Director of Education

Position Summary

The Director of Education at FCS is responsible for developing, implementing, and leading a comprehensive, long-term Cradle-to-Career education strategy that aligns with the mission and values of the organization. This strategy will ensure all children residing within FCS’s footprint have access to high-quality education, from early learning through high school, preparing them for college or a career path. This role centers on developing and executing initiatives that support key educational goals, including:

• Preparing children for kindergarten with readiness skills.

• Cultivating an ecosystem that engages school-age youth in enrichment activities outside of school hours.

• Supporting on-time high school graduation with students equipped for college or career success.

As a liaison to neighborhood schools, the Director will collaborate with nonprofits, philanthropic partners, government officials, and other community organizations to fund and support initiatives focused on increasing educational achievement in FCS’s footprint. FCS is dedicated to ensuring that household income is not a barrier to educational success and seeks to build partnerships that reflect this commitment. The Director will connect, strategize, and enable collaboration between local residents, school leaders, community partners, and families. This includes working closely with partners including but not limited to Purpose Built Schools Atlanta (PBSA), Atlanta Public Schools, the YMCA, Sheltering Arms, and other key partners to drive academic excellence and broaden access to opportunities for all students.

The ideal candidate will have a strong record of accomplishment of aligning multiple stakeholders around a shared vision, with deep experience in designing and advancing community-based education strategies. They will be skilled in managing high-level relationships, creating complex systems-level solutions, and pursuing innovative approaches to challenges, driven by a commitment to justice and meaningful change within the neighborhood.

Essential Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Lead the design and implementation of a seamless Cradle-to-Career pipeline supporting youth from early childhood through college and career readiness.

• Collaborate with school leaders to explore and apply innovative approaches to educational and support services, aiming for outcomes on par with affluent areas.

• Develop and execute strategic plans to ensure smooth transitions at each stage of the pipeline.

• Create an integrated support system for youth residing in FCS’s footprint by engaging with educational institutions, community organizations, and employers.

• Design and implement high-quality programs and services that enhance youth’s quality of life and reflect those found in affluent communities, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for diverse needs.

Program Development:

• Lead initiatives to explore new educational methods and models in the FCS footprint, aiming to meet or exceed national education standards in partnership with Purpose Built Schools Atlanta and other community partners. 

• Develop FCS’s portfolio of education-related programs across early learning, K-12 in school and out of school time, and early college pathways, ensuring alignment with the Cradle-to-Career pipeline goals.

Partnership Building:

• Cultivate strong relationships with both formal and informal childcare providers, local schools, community organizations, faith-based groups, philanthropic partners, and government entities to foster proactive education initiatives and improve educational outcomes. 

• Act as a bridge to streamline efforts in addressing childcare and early learning challenges.

• Deepen collaboration with established partners like the Purpose Built Schools Atlanta, the YMCA, and Sheltering Arms, enhancing the impact of ongoing initiatives and ensuring alignment with FCS’s long-term educational goals for the students, childcare, early learning, and academic institutions within FCS’s footprint.

Policy Advocacy:

• Ensure the development of and implementation of organizational policies that reflect community early learning and equity needs.

• Advocate for policy changes at local, state, and national levels affecting school performance and equity in education.

• Work with partner schools to identify and overcome policy obstacles, assist with facility needs, and coordinate on essential issues such as district planning, funding, and contract negotiations.

  Grant Management:

• Where appropriate, collaborate with FCS’s development team in requested areas of the full grant lifecycle, from identifying funding opportunities, contributing to writing proposals and the management of awarded grants.

• Ensure effective use of allocated grant funds to support Cradle-to-Career initiatives.

• Establish and track performance metrics for educational initiatives, conducting regular site visits, analyzing data, and preparing detailed reports for FCS leadership, the Board, and stakeholders.

  Compliance, Financial Management, and Reporting

• Track key Cradle-to-Career indicators, analyze project or initiative performance, and produce regular reports to demonstrate the impact of Cradle-to-Career activities. 

• Develop and manage budgets for education initiatives and oversee financial planning and fund development efforts.

• Maintain accurate records and documentation for education initiatives, preparing regular reports for senior management

Team Leadership:

• Supervise and support the Education team, providing guidance and professional development to enhance staff performance and expertise.

• Train and mentor staff to ensure efficient project management and adherence to best practices in community development.

• Promote a culture of collaboration and mission-driven performance within the Education team and across departments.

• Facilitate staff training on related regulations, education and community development practices, and sustainability measures.

• Assists in creating a positive and supportive work environment; enforces a safe workplace; establishes a culture of teamwork and communication; creates a workplace that promotes the organizational values of workplace diversity, equity and inclusion and actively promotes an environment respectful of living and working in a multicultural society.

Community Engagement:

• Serve as the primary liaison between FCS and the community, centering community voices in Cradle-to-Career planning.

• Organize public forums, focus groups, and outreach efforts to gather input and share program updates.

• Build trust and maintain open communication to ensure the organization’s Cradle-to-Career effort reflects diverse community needs.

• Encourage community involvement in shaping Cradle-to-Career outcomes and FCS initiatives.

General Duties and Requirements:

• Provide excellent financial stewardship for all resources, address all compliance issues, and maintain the transparency necessary for a community-based non-profit.

• Maintain confidentiality.

• Be a positive FCS representative and ensure the organization and its mission and initiatives are consistently presented in strong, positive ways to the internal team, partners, and relevant stakeholders.

Education and Experience

Education – Degree in related field.

Experience – A minimum of 5 years of experience in educational leadership is required, with a preference for experience in traditional schools, alternative education settings, or other educational environments serving diverse youth populations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Place-based Community Development: Key understanding of the principles of holistic place-based community development.

• Cradle-to-Career & Education Expertise: Experience in designing a superior educational (or similar) ecosystem with inherent complexities through collaboration, strategic influencing, alliance building, and convening.

• Collaborative Skills: Strong ability to engage and build partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including local government agencies, childcare and early learning providers, and other community-based organizations.

• Leadership: Proven ability to lead, inspire, and manage teams toward achieving strategic goals.

• Neighboring: This position requires the Director to be an active participant in the community and with community residents. 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.

• Community Engagement & Communication Skills: Ability to effectively engage community residents and build trusting relationships. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to diverse audiences.

• Analytical Abilities: Skilled in using data to drive decision-making, with experience in evaluating program outcomes and education trends.

• Project Management: Strong organizational skills and experience managing multiple early learning, academic, or youth initiatives simultaneously.

• Grant Writing & Management: Experience in securing and managing grants, including reporting and compliance.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $75,000 - $85,000, annually depending on qualifications and experience 

Full-time – 40 hours/week

Benefits: 

• Employee health insurance - 100% employer paid 

• Employee dental insurance - 100% employer paid 

• Employee $25K life insurance - 100% employer paid 

• Employee long-term disability - 100% employer paid 

• Vision insurance, Short Term Disability - 100% employee paid

• 403b Retirement Plan - 100% employee contribution

• 216 hours paid time off annually