Job Listing
🔗Illinois Main Street Manager
Website Landmarks Illinois
Founded in 1971, Landmarks Illinois is a membership-based, statewide nonprofit organization supporting community-led historic preservation to foster healthy, livable and thriving communities. Through advocacy, funding, technical expertise and public engagement, we position the preservation of our built environment as an accessible, equitable and effective tool to support strategic, community-driven revitalization. For more information, visit www.Landmarks.org.
Landmarks Illinois seeks a collaborative, relationship-driven professional with a passion for community and economic development to serve as Illinois Main Street Manager. This position leads the day-to-day work of Illinois Main Street, supporting communities across the state and connecting local Main Street leaders with the expertise, resources, partnerships and peer networks they need to build vibrant and resilient downtowns.
About the Role
Illinois Main Street, a program of Landmarks Illinois, is an official Main Street America Coordinating Program, currently supporting 39 Illinois communities applying the Main Street approach through a growing statewide network. Landmarks Illinois acquired Illinois Main Street in October 2026 from its partners at Main Street America. The mutually agreed-upon acquisition brought together two statewide organizations with decades of experience helping Illinois communities preserve historic places, strengthen local economies and build thriving downtowns.
The Illinois Main Street Manager serves as the primary point of contact and connection for this statewide network, fostering relationships among communities and linking local leaders with partners, programs and resources. The Manager provides hands-on support to local leaders while developing training, technical assistance, networking, funding and other opportunities that strengthen Main Street organizations and advance preservation-based economic development across Illinois. The Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of Illinois Main Street and helps shape the program’s long-term strategy and growth. The position reports to the Landmarks Illinois Director of Public Affairs.
Duties and Responsibilities
Community Support & Program Delivery
• Serve as the primary point of contact for participating communities, providing ongoing support through regular communication, on-site visits, meetings, onboarding, technical assistance and leadership development, and serve as a resource to communities on downtown revitalization, historic preservation and preservation-based economic development.
• Collaborate with the Landmarks Illinois Director of Public Affairs, Main Street America staff and partner organizations to plan and deliver technical assistance, training and educational programming that supports implementation of the Main Street Approach in Illinois communities.
• Plan and deliver Illinois Main Street member services, including educational workshops, leadership training, peer networking opportunities and the annual Illinois Main Street Conference.
• Coordinate with Main Street America and other Coordinating Programs to ensure alignment with national program standards, reporting requirements, accreditation and opportunities for collaboration.
• Manage the application and designation process for local Main Street organizations, including outreach, recruitment, onboarding and ongoing engagement.
• Administer Illinois Main Street grant programs, including developing application materials, coordinating the review and award process, monitoring grant compliance and providing technical assistance to participating communities.
Partnerships, Funding & Visibility
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with government agencies, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, corporate partners, community leaders and other stakeholders to advance Illinois Main Street and Landmarks Illinois initiatives.
• Represent Illinois Main Street and Landmarks Illinois at conferences, trainings, meetings and other public events.
• Work collaboratively with development staff to identify funding opportunities, prepare grant applications and reports, support sponsorship and fundraising initiatives and steward public and private investment in Illinois Main Street.
• Partner with the Landmarks Illinois Communications Team to share the impact of Illinois Main Street, participating communities and preservation-based economic development through print, digital and social media as well as public engagement efforts.
Program Management
• Develop and manage the Illinois Main Street program budget in collaboration with the Director of Public Affairs, supporting effective operations and long-term program sustainability.
• Monitor program performance, maintain program records and required reporting, evaluate outcomes and prepare reports for Landmarks Illinois, Main Street America, funders and other stakeholders.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Illinois Main Street Committee, working with the committee chair to develop agendas and facilitate meetings.
• Help shape and implement the long-term strategy, growth and continuous improvement of Illinois Main Street in collaboration with the Landmarks Illinois Director of Public Affairs.
Organizational Responsibilities
• Understand and advance Landmarks Illinois’ mission, vision, Transformational Plan, Guiding Principles and organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with Landmarks Illinois staff, board members and committees to foster a professional, respectful, inclusive and collegial working environment.
• Communicate regularly with staff and organizational leadership to build awareness of and engagement with Illinois Main Street.
• Participate in staff and board meetings and Landmarks Illinois programs and events
Pay and Benefits
Salary: $80,000-$85,000 annually, commensurate with experience
Benefits include:
• Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance; Landmarks Illinois contributes 95% of the cost of HMO coverage, with an equivalent employer contribution available toward HMO or PPO options.
• Employer-paid individual dental, vision, life, AD&D and long-term disability insurance.
• 10 vacation days during the first year, increasing with tenure.
• 14 paid holidays, with flexibility to reallocate holiday time.
• 6 sick days annually.
• 5% employer 401(k) match after one year.
• 12 weeks of paid caregiver and medical leave.
Benefits
All NCPE interns received an hourly stipend, the rate is listed at each position description. Additionally, interns receive paid time off (PTO), paid Federal holidays if working full-time, and access to NCPE's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for career and personal counseling, coaching, and referrals. Project sites may also offer a housing allowance and/or commuting stipend; this information is also listed in the description or offered during the interview.
Eligible NCPE interns who successfully complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate. To be eligible to earn a PLC certificate, an intern must be 30 years old or younger (or 35 if a veteran). Once earned, the PLC hiring authority certificate may be used to apply for eligible Federal temporary, term, or permanent positions. Successful completion of a NCPE internship does not guarantee Federal employment. Contact manager@preservenet.org for more details.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must be
*at least 18 years old;
*no older than 30 years of age (or 35 years if a Veteran) when beginning the internship; applicants who are 31 or older (or 36 or older if a Veteran) are not eligible;
*currently enrolled in a degree-seeking academic program at the college level (or recently graduated within the past 12 months)
*be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.
Interns are not allowed to work more than 1200 hours total in the program; previous interns must stay within this overall limit. The length of an internship can vary from 10 to 30 weeks if full-time (40 hours per week) or longer if on a part-time schedule. If selected, the exact starting date will be determined by you and the NPS supervisor. The stipend rate is $17.00 per hour unless otherwise listed.
The successful candidate is responsible for finding and paying for travel to and housing at the internship location; some exceptions apply. The supervising office may be able to assist in locating housing but it is ultimately up to the individual accepting the internship to find accommodation.
The National Council requires all interns working in-person at Federal facilities and/or with Federal employees receive the Covid-19 vaccination. Please be advised that you may also be required to wear a mask, depending on the protocols adopted by your work site. Also be aware that, due to Government-wide security requirements, a background check will be required if you are selected for a position. This will include providing information about recent housing and employment history. The position supervisor will have more information about these requirements and procedures at the time of hiring. You may direct any questions to NCPE's Internship Program Director, Julee Johnson, at manager@preservenet.org.
Please note that interns are not NCPE or NPS employees. Stipends are academic awards and taxes are not withheld, nor are social security contributions made on your behalf. These funds may be taxable, however, so consult a tax preparation professional if you have questions.
How to Apply
You may review NCPE's internship opportunities anytime without registering. Use the search function to find listings by location, keyword, or area of interest/category. Once you identify one or more positions of interest, there is a 3-step application process.
Step 1: Click on the Apply for Job button, then select Universal Application. Click on Register to create a User Account, which requires a username and email. A link will be sent to you from manager@preservenet.org to create a password. We suggest that you add this email to your safe senders list so you don't miss receiving this important link. You will be instructed to Log In to Preservenet using your username or email and password, which will take you back to the Universal Application.
Step 2: The Universal Application is required to apply for all NCPE internships. You fill out this form only once. In addition to contact information, educational status, work history, and experience, it requires two attachments: (1) the 2 most recent years of academic transcripts. These may be unofficial transcripts if official versions are unavailable. A PDF is preferred, labeled Your Your Last Name_Your First Name_Transcript. (2) a resume or CV (curriculum vitae). Please limit to a maximum of 4 pages; 2 pages are preferred. A PDF is preferred but jpg, png, doc, or docx file types are accepted. Label Your Last Name_Your First Name_Resume. This form may be saved as a draft and completed later. Use the link provided to return to the form.
Step 3: Once you submit the Universal Application, you may browse and apply for NCPE internships using the link provided. Complete the application process by clicking on the Apply for job button found at each internship listing and upload the required Essay. Use the essay to explain why you are applying for an internship, including how your interest areas will benefit the National Park Service (NPS) and how the internship will further your studies and career goals. Be as specific as possible; there is a 400-word maximum length. Submit the essay to finish the application for that position. You may apply for a maximum of 6 internships during an application round; there is no limit at other times of the year. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
Logging in with a Registered User Account and completing the Universal Application is required to apply for NCPE Internships. Please visit the Universal Application page to register for an account and complete the form. After logging in and completing the form, refreshing this listing will display the Job Application to apply online.