Community Lead Ambassador

Job Description

Position Overview

The Community Lead Ambassador serves as a highly visible, relationship-focused representative of the Miami DDA and a trusted point of contact for residents, businesses, property owners, condominium and homeowners associations, and other stakeholders within an assigned geographic area or subject-matter portfolio. Assignments may be adjusted by DDA leadership based on organizational and community needs.

This is a field-based position requiring significant time in the community building relationships, listening to stakeholders, identifying issues and opportunities, connecting people to resources, and facilitating solutions. The ideal candidate is comfortable visiting businesses, attending association meetings, speaking with residents and property managers, and participating in neighborhood events.

The Community Lead Ambassador takes ownership of stakeholder concerns within the scope of the position, connects the appropriate people and resources, monitors progress, provides timely follow-up, and helps drive matters toward resolution. Accountability includes tracking issues through resolution, referral, escalation, or other appropriate disposition, recognizing that some outcomes depend on external agencies or partners.

The role leads community outreach and follow-through within the assigned portfolio and may provide guidance, coordination, and field support to Community Ambassadors or other assigned staff, interns, or contractors, as directed.

Key Responsibilities

Community Engagement and Relationship Building

·        Serve as a consistent, visible, and accessible DDA representative within an assigned area, neighborhood, district, or subject-matter portfolio, as determined and periodically adjusted by DDA leadership.

·        Build and maintain relationships with residents, business owners and operators, property owners and managers, developers, community organizations, neighborhood leaders, hospitality and tourism stakeholders, public agencies, elected officials’ offices, and other partners.

·        Regularly visit businesses, residential buildings, public spaces, and community gathering places to understand local needs, concerns, opportunities, and assets.

·        Develop productive relationships with condominium boards and homeowners associations; attend association, neighborhood, and business meetings to share DDA information and gather feedback.

·        Work with property owners, managers, and residents to identify opportunities to improve the appearance, experience, safety, quality of life, and economic vitality of surrounding areas.

Issue Identification and Problem Solving

·        Serve as an initial point of contact for stakeholders seeking assistance and respond to inquiries in a timely and professional manner.

·        Identify recurring concerns involving cleanliness, safety, permitting, mobility, construction, public spaces, business operations, homelessness, development, and quality of life.

·        Work with DDA staff and external partners to identify potential solutions and help stakeholders navigate programs, services, incentives, and resources available through City, County, state, federal, nonprofit, and private-sector partners.

·        Document concerns, responsible parties, actions, next steps, and outcomes in DDA-approved tracking systems. Track matters through resolution, referral, escalation, or other appropriate disposition.

·        Proactively follow up with stakeholders, partner agencies, and internal staff; provide consistent updates and communicate outcomes or the status of matters beyond the DDA’s control.

·        Escalate matters requiring DDA leadership or partner agency involvement and exercise sound judgment regarding the scope of the DDA’s authority.

Business and Economic Development Support

·        Build business relationships and identify opportunities to support retention, expansion, growth, and participation in DDA incentives, technical assistance, financing resources, and marketing initiatives.

·        Identify prospective businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, and development opportunities that may contribute to Downtown Miami’s vitality.

·        Report emerging business trends, market conditions, and operational challenges; facilitate introductions to relevant public, private, and community partners.

·        Support DDA business development initiatives, special projects, events, and outreach campaigns.

Community Intelligence and Reporting

·        Communicate emerging issues, opportunities, stakeholder concerns, and community sentiment to DDA leadership, supported by direct feedback and observed conditions.

·        Use DDA-approved technology, CRM, project management, issue-tracking, or other reporting systems to document stakeholder interactions, activities, referrals, and outcomes.

·        Prepare regular reports covering engagement activity, businesses and stakeholders contacted, issues identified, solutions facilitated, partnerships developed, opportunities identified, and follow-up actions.

·        Maintain accurate and timely records sufficient to measure engagement activity, response times, issue disposition, stakeholder outcomes, and established performance indicators.

·        Identify trends and recurring issues that may warrant broader DDA initiatives or policy discussions and provide actionable recommendations.

Events and Community Presence

·        Represent the Miami DDA at community meetings, business events, neighborhood gatherings, ribbon cuttings, workshops, conferences, and other public-facing activities.

·        Help organize and participate in community engagement events and programs that connect residents and businesses with resources.

·        Maintain a consistent presence throughout the assigned area and communicate DDA initiatives professionally and accurately.

Coordination and Additional Duties

·        Provide guidance, coordination, and field support to Community Ambassadors or other assigned staff, interns, or contractors, as directed.

·        Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of DDA operations, programs, initiatives, and organizational priorities.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

·        Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, urban planning, communications, economic development, community development, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered.

·        Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in community engagement, economic development, business development, government relations, constituent services, banking or community outreach, nonprofit work, real estate, property management, or a related field.

·        Demonstrated ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders; excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.

·        Ability to work independently, collaborate effectively, and manage multiple relationships, issues, and projects simultaneously.

·        Proficiency with email, Microsoft Office or comparable applications, virtual meeting platforms, and database, CRM, or project-management systems, or the ability to quickly learn such systems.

·        Sound judgment, discretion, professionalism, and ability to appropriately handle sensitive or confidential information.

·        Ability to represent the Miami DDA professionally, maintain a flexible work schedule, and travel throughout the district and to off-site meetings and events as required.

Preferred Qualifications

·        Experience with municipal government, a public agency, an elected official, an economic development organization, a financial institution, a community development organization, or a nonprofit.

·        Experience engaging condominium and homeowners associations, property owners, small businesses, or neighborhood organizations.

·        Knowledge of Downtown Miami and Miami-Dade County, existing stakeholder relationships, and experience navigating City or County departments and services.

·        Experience in commercial real estate, small business development, community development, or public-private partnerships.

Work Schedule

This is a full-time position with a work schedule that will vary based on community needs, meetings, events, and other Miami DDA activities. While the position will generally operate during regular business hours, the Community Lead Ambassador must maintain a flexible schedule and may be required to work early mornings, evenings, and weekends to attend community meetings, condominium and homeowners association meetings, business events, special events, and other stakeholder activities.

Work schedules may be adjusted as appropriate based on operational needs and attendance at activities outside regular business hours. Scheduling and any adjustments will be coordinated with the employee’s supervisor in accordance with applicable DDA policies.

Work Environment

This is a highly mobile, community-facing position requiring substantial time outside the office engaging directly with stakeholders. Work includes walking and visiting businesses and public spaces throughout the district, attending association meetings, meeting with property owners and managers, visiting construction and development sites as appropriate, participating in community events, and meeting with public and private-sector partners.

The employee must be able to travel independently throughout the Miami DDA district and to off-site meetings and events as required. The essential duties of the position may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Compensation

$65,000–$80,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Miami DDA offers an opportunity to play a direct role in strengthening Downtown Miami’s business community, residential neighborhoods, and overall economic vitality.