Assistant Director, College Success And First-Generation Recruitment

Department: Division of Enrollment Management

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: Hybrid Eligible

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Starting at $60,000; commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Motor Vehicle Records Check: Yes

Works with Minors check: Yes

About the Department:

The Office of Admissions recruits and enrolls applicants to George Mason University, including freshmen, transfers, graduate and non-degree students.

About the Position:

The Assistant Director for College Success and First-Generation Recruitment works in the Office of Admissions overseeing outreach programs and initiatives for first generation college bound students.
The Assistant Director works collaboratively with campus and community partners by creatively developing outreach initiatives for K-12 students and families. This position performs duties related to increasing and promoting College Success and focuses on recruiting college bound first generation students, supporting them through the application process, and working with campus partners to aid in a successful transition to Mason.
This position is expected to work occasional nights and weekends, and to be available for presentations and outreach events with little notice.

Responsibilities:

• Serves as a member of the Office of Admissions and provides outstanding customer service while demonstrating patience and understanding to students and families who are first generation students;
• Serves as a point of contact for incoming first-generation students through the college application process;
• Performs outreach and follow-up activities to targeted populations; presents admissions information to students, parents, staff, and the general public in a variety of settings, such as high schools, on-campus, and community organizations;
• Advises prospective students and families about support programs available to students at Mason to assist with the transition to college and help them succeed at the university;
• Serves as the admissions representative to a caseload of high schools with large populations of first-generation college bound students;
• Coordinates, executes, and tracks activities associated with grant funding awarded to the admissions office;
• Liaises with the university offices supporting first generation and/or Pell eligible students through the admissions process and other initiatives;
• Participates in the development, planning, and implementation of first-generation recruitment strategies aimed at increasing student success;
• Develops and organizes outreach materials;
• Develops and facilitates events targeted towards increasing college bound first generation enrollment including Access to Excellence programing and transition programming;
• Works with Integrated Enrollment Marketing on communication campaigns regarding the first generation and direct admissions opportunities;
• Collaborates with partners across campus to increase first generation college enrollment and success at Mason; and
• Assists in coordination and execution of grant related programming.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience providing excellent customer service to a variety of audiences;
• Experience working with students and their families through the college admissions process;
• Public speaking experience;
• Experience working with diverse students and their families;
• Experience working with first generation and/or underrepresented students;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including effective and respectful interpersonal communication;
• Robust computer software skills;
• Robust organizational, interpersonal, collaborative and computer software skills;
• Ability and willingness to learn office/university procedures;
• Ability to quickly prioritize and manage multiple projects;
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team;
• Willingness to adapt to change and take on new challenges; and
• Must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor vehicle operator’s license that meets all of GMU’s requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason’s Vehicle Use Policy 1411 https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/. The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review the driver’s licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all candidates selected with employment contingent upon a favorable review.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Education (Counseling, Secondary Education, Higher Education Administration, or Student Affairs) or similar field of study, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Previous experience working in K-12 education;
• Experience with Salesforce case management software;
• Extensive knowledge of enrollment practices for student programming at the secondary and/or post-secondary level; and
• Bilingual, preferably Spanish.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Assistant Director, College Success and First-Generation Recruitment 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: February 13, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by: March 5, 2024

Open Until Filled?: Yes