Community Development Director Jobs in Decatur, GA

Director of Education & Community Well-Being 

Organizational Overview

Focused Community Strategies (FCS), a non-profit, place-based community development organization, works in South Atlanta and Thomasville Heights to promote conditions necessary for its neighbors to flourish. 

Position Overview

The Director provides both strategic and operational leadership for FCS’s education, health and wellness initiatives. This role guides long-term strategies, programs, partnerships, and team members to improve educational outcomes, healthcare access, nutrition, social cohesion, and youth development across Historic South Atlanta and Thomasville Heights. 

By cultivating deep relationships with schools, early learning providers, public health entities, healthcare institutions, and local families, the Director ensures all initiatives are community-centered, equity-driven, prevention-oriented, and aligned with FCS’s mission to support neighbor flourishing. As an FCS Pillar leader, the Director provides subject matter expertise and thought leadership internally and externally. 

This role reports to the President.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic & Team Leadership 

Provides overarching vision and strategic alignment for integrated education, health, and wellness initiatives rooted in resident input and local data. Directs and mentors pillar staff while establishing cross-functional collaboration and representing FCS as a key thought leader.

• Vision & Strategy - Provide leadership and oversight for consolidated education, health, and wellness strategies grounded in resident voice, neighborhood assets, public health best practices, and local data. 

• Strategic Alignment - Establish goals, outcomes, and performance measures for all initiatives in alignment with FCS’s broader strategic plan. 

• Thought Leadership - Represent FCS locally and nationally in conversations regarding community-based education, early learning, youth development, postsecondary readiness, public health, and holistic neighborhood well-being. 

• People Management - Supervise, coach, and support pillar staff, setting clear expectations and providing feedback to build an effective team culture. 

• Cross-Team Collaboration - Work closely with organizational leaders to foster collective impact across FCS Pillars and model an inclusive organizational culture. 

Program & Ecosystem Oversight 

Oversees the design and ongoing execution of cradle-to-career educational programs and holistic community health initiatives. Serves as the primary operational liaison to schools, healthcare providers, and local agencies to drive data-informed decisions and coordinate services.

• Integrated Strategy Execution - Oversee, design, and continuously improve community-informed programs spanning cradle-to-career education (early learning, out-of-school enrichment, postsecondary/career pathways) and health/wellness (healthcare access, nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and social cohesion). 

• Ecosystem Coordination - Serve as primary liaison to K–12 schools, early learning centers, healthcare providers, mental health practitioners, parks/recreation agencies, and youth-serving organizations. 

• Needs Assessment & Data-Informed Decisions - Conduct assessments and utilize academic, public health, attendance, and postsecondary data to guide strategy, monitor progress, and ensure responsiveness to community priorities. 

Community Engagement & Public Advocacy

Cultivates collaborative partnerships with local families, schools, civic leaders, and public agencies to center resident voices in neighborhood decision-making. Champions systems-level change by advocating for equitable health and education policies and actively participating in community events.

• Partnership Building - Form collaborative relationships with school leaders, educators, health professionals, philanthropic partners, civic groups, public agencies, and resident leaders. 

• Resident & Family Engagement - Work with residents to identify community priorities, remove barriers to access, elevate parent and neighbor voices in decision-making, and collaborate with Development and Communications teams on community storytelling and outreach. The Director will attend and may participate in the planning of after-hours community meetings, community events, and other community functions that support neighborhood community building efforts organized by FCS, community members and partners.

• Policy & Systems Advocacy - Lead community-informed advocacy efforts to advance equitable education and health policies, resource allocations, and culturally responsive systems, representing FCS on coalitions and task forces. 

Financial Stewardship & Reporting

Develops and manages the pillar budget in close coordination with finance and development teams to ensure full grant compliance and fiscal responsibility. Tracks essential health and academic metrics to provide comprehensive impact reports for funders, board members, and community stakeholders.

• Budget Management - Develop and manage pillar project budgets in coordination with finance and development teams, ensuring compliance with organizational standards and grant requirements. 

• Data Tracking & Reporting - Track key education, public health, and program metrics, generating regular reports for leadership, funders, partners, and community stakeholders. 

Physical Requirements

This position is primarily performed in an office environment and requires prolonged sitting, frequent computer and keyboard use, and occasional standing, walking, or lifting up to 20 pounds. 

Work Schedule

FCS Directors may occasionally be required to work evenings and weekends to attend or lead community meetings, partner events, and/or neighborhood leadership engagements. 

FCS Organizational Values & Culture Commitments

Directors play a critical role in building and maintaining an organizational culture that makes FCS a great place to work and enables our community impact. All team members are expected to uphold our values of Neighboring, Dignity, Equity, and Flourishing and to model our Culture Commitments of Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Collaboration, Innovation, and Growth.

Key Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Education, Public Health, Social Work, Public Policy, Health Education, or a related field. 

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership or managerial role. Experience in educational leadership (schools, alternative education, youth development) or public health settings in disinvested communities is strongly preferred. 

• Expertise: Demonstrated ability to manage multi-level education or health/wellness initiatives (e.g., early learning, youth enrichment, postsecondary pathways, healthcare partnerships, nutrition, or physical activity).