George Mason University
Director of ADVANCE
🇺🇸 Hybrid - Fairfax, VA
🕑 Full-Time
💰 TBD
💻 Operations
🗓️ September 1st, 2025
Edtech.com's Summary
George Mason University is hiring a Director of ADVANCE. The Director manages a dual-admission transfer program between Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University, enhancing student success through coaching, partnership management, operations oversight, budgeting, and strategic planning across both campuses.
Highlights
- Leads and coordinates the ADVANCE dual-admission transfer program with NOVA, focusing on student recruitment, coaching, and seamless credit transfer.
- Manages strategic planning, budget development, and operational processes for the program including policy negotiation and assessment.
- Supervises staff involved in program initiatives, ensuring effective team management and adherence to university policies.
- Collaborates with regional employers, public-school systems, and university departments to support student success and program marketing.
- Requires a Master's degree or equivalent with substantial higher education experience, particularly in program management and working with community college students.
- Demands strong skills in budget management, project planning, collaboration, and communication across diverse stakeholders.
- Experience with shared data systems, student information systems, and program assessment frameworks is preferred.
- Position reports to enrollment management leadership from both George Mason University and NOVA and works closely with a multi-institutional executive committee.
- Salary commensurate with education and experience; position includes hybrid workplace eligibility and requires a criminal background check.
- This role requires weekly presence at both the NOVA and George Mason campuses.
Director of ADVANCE Full Description
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 LeadershipManages 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; andEnsures 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 SupervisionResponsible 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; andEnsures adherence to legal and university policies and procedures, and undertakes disciplinary actions if the need arises.OperationsOversees 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; andCollaborates with teams on both campuses to organize marketing, recruitment, coaching, and retention/graduation planning efforts. CommunicationsProvides strong leadership and communication skills for team management across multiple institutions and reporting lines; andEngages 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; andExcellent 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; andPassion 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, 2025For Full Consideration, Apply by: September 10, 2025Open Until Filled: Yes
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 LeadershipManages 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; andEnsures 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 SupervisionResponsible 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; andEnsures adherence to legal and university policies and procedures, and undertakes disciplinary actions if the need arises.OperationsOversees 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; andCollaborates with teams on both campuses to organize marketing, recruitment, coaching, and retention/graduation planning efforts. CommunicationsProvides strong leadership and communication skills for team management across multiple institutions and reporting lines; andEngages 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; andExcellent 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; andPassion 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, 2025For Full Consideration, Apply by: September 10, 2025Open Until Filled: Yes
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