Assistant Director, Student Success Coaching

Department: University Life

Classification: Education Support Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

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

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Pay Band: 04

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary range starting mid $70k, commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Working with Minors: Yes

About the Department:

The Division of University Life's Student Success Coaching unit is a hub for student engagement for all new freshman and transfer students and provides access to coaching for all undergraduate students at Mason. Student Success Coaching increases the retention rate and academic success of incoming students by helping students set and achieve academic, career, and personal goals, and connecting students to campus and community resources. The Student Success Coaching unit provides incoming students access to ongoing mentoring and coaching from professional and student staff that maintain university-wide and college-specific knowledge to ensure the success of Mason's incoming student population.

About the Position:

Reporting to the Associate Director of the Student Success Coaching unit, the Assistant Director for Student Success Coaching specializes in the coordination and implementation of the success coaching program at George Mason University. The Assistant Director supervises professional Success Coaches and works in collaboration with the other Assistant Directors to assist in increasing the retention rate of first-year students.

Responsibilities:

Supervision and Leadership

• Supervises, manages, and trains a professional staff coaching team consisting of approximately 3-5 Success Coaches, a Senior Success Coach, and a Graduate Assistant, and fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment that promotes employee well-being, engagement, and retention;
• Responsible for setting department and/or goals for performance and deadlines in ways that comply with the university's plans and vision, and communicates them effectively to subordinates;
• Encourages and supports ongoing professional development opportunities for all staff, ensuring they have the tools and training needed to succeed in their roles;
• Organizes workflow and ensures that employees understand their duties or delegated tasks;
• Sets clear performance expectations, goals, and deadlines aligned with unit, divisional, and university strategic plans;
• Communicates expectations effectively, monitors employee productivity and development, and provides continuous feedback and coaching to support staff growth and accountability;
• Prepares and conducts timely performance evaluations, and maintains accurate records of employee performance, feedback, and disciplinary actions, ensuring adherence to legal and university policies and procedures;
• Collaborates with University Life divisional partners/stakeholders to address performance concerns; and
• Effectively hires, onboards, and trains new employees.

Coaching Administration

• Assists with the overall development, implementation, and management of the coaching program at George Mason University;
• Oversees the coach/coachee matching process and manages data collection of coaching notes; and
• Monitors coach caseload and student oversight, with attention to student progress and performance, problem areas, and intervention activities and processes for students.

Student Impact

• Provides holistic support for their assigned caseload of students in their first year and continuing on an as-needed basis throughout their time at Mason, utilizing the university's chosen methodology in the nine focus areas of development (academics and major fit, school community, managing commitments, effectiveness, commitment to graduation, career exploration, finances, civic engagement, and well-being);
• Encourages student participation in strategic initiatives of the university;
• Maintains a small caseload of approximately 50-100 students, providing proactive coaching;
• Reports data and metric analytics; and
• Participates in university, divisional, and unit-based events, including, but not limited to, New Student Orientation, Preamble, University Life All-Staff meetings, I-Team meetings, SSC programs, and other stakeholder-related programs.

Training and Technology

• Attends university-wide foundational coaching training;
• Participates in and helps facilitate university-wide advanced coaching training and ongoing professional development;
• Utilizes the chosen university platform for tracking and reporting student interactions and making referrals; and
• Leverages technology to connect with and relay information to students throughout the first year.

Unit and Divisional Support and Engagement

• Serves on committees and other projects as assigned by the Associate Director;
• Attends regular meetings with key stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the program;
• Supports divisional planning initiatives and other special projects as assigned;
• Actively participates in University Life divisional meetings, initiatives, and in-person events to stay connected with divisional and institutional priorities, and to foster a cross-unit collaboration;
• Participates in professional development workshops and training sessions for staff across the division to promote continuous learning and skill enhancement;
• Stays informed about best practices, research, and emerging trends in higher education and student support services to ensure Student Success Coaching remains innovative and responsive to the evolving needs of the student body;
• Supports and volunteers at divisional programs and events, contributing to a culture of service and community within the division; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Progressively responsible professional experience working closely with staff and undergraduate students;
• Experience serving and supporting individuals from a variety of different backgrounds;
• Experience in academic advising or working with student coaching programs;
• Progressive experience working in a university or higher education adjacent setting (typically three or more years).
• Knowledge of success coaching, academic advising, orientation, disability services, veterans' services, career services, student involvement, and student rights and responsibilities;
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service;
• Demonstrated skills in leadership, communication, program development, and administrative operations;
• Working knowledge of student transitional issues;
• Ability to engage and communicate with students, staff, and community partners from a broad spectrum of backgrounds and perspectives;
• Ability to manage conflicting and competing priorities; and
• Ability to meet deadlines, work accurately and efficiently with attention to detail, and effectively balance multiple programs and projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Success Coaching Certification preferred, or must achieve Success Coaching Certification within 15 months of attending foundational coach training;
• Experience with using educational database management systems and customer relationship management systems (CRM); and
• Demonstrated leadership/supervisory experience in various levels of supervision (i.e., professional staff, graduate-level staff, and students).

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Assistant Director, Student Success Coaching 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:  September 26, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  October 10, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes