Esther Hanig has been named executive director of Somerville’s Union Square Main Streets organization.

Most recently, Hanig served as deputy director of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network. She begins her new position today.

"Esther has a proven ability to build successful coalitions and partnerships, as well as to optimize an organization’s performance around its mission. We had a number of excellent candidates for the position, and Esther rose to the top due to her demonstrated ability to manage and grow organizations, and bring diverse stakeholders together around common goals," Union Square Main Street Board Chair Eric Fellinger said in a statement.
As executive director of Union Square Main Streets, Hanig will oversee continued advocacy and promotion of the Union Square business district and neighborhood. She will also lead the organization’s efforts to improve the vibrancy of Union Square by advocating for local businesses and acting as a liaison between neighborhood business and residents and city government. The city last year selected Union Square Station Assoc., an affiliate of Chicago-based Magellan Development Group, to lead a $1-billion redevelopment of the neighborhood.

A Cambridge resident, Hanig is a former center director of the Leventhal-Sidman JCC and previously was executive director of the Allston-Brighton Healthy Boston Coalition and director of public policy for Project Bread.