Senior Advisor, UBC

Department: Executive Administration

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

University Business Consulting (UBC) is a management consulting practice located in Strategic Initiatives within the Office of the President. UBC was created to assist Mason's senior leaders and heads of academic and non-academic units in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities for managing change, planned and structured growth, and increased effectiveness and efficiency, all in pursuit of the University's overarching strategic goals.

About the Position:

The Senior Advisor is a trusted expert, providing high-level strategic guidance, thought leadership, industry/subject matter expertise to clients, leading complex projects, managing senior/executive client relationships, and contributing to the continuous improvement of UBC. Reporting to the Executive Director of UBC, the Senior Advisor serves as the senior UBC representative for certain George Mason University (George Mason) units, leading major projects including strategic planning and implementation, business process redesign and implementation, organizational assessments, stakeholder facilitation, change management and communication, implementing new initiatives, and/or conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis on business functions at the university. The Senior Advisor is responsible for running strategic and high-visibility university projects from start to finish with little supervision required and helping UBC leadership present a positive image of UBC to the George Mason community. For context, recent UBC projects have included: implementing the university’s strategic plan, formalizing the coordination between academic and operational teams as they prepare to open two new major buildings on campus, facilitating an organizational assessment and realignment of a large university unit, and creating a financial sustainability plan for a campus auxiliary center.  

Responsibilities:

Project Leadership:

• The Senior Advisor is responsible for overall high-quality performance in assigned UBC projects and independently manages the work on assigned projects of UBC senior consultants, consultants, and other staff. Uses expertise and best practices to assess how alternatives will impact business processes and develops communications plans, training, change management strategies, and resource planning amongst other tasks. Assists the UBC Executive Director and George Mason clients with strategic planning and implementation. Reviews, edits, and prepares deliverables (presentations, written documents, flow charts and/or spreadsheets) for clients and UBC working groups, project meetings, and leadership meetings with support from consultants and senior consultants. Consistently ensures excellent, high-quality outcomes for all assigned projects. Expected to consistently develop insightful, robust, and information driven solutions to complex problems. Applies and consistently provides opportunities for improvements on agreed-upon project management and standardized approaches to UBC projects. Develops and maintains project charters, work plans, schedules, and budgets. Provides thought leadership and strategic insights to further each project with a view of the impact on the unit/department/university. Works successfully and independently on multiple projects without significant oversight from UBC leadership. Works collaboratively to meet mutual goals when executing projects with other university departments and facilitates cross-department and university-wide cooperation and buy-in. Facilitates project working groups and/or retreats of leaders from across the university. Draws on extensive professional experience and/or research of higher education best practices to advise units on alternatives to consider when evaluating potential changes or recommendations. Takes initiative on project assignments to get the job done, while keeping leadership informed of progress and any project or stakeholder issues that may arise. Provides direct guidance to junior staff in the completion of their duties and to inform career development. Provides training, as needed, to staff on project work or techniques.

Client Management:

• Serves as a senior UBC representative with various university departments and senior leaders, including VPs and Deans, to ensure strategic alignment of initiatives and process improvements, serving as the project subject matter expert when appropriate. Cultivates and manages overall client relationships to form and develop lasting and impactful connections. Demonstrates UBC value through innovative project execution and provides connections across George Mason based on UBC’s unique knowledge base. Effectively presents summary results to George Mason senior leadership. Uses a variety of techniques to effectively manage a wide range of stakeholder behaviors and handle politically sensitive issues.

Practice Development:

• Strategically drives meaningful new work for the UBC practice, either through sourcing new client engagements or securing add-on work from existing projects. Expected to build and maintain strong relationships among schools and units. Interfaces independently with university leaders and develops complimentary relationships of those the UBC Executive Director holds to help develop and expand the UBC practice. Expected to advise the UBC Executive Director on potential new funding sources/revenue streams and growth potential for the UBC practice.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Represents UBC's projects and the department within the George Mason community. Displays a willingness to complete other duties to support UBC leadership and the judgment to know when such duties should be delegated. Proactively offers suggestions for activities UBC should undertake to improve processes or efficiencies that will support transformation across the university.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Extensive experience (generally 12 or more years), including substantial consulting experience (generally 5 or more years), working with teams to solve client problems; substantial business process improvement design and implementation, project management, communications and change management, strategic planning, or related experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience;
• Proficiency with MS Office applications is critical;
• Demonstrated project management and oversight experience, including leading multifunctional projects and teams;
• Demonstrated skills and abilities in project management, consulting, and facilitation;
• Expert-level skill in communication with the ability to communicate effectively with various levels of management and staff;
• Expert-level leadership and advisory skills with the ability to maintain an appropriate level of gravitas for interacting independently with university senior leaders;
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain project work plans, schedules, and budgets;
• Demonstrated ability to lead successful projects independently, as well as part of a team; and
• Ability to take direction from leadership on projects and also self-direct work streams as needed to move projects forward on tight timelines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Prosci Change Practitioner, Six Sigma Green or Black Belt;
• Demonstrated ability independently facilitating working groups, retreats, or other group or team engagements;
• Demonstrated ability leading or business transformation, change management, and/or communications management projects or initiatives; and
• Ability and experience in managing politically sensitive efforts.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Senior Advisor, UBC at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume.

Posting Open Date:  January 30, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  February 13, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes