Overview

We are looking for a full-time team member to help our Events Manager coordinate the BID’s many downtown events, business promotions and marketing campaigns. This role will also serve as the lead project manager for our BID’s communications activities (e.g. social media management and postings, e-newsletter, and BID website text/updates). This role will primarily report to the Events Manager (60-70%) but it is anticipated that 30-40% of the time the Events and Communications Associate will report to the Executive Director on Communications/Social Media and other special projects.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Event Planning and Business Promotional Support

  • Serve as “right hand” to BID’s Events Manager in the planning, promotion and execution of our events and business promotional campaigns (e.g. Holiday Market, Oktoberfest, Rock White Plains, Wing Walk, White Plains Jazz Fest, and Restaurant Month, etc.) 
  • Coordinate with BID businesses and other community partners to enroll them in BID’s promotions. Ensure that their materials are submitted and complete. Track and remind businesses as needed. 
  • Research event supplies, entertainers, production vendors, venues and related pricing. Place event/promotional supply orders or returns as requested. 
  • Wordsmith event/marketing promo collateral.
  • Coordinate with graphic designer & Events Manager in material development. Distribute event materials (hanging posters, flyering, electronic calendaring, social media posting/advertising, etc.)  
  • Provide day-of logistics and support to Events Manager at BID events (especially the Holiday Market)   
  • Interface with other event partners, City representatives, contracted vendors and other organizational partners, as well as represent the BID at relevant meetings 
  • Evaluate BID events and business promotions through debriefs, surveys, and general observation. Provide ideas for improving/building upon events. Brainstorm with BID team on new events/marketing campaigns.

Communications

  •  Lead production of BID’s external-facing communications (e.g. website, e-newsletter and social media)    
  • Write, proofread, and send the BID’s regular e-blast and business blast. Increase enrollment in both blasts.    
  • Use social media to promote downtown White Plains as a vibrant destination, highlighting local businesses and unique downtown experiences. Develop engaging reels, social media posts, stories and other similar on-trend social media promotions highlighting our BID activities, marketing campaigns, events, as well as items of general downtown interest and local business spotlights.     
  • Coordinate with graphic designer to secure appropriate graphics for social media, the newsletter, etc.
  • Serve as primary “writing” lead on the development of marketing materials. Review graphic designer’s work for accuracy.
  • Update BID’s web copy. Coordinate with BID’s web developer to submit website text changes.    
  • Regularly photograph and catalog various flattering images of downtown, BID events, BID activities and businesses for use in future marketing materials. (Professional photography skills using a “traditional” camera are not required for this role as long as you have mastery of good “phone-tography”)  
  • Help Executive Director maintain and manage the organization’s contact database

Additional Responsibilities

  • Work at BID-sponsored special events (some evenings and weekends required, especially two weeks in mid-December during the Holiday Market)
  • Attend staff meetings, including other meetings as requested      
  • Attend occasional key community events as a representative of the White Plains BID
  • Positively promote downtown White Plains and its business community

What you’ll need to excel in this position…

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Microsoft office suite and general office skills
  • Project management skills and follow through.
  • Ability to build a simple database and track projects and workflows
  • Willingness to meld high-level event planning activities (creativity/strategy) AND the “grunt work” (gathering/carrying/distributing supplies, data entry, making follow-up calls)needed to produce magical, delightful fun events and creative business promotions/marketing campaigns
  • Friendly demeanor, willing to be part of a team and speak to diverse range of businesses and other partners needed to encourage event/campaign participation, interview for marketing projects, etc.
  • Appreciation for and desire to support the local business community
  • Knowledge of and fluency with most current and trending social media platforms and related support systems (Facebook, Instagram, Meta platform, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn)
  • Social media storytelling skills (ability to make creative reels or posts that positively highlight a new business or a BID event, for example).
  • Comfortable with technology: Ability to manage creative asset tools in coordination with graphic designer (e.g. comfort with Canva, Adobe, dropbox, google drive, use of foldering systems)
  • Strong writing and proofreading skills are an absolute requirement. To succeed in this position, you must be willing to edit and review your writing carefully. You should understand the basics of grammar, capitalization and punctuation.
  • Traditional photography skills using a camera is not required, but this individual must have at the very least strong “phone-tography” skills and the ability to edit/crop their photos for social media. Should also have a grasp of what makes for a flattering picture of a business, event, or downtown. An ability to create/edit short videos with music, etc. is a plus!

White Plains Downtown District Management Association Inc (DBA White Plains Business Improvement District) is a 501 c3 non-profit organization and equal opportunity employer.