Placemaking Manager

Role Overview

The Placemaking Manager is a leadership position within the Operations department, accountable for shaping, coordinating, and improving Downtown Tampa’s placemaking, activation, and public realm efforts. This role combines strategic planning with hands-on delivery, overseeing programs, people, partnerships, and resources to create an inclusive and high-quality downtown experience.

About Tampa Downtown Partnership

Tampa Downtown Partnership leads efforts to build a lively, diverse, 24-hour downtown where people can live, work, play, and learn. As a private nonprofit, the organization works to strengthen Downtown Tampa through innovation, collaboration, operational excellence, inclusivity, and integrity, with a focus on clean, safe, welcoming, and well-managed public spaces.

Downtown Special Services District

The Partnership manages the Downtown Special Services District (SSD) under an annual agreement with the City of Tampa. The SSD contributes clean and safe services, maintenance and beautification, hospitality programs, stakeholder engagement, and coordination with public agencies to support a strong urban environment for residents, workers, and visitors.

Key Responsibilities

This role is responsible for building and executing placemaking strategy, leading events and activations, supervising team members, managing contracts and grants, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and supporting major department initiatives such as public art, public realm improvements, signature events, and small business support programs.

Work Schedule and Conditions

The standard schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with additional evening, weekend, and holiday hours depending on programming requirements. The job includes a mix of office and field work across Downtown Tampa, frequent time outdoors, walking and standing during events, occasional lifting and transport of materials, and a fast-moving public-facing environment that requires flexibility and real-time problem-solving.

Compensation

The annual salary range is $60,000 to $75,000, plus benefits, or compensation may be set based on experience.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring a bachelor’s degree and 5 to 7 years of progressive professional experience in placemaking, event management, community development, urban planning, or a related field. Candidates should also have experience leading programs and supervising staff or contractors, strong communication skills, the ability to manage competing priorities, and comfort working a flexible schedule that includes evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Preferred Background

Helpful experience includes familiarity with Business Improvement Districts or Special Services Districts, knowledge of Downtown Tampa and its neighborhoods, work with municipal partners and public agencies, community engagement across diverse groups, and experience in arts, culture, or public realm programming.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The organization provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, religion, disability, pregnancy, childbirth, citizenship status, service member status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, marital status, national origin, genetic information, or any other protected category under law.

Application Instructions

Applicants should send a cover letter, résumé, and two professional references to the email provided by the employer by the stated deadline.

Disclaimer

This description is not an employment contract and does not list every duty of the role. Responsibilities may change as organizational needs change.