Human Resources Director - City of South Fulton

City of South Fulton, Georgia, Director of Human Resources

Position Closes October 18, 2025

If you are a Human Resources Executive who:

• Models integrity and professionalism;
• Has expertise in a broad range of HR responsibilities;
• Embraces change, and is inspired to support a new organization’s growth;
• Has demonstrated success in attracting high-quality talent…

…then becoming the City of South Fulton’s next Human Resources Director may be the career move for you.

The City of South Fulton, GA, is seeking a Human Resources Director to develop a young department and lay the foundation for the City’s organizational culture. The new Human Resources Director will be fluent in HR best practices, policies, and procedures, and will strategically apply them to the values and needs of the City of South Fulton. The new Director will oversee a Department with 12 full-time staff, in a City adjacent to the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, as well as numerous opportunities for recreation and building a high quality of life.

About the Community: Incorporated in 2017, South Fulton is located 20 miles southwest of Atlanta, and less than 2 miles west of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Georgia’s largest employer. Interstates 85, 285, and the South Fulton Parkway connect South Fulton to the airport and vital population and industrial centers, such as the Fulton Industrial District and Red Oak District. In addition to these assets, South Fulton has more undeveloped land than any other city in the region, positioning it for additional prime economic development opportunities.

With 110,011 residents, South Fulton is the 7^th most populous city in the State of Georgia. It has the highest percentage of African American/ Black residents of any US City over 100,000 residents, at 88%. It has a higher rate of educational attainment than the state average, with 43.1% of the population having a bachelor’s degree, as well as a higher median household income, at $79,871.

The South Fulton community enjoys ample opportunities for entertainment and recreation. In addition to being in proximity to the abundant entertainment options in Atlanta, it is home to the Wolf Creek Amphitheater, which hosts a variety of concerts, plays, and festivals. It is near several nature preserves and parks and is less than a two-hour drive from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The Chattahoochee River runs nearby, providing water access. Additionally, the warm southern climate produces plentiful hardwood and pine forests, making the area a beautiful place to live.

About the Organization: The City of South Fulton employs a council-manager form of government, with a mayor and a seven-member City Council, who are elected to four-year terms. The day-to-day operations of the City of South Fulton are directed by the City Manager, who reports to the City Council. The City Manager ensures that policies set by the council are adopted and followed, and that the City's staff provide the most efficient and effective service for residents.

The City’s vision is to be an innovative, diverse community that is safe, environmentally conscious, healthy, transparent, and financially sustainable for all of its community members and visitors. The City’s 2025 – 2029 Strategic Plan focused on providing essential services, enhancing public infrastructure, promoting economic development, and ensuring environmental sustainability.

South Fulton’s 911 employees work within its 16 departments to deliver municipal services with respect and professionalism, exceeding client expectations. As a City of inclusion, South Fulton desires to work cohesively with community members to discover innovative ways to shape its future. 

About the Department and Position: Reporting to the City Manager, the Human Resources Director will oversee a department with an annual budget of approximately $6.7 million and 12 full-time staff, including the Deputy Director, Payroll Manager, Employee Relations Manager, and Risk Manager. The Human Resources Department strives to be an employer of choice, providing employees with competitive benefits packages, recognition programs, opportunities for growth, respect, commitment, and work/life balance. The Department seeks to uphold and be guided by its core values of accountability, diversity, innovation, integrity, respect, responsive customer service, teamwork, and trust.

The Human Resources Director will administer a broad range of human resource management functions City-wide, including employment relations, staffing and recruitment, compensation, employee benefits, policy and procedure development, training and development, performance management, and personnel records. This position is responsible for administrative oversight, visioning, leadership, planning, coordinating, and control of the Human Resources Department.

Key Priorities for the next Human Resources Director include:

• Aligning policies and procedures with the values and needs of South Fulton, educating supervisors and staff, and ensuring consistent policy application.
• Increasing Departmental staff capacity and development by enhancing training and aligning responsibilities with skillsets to optimally meet the Human Resources needs of the City.
• Developing a plan for recruitment and retention, including emphasizing the City’s commitment to equity and transparency in hiring, fostering partnerships with external organizations, and implementing approved merit-based pay increases.
• Reducing employee accidents and claims, to maintain a safe working environment and ensure City resources are used effectively.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree with major coursework in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Sociology, or a related field.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in Human Resources
• Three (3) years of municipal government experience as a director or deputy director of human resources
• Equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Preferred Certifications: 

• A master’s degree in human resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Sociology, or a related field
• Notary Public Certification from the State of Georgia
• Active certification with a recognized Human Resource organization, such as SHRM-CP, SPHR, PIHRA, PHP, or PSHRA-CP.

The Successful Candidate is:

• knowledgeable in HR best practices and trends, with significant experience in the areas of recruitment and retention, succession planning, benefits, classification and compensation, worker’s compensation, risk management, employee training and development, diversity initiatives, and performance management;
• knowledgeable of state and federal employment laws and current with modifications made through executive orders;
• proactive in addressing employee burnout and fostering a workplace culture that supports well-being, engagement, and retention;
• able to revamp onboarding and orientation to ensure new employees are informed, confident, and well-integrated into the organization;
• committed to internal growth and advancement, helping employees see clear career pathways within the organization;
• adaptable and insightful, recognizing generational differences in the workforce and adjusting strategies to meet diverse needs;
• willing to invest time in learning the organization, building relationships across departments, and developing a strategic plan rooted in real organizational needs;
• an active listener and collaborator who creates a shared vision by gathering input from staff, leadership, and stakeholders;
• skilled at balancing organizational and employee interests, building trust and improving relationships to avoid an "us vs. them" culture;
• a strong and effective communicator who keeps department leaders informed, provides guidance on policy interpretation, and ensures decisions are well-documented and legally sound;
• a leader who demonstrates strong ethical judgment, resilience, and the ability to influence others—leading with integrity even under pressure, while building stakeholder relationships across employees, elected officials, and leadership.

Salary and Benefits: The hiring range is $132,886.40-169,60047. Base salary and compensation are negotiable within the range based on experience and qualifications.

To apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/developmentalassociates and click on the Human Resources Director – City of South Fulton, GA title.

• All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) – NOT the city’s employment application portal or any other external website.
• Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application.
• Applicants should apply by October 18, 2005, to be considered during the first round of reviews.
• The hiring team will invite successful semi-finalists to participate in virtual interviews and skill evaluations on November 20-21, 2025. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate.
• Direct all inquiries to hiring@developmentalassociates.com.

The City of South Fulton, GA, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Developmental Associates, LLC, manages the recruitment and selection process for this position. To learn more about our selection process, visit https://developmentalassociates.com/client-openings/ and scroll down to “Important Information for Applicants.”