Director, Office of Economic Development, Community Development, & Community Engagement

OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION: RE-ENVISIONING OF THE ATLANTA UNIVERSITY CENTER (AUC) COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS AND RESULTS

The Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) is the oldest and largest academic consortium serving primarily African American students.   Its members are four historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs); two liberal arts colleges, a comprehensive research university, and a medical school; that confer undergraduate and graduate degrees across a range of disciplines. Graduates of the Atlanta University Center institutions are leaders in their chosen fields.  In addition, AUC research addresses a broad range of issues, with a particular focus on issues and disparities facing minority populations.

Shared Vision for AUCC as an Innovative Think Tank 

The Council of Presidents of the Atlanta University Center, which includes the presidents of Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College, have developed a shared vision that shifts AUCC from an organization focused on the coordination of individual programs and governance councils to an innovative think tank focused on thought leadership, collaboration, and innovation for strategic initiatives that will yield meaningful and effective outcomes for each campus and the AUC. Additionally, the vision for the AUCC is to provide a collaborative space to incubate innovative best practices relevant to the broader higher education community, with special focus and emphasis on underrepresented groups in higher education.

The AUCC transformation is aligned across three major areas: (1) academics, research and student success; (2) optimizing campus operations; and (3) economic development and community development, and campus engagement strategies.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The AUCC seeks a dynamic leader to develop and implement a comprehensive approach to community development, economic development, and community engagement that will better position AUCC and its four institutions as anchors and catalysts for community vitality.  The person hired in this newly created position will expand current AUCC community and economic development initiatives to create stronger positive impacts for AUC campus stakeholders and for Atlanta communities.   A key driver for creating this new office and new position is the recent development of an AUC Master Plan Vision that includes significant physical and programmatic development. 

Several existing efforts will be combined and reframed under this new position.  Moreover, through new collaborations and partnerships, we seek to gain additional synergies for stand-alone community and economic development and community engagement programs that operate on various campuses across the AUC. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director, Community and Economic Development maximizes the collective opportunities and impact of the four AUC institutions for nearby neighborhoods, the greater Atlanta region, and the world at large.  The role requires both rethinking existing efforts and developing new initiatives from the ground up:

• Facilitating the implementation of the AUC neighborhood master plan vision collectively including AUC institutions and other stakeholders.  Important components of this vision include developing faculty and student housing, developing strategies to promote vibrancy including retail, entertainment, and lodging, and improving connectivity and walkability, and promoting health and wellness.
• Bringing together campus innovation, entrepreneurship and faculty commercialization efforts and programs to better engage, connect, and leverage Atlanta’s burgeoning technology, healthcare, financial services and innovation sectors.
• Linking AUC institutions to metro Atlanta’s economic development initiatives and leveraging our student and faculty population to benefit from the business attraction; business retention; small business development; and workforce development that results.
• Coalescing campus stakeholders engaged in improving area K-12 and pre-K education performance to achieve greater impacts through collaboration.
• Linking AUC faculty and student expertise and capability with neighborhood organizations by facilitating connections in health and wellness; small business development; arts and culture; education; social justice; and other areas of interest to the community
• Developing a tourism and visitor strategy to promote the AUC as a unique asset for the region’s visitors.
• Developing a robust film and television program to leverage Atlanta’s strong entertainment hub to deliver more opportunities to AUC and its students.
• Supporting local neighborhood and Atlanta region initiatives for health and wellness, pre-K-12 improvement, and student volunteerism through AUC programs.

QUALIFICATIONS EXPECTED

• Master’s degree in planning, economic development, public administration, or a related field
• Seven years work experience in economic development, community development or a related field
• Demonstrated understanding of the redevelopment process including tools and resources
• Innovative problem solver
• Strong expertise and networks in real estate development, and experience using a wide variety of public sector, philanthropic, and private sector tools
• Professional presence including persuasive presenter and ability to engage a wide cross section of stakeholders
• Work experience managing projects, teams and resources
• Very strong writing skills