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Job Title:  

Executive Director- Division of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Job Requisition ID:

JR0000000246

Number of Openings:

0

Shift:

Not Applicable (United States of America)

Compensation Details:

BASED ON EDUCATION AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Job Description:

Position Overview

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven executive to serve as the Executive Director of the Division of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).
 

This leader will oversee the strategic direction, administration, and performance of statewide services.  The overall objective of the Executive Director is to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ensuring access to high-quality, person-centered care in the most integrated and community-based settings possible.

Reporting directly to the Commissioner, the Executive Director will lead a complex system of services, drive innovation, and partner with stakeholders across Georgia to advance outcomes that promote independence, dignity, and opportunity.

DBHDD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of DBHDD to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Why This Role Matters

This executive leadership position offers a rare opportunity to shape the strategic direction of intellectual and developmental disability services across Georgia. You will serve as a primary advocate and strategist, driving system-wide improvements that allow thousands of individuals to live and thrive in the most integrated settings possible.

Essential Duties

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Define the Future: Establish and execute a long-term vision for intellectual and developmental disability services aligned with DBHDD’s mission and statewide priorities.
• Transform the System: Lead large-scale system transformation efforts to expand service access, elevate quality standards, and deepen community integration.
• Innovate: Identify emerging national trends and policy opportunities to modernize Georgia’s IDD service delivery model.  

Operations & System Oversight

• Program Administration: Oversee the integrity and efficiency of waiver programs, provider networks, and community-based services.
• Regulatory Excellence: Ensure rigorous compliance with state and federal regulations, including CMS requirements.
• Data-Driven Performance: Leverage data analytics to inform decision-making, drive performance outcomes, and foster a culture of continuous quality improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships

• Build Alliance: Cultivate and sustain collaborative relationships with providers, families, advocacy groups, legislators, and community partners.
• Public Representation: Serve as a spokesperson for the Division in public forums, legislative discussions, and inter-agency initiatives.
• Cross-Agency Coordination: Foster strategic partnerships across state and local organizations to improve the holistic coordination of care.

Workforce & Organizational Leadership

• Develop Talent: Lead, inspire, and mentor a high-performing multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence.  
• Capacity Building: Strategically strengthen the provider network and workforce pipeline to meet growing demand for IDD services.
• Culture of Excellence: Champion an organizational environment rooted in innovation, empathy, and service-oriented results.

Policy, Funding & Innovation

• Policy Development: Guide the creation and implementation of policies that remove barriers to access and improve individual outcomes.
• Fiscal Stewardship: Oversee complex budget planning and resource allocation to ensure the long-term sustainability of the service system.
• Sustainable Solutions: Advance innovative, person-centered solutions that enhance the efficiency and reach of state-funded programs.

Core Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Influence & Vision: Ability to set direction and drive large-scale system change
• Relationship Building: Establishes trust and credibility with diverse stakeholders
• Emotional Intelligence: Navigates complex environments with awareness, empathy, and sound judgment
• Change Leadership: Leads organizational and cultural transformation effectively
• Compelling Communication: Clearly articulates vision and priorities to varied audiences
• Organizational Leadership: Energizes teams and aligns efforts toward mission-driven outcomes
• Customer/Person-Centered Focus: Keeps individuals and families at the center of decision-making

Minimum Qualifications

• Advanced Education: A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Public Health, Social Services, Healthcare Administration, or a closely related field.
• Executive Leadership: Ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience within healthcare, behavioral health, developmental disabilities, or a similarly complex multi-site system.
• Operational Oversight: Proven track record of managing large-scale statewide programs, complex multi-million-dollar budgets, and diverse, multidisciplinary teams.
• Strategic Collaboration: Demonstrated experience as a skilled collaborator, with a proven ability to build functional partnerships across internal divisions, external agencies, and stakeholder groups to achieve organizational goals.

Preferred Qualifications & Professional Competencies

Strategic Expertise & System Transformation

• Waiver & Regulatory Mastery: Deep operational knowledge of Georgia’s Medicaid waiver programs (e.g., NOW/COMP) or equivalent HCBS frameworks, coupled with a thorough understanding of CMS regulations and federal compliance standards.
• Analytical Vision: The ability to apply strong analytical and strategic thinking to navigate complex statewide service systems, identifying opportunities for innovation and long-term system transformation.
• Change Leadership: A proven track record of leading through complexity and ambiguity, with the adaptability to drive continuous improvement within a large-scale public sector environment.

Executive Leadership & Collaboration

• Strategic Partnership: A skilled collaborator and consensus builder with a history of successful stakeholder engagement and legislative collaboration. You possess the diplomacy to align diverse interests toward a common mission.
• Communication Excellence: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex policy, fiscal, and operational concepts to legislators, providers, advocates, and families.
• Fiscal & Operational Stewardship: Experience managing the unique pressures of a statewide service system, ensuring resource allocation aligns with person-centered outcomes and organizational integrity.

Professional Integrity & Impact

• Judgment & Discretion: Demonstrated sound judgment and professionalism when handling sensitive legislative matters, personnel leadership, and public-facing representation.
• Mission-Driven Commitment: A steadfast commitment to dignity, independence, and opportunity for the IDD community, translated into high-performance leadership and service excellence.

Why This Role Matters

This is a unique opportunity to lead one of Georgia’s most critical service systems—supporting thousands of individuals and families across the state. The Executive Director will play a central role in shaping the future of developmental disability services, expanding access, strengthening communities, and ensuring individuals could live, work, and thrive in their communities.

Minimum Qualifications:

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

The State of Georgia does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other protected categories in employment or the provision of services.
Qualified applicants may request reasonable accommodation when needed during the application and/or screening process by contacting the appropriate agency Human Resources department.