown revitalization organization.

MMSC assists communities in the development of a local organization that adopts the Main Street principles and utilizes those principles daily. MMSC provides on-site consultation and technical assistance to local programs selected through an application process. Quarterly workshops, training sessions, and conferences are also utilized to prepare local Main Street groups for a wide range of revitalization efforts.

Results of this comprehensive effort include new businesses, job growth, façade renovations and restorations, special events and festivals which build tourism, and streetscape and infrastructure improvements, all of which result in a renewed confidence in historic commercial district.

MMSC Staff works as a collaborative team bringing together our different experiences and viewpoints with respect for each other and pride in our work. We rely on each other to help accomplish our goals. We work hard, we enjoy our work, and we have fun together, which makes it an exciting and rewarding career.

Job Purpose:
The Development Assistant works collaboratively within the MMSC team and is responsible for assisting the State Director and Strategic Partnership Coordinator with implementation of partnerships and resources to sustain the work that Missouri Main Street Connection provides to our network. The Development Assistant will support the efforts of Missouri Main Street by working directly with the Strategic Partnership Coordinator to on grant writing, research, and reporting as well as creating grant related resources for the Missouri Main Street network. The Development Assistant will assist in partnership recruitment and relationship building in support of the State Director, Strategic Partnership Coordinator, and the MMSC Board of Directors.

Benefits:

Dental insurance
Health insurance
Paid time off
Retirement plan
Vision insurance

Responsibilities

Grant Support

Support Strategic Partnership Coordinator on grant writing.
Support Strategic Partnership Coordinator in the creation of grant educational materials and resources for MMSC network, as well as responding to grant questions and research requests from the network.
Responsible for grant reporting on grants received as assigned – typically from National Trust for Historic Preservation, Missouri Humanities Council, Missouri Arts Council, and others as necessary.
Conduct research to find grants for Missouri Main Street as well as our network.
Research, format, and schedule the Grant Resource Directory monthly newsletter and manage associated resources on the MMSC website including a grant deadline calendar.

Partnership Support

Partnership recruitment with State Director and Strategic Partnership Coordinator throughout the year and for state conference.
Organize partnership recruitment mailings and other correspondence.
Ensure partners receive benefits of their partnership.
Participate as staff support in Financial Development Committee meetings.

General Duties

Answer e-mail and telephone inquiries and respond to questions and requests for information materials.
Assist the MMSC team with planning and implementation of the state conference, quarterly trainings,directors’ meetings, and other special projects and events as requested.
Actively participate in the Staff Action Plan as designated.
Assist the MMSC team with public relations and educational projects.
Other duties as assigned by the State Director or Strategic Partnership Coordinator.
Assist MMSC State Director and other staff to communicate as a statewide advocate for downtown and district revitalization and MMSC.

Qualifications

The Development Assistant should have a degree in a discipline related to downtown revitalization such as architecture, historic preservation, economics, community development, finance, public relations, design, journalism, planning, business administration, public administration, retailing, volunteer or nonprofit administration and/or small business development. The Development Assistant must be sensitive to design and preservation issues.
Experience with Main Street is highly desired but not required. Experience in the fields of community economic development, grant writing, partnership building is desired but not required.
Ability to communicate effectively, both in oral and written forms.
The right candidate should have the ability to communicate effectively with colleagues of all levels, be a team-builder, and have a commitment to the organization. They should plan and organize work effectively while proactively managing peaks and flows of workload; solve problems quickly and effectively and have the ability to create positive energy in the face of challenges; complete multiple tasks on time; be an active listener; and build and maintain positive relationships.
Skills and qualifications necessary include: dependability, be a dynamic self-starter, possess excellent oral and written communication skills, strong computer skills, effective time management skills, be able to travel independently, travel around the state about 10% of the time, overnight travel periodically required, reliable vehicle for statewide travel, and valid driver’s license.
Ability to prioritize, multi-task efficiently and respond to a high volume of ongoing requests in a timely manner. Strong organizational skills required.
Must have strong computer skills and the ability to continually develop skills related to use of rapidly changing technology and communications best practices.
Basic project-organizational skills. Ability to collaborate and to achieve results with moderate supervision.
Ability to adapt and be flexible in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment, including working effectively with frequent interruptions and handling changing and/or unscheduled tasks with accuracy.
Regular and reliable attendance required.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands of this position described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to move up to 50 pounds
Occasionally ascending/descending stairs or short ladder
Operate office equipment including but not limited to a computer, keyboard, copier/printer, and telephone
Other physical demands as required

APPLY ON INDEED