Director of ADVANCE

Department: Cross Functional

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

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

While the Director of ADVANCE is co-managed by George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College, the position is formally housed within the Division for Enrollment Management at George Mason University.

In collaboration with the university community, and as a part of the Office of the Provost, the Division for Enrollment Management guides students through their enrollment journey from admission, financial aid, registration, and degree conferral. We respond to the changing needs of our students and institution with data-informed decisions, shared accountability, support for our campus colleagues, transparent and clear communication, and operational efficiency to evolve our practices and ensure student success.

About the Position:

ADVANCE is an exciting dual-admission transfer partnership launched in 2018 between Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and George Mason University that gives participating students targeted, personalized support to complete their bachelor's degrees in a timely manner and save money. Program participants also benefit from tailored coaching, aligned Academic Pathways, seamless credit transfer, and access to George Mason’s facilities and student life. From guiding recruitment and customized advising/support, building innovative education partnerships with external institutions, and guiding student success for those enrolled at both NOVA and George Mason, the Director for ADVANCE oversees all aspects of the program.

This position brings program management experience in developing partnership programs between both institutions to streamline degree attainment - both Associate and 4-Year Undergraduate - and improving student outcomes. The Director oversees cross-institutional strategic planning, negotiating policies and practices, is responsible for budget development and planning, and manages program marketing, recruitment, student services, operations, and assessment for the ADVANCE program with NOVA. The Director collaborates with regional employers and public-school systems to promote and ensure operational success.

The position reports to the Vice President for Enrollment Management at George Mason University and the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at NOVA. The program is governed by an Executive Committee (organized and staffed by the Director) comprised of representatives from both institutions in the areas of Academic Affairs, University Life, Student and Academic Services, Enrollment Management, and Information Technology Services.

This position spends time each week at both the NOVA and George Mason campuses.

Responsibilities:

Program Leadership

• Manages coordination and operations of the ADVANCE program with NOVA including cross-institutional planning, organizing, and leading program activities;
• Provides strategic planning for the program and leadership within the governance structure;
• In concert with the program’s Executive Committee, develops and implements short-term/long-term goals and objectives to achieve the successful outcome of the program; and
• Ensures that initiative, program, and project business plans are sound, funding opportunities are identified, statements of work are accurate and followed, and timelines are defined with deadlines met.

Staff Supervision

• Responsible for the development, supervision, and management of positions supporting initiatives and responsibilities of the program;
• Organizes workflow and ensures employee(s) understand duties and delegated tasks;
• Hires, on-boards, and trains new employees;
• Monitors employee productivity and provides constructive feedback and coaching; and
• Ensures adherence to legal and university policies and procedures, and undertakes disciplinary actions if the need arises.

Operations

• Oversees operational processes involving student information systems, data sharing, integration with Patriot Connect, and cross-institutional coordination;
• Develops and implements a program assessment and evaluation framework to identify the strengths of the program and areas of improvement;
• Negotiates and publishes policies and practices agreed upon by the program’s executive leadership;
• Responsible for budget development, planning, and fundraising efforts; and
• Collaborates with teams on both campuses to organize marketing, recruitment, coaching, and retention/graduation planning efforts. 

Communications

• Provides strong leadership and communication skills for team management across multiple institutions and reporting lines; and
• Engages with educational organizations, institutional dyads, and media outlets regarding the process for developing and implementing effective transfer partnerships.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Considerable experience in project, program, account, or product management in higher education (generally three or more years);
• Substantial experience in higher education (generally five or more years);
• Experience working with community college students, helping students navigate the transfer process, and commitment to the community college role in higher education;
• Proven experience with initiating, planning, and directing implementation of complex projects/programs;
• Experience supervising staff;
• Evidence of the ability to synthesize multiple ideas and program strategies into a comprehensive, executable plan;
• Strong skills in budget development and management, organizing resources and establishing priorities;
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a diverse population of faculty, staff, and key stakeholders;
• Demonstrated ability to work well in teams and effectively communicate at all levels;
• Ability to assess, identify, and measure key performance indicators and other success metrics; and
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in staff development, student/customer relations, and change management;
• Experience managing change in a complex higher education environment with a detail orientation for both policy and operational management;
• Experience in Academic and Student Affairs;
• Familiarity with shared data systems and basic data integration concepts;
• Highly motivated; and
• Passion for innovation and problem solving.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Director of ADVANCE 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 for review.

Posting Open Date:  August 27, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  September 10, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes