Associate Director for Programs, Early Identification Program

George Mason University•Fairfax, VA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Early Identification Program (EIP) is George Mason University’s college access program, which encourages the academic advancement of students who are the first in their families to attend college. The EIP inspires students towards higher education and assists them to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to become productive and responsible global citizens. The program is designed to support students through program-sponsored activities, which include weekly tutoring/mentoring, Saturday sessions regarding college admissions, financial aid, goal setting, study skills, academic preparation in math and science, and family workshops for students and parents. The EIP strategies are a driver to actualize George Mason University’s goal to grow EIP to serve more than 1,500 students in Northern Virginia each year. The Associate Director for Programs is an integral member of the Early Identification Program (EIP). This individual works closely with EIP's other Associate Director(s) and the Executive Director in providing leadership and administration of all aspects of the EIP, to include sharing leadership responsibilities for the Executive Director, as needed. Key responsibilities include direct supervision of three Assistant Directors, planning and development of programmatic initiatives, contributing to the EIP's assessment and reporting, recruitment and hiring of mentoring staff, and leadership for several key aspects of summer programs. Additionally, the Associate Director works with the Executive Director in managing all student services, which includes monitoring student academic progress/participation, decisions on student enrollment, the application and admission process, and communication/relationship management with families and all seven county school partners. The Associate Director role also provides leadership through the management and coordination of high-profile events, including Board of Visitor meetings, Senior Graduation, and the New Student Reception Ceremony.

Requirements

Master’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
Experience working with middle and high school-aged youth and families from varying backgrounds and socio-economic experiences
Experience working with college students to support their individual and academic growth and development
Experience supervising professional staff, including conducting performance evaluations and providing ongoing feedback
Experience navigating complex, decentralized organizational structures to coordinate work, access resources, and achieve outcomes
Experience with budget oversight, including monitoring transactions, expenditures, and forecasting future financial needs
Knowledge of data analysis and reporting to inform decision making and demonstrate program impact
Demonstrated problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate complex challenges
Demonstrated interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills with the ability to communicate and engage effectively with varying audiences of constituents and departmental stakeholders
Ability to meet deadlines, work accurately and efficiently with attention to detail, effectively balance multiple programs and projects simultaneously, and adapt to changing priorities
Ability to work effectively independently and within collaborative, team-driven environments
Ability to apply discretion when handling sensitive information and making decisions within policy guidelines
Ability to develop metrics and evaluation frameworks to assess program effectiveness
Ability to monitor budget activity and expenditures to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment with approved budgets
Ability to work occasional evening and frequent weekend hours
Ability to maintain reliable transportation to/from all Mason campuses and all partner school sites

Nice To Haves

Experience working with college-bound first generation students to support their individual and/or academic growth and development
Knowledge of best practices related to college access for first-generation college-bound students
Ability to navigate large bureaucratic systems
Ability to communicate proficiently in Spanish (verbal and written)

Responsibilities

Fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment that promotes employee well-being, engagement, and retention
Supervises staff by setting clear performance expectations, providing regular feedback, and addressing performance issues to support employee engagement, accountability, and retention
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 employees understand their duties or delegated tasks
Sets clear performance expectations, and 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 (UL) divisional partners/stakeholders to address performance concerns
Effectively hires, onboards, and trains new employees to build capability and ensure operational continuity
Ensures all programs operate successfully and within budget, working closely with the Associate Director of Operations and the team to ensure spaces are reserved, spending practices for programs are sound and efficient, and time reporting processes are accurate and efficiently submitted
Responsible for overseeing the planning, coordination, and implementation of large-scale, high-profile events, inclusive of Board of Visitors meetings, major weekend events, Senior Graduation, and the New Student Recognition Ceremony
Serves as the on-site administrator for designated Saturday programming, which takes place throughout the academic year
Liaises with EIP partner/stakeholders on all matters related to the EIP. These partners include public-school system administrators, counselors and teachers, community leaders/organizations/companies, EIP alumni, and Mason departmental staff
Leads efforts to monitor middle and high school participants' academic progress and program attendance
Leads efforts to track and monitor students' outcome data, including high school completion and transition to post-secondary institutions
Leads a student-centered approach to discipline, including oversight of a change in participation status process, ensuring decisions are fair, consistent, and supportive of students’ continued growth and success
Ensures student data is up to date and systems used to track all aspects of program participation are up to date and functional
Provides leadership to the new student admission process for the EIP, including, but not limited to, liaising with our public school partners to coordinate the nomination, application, and selection process
Facilitates information sessions for families and prospective students in partnership with public school partners and community stakeholders
Along with the Assistant Directors, supports the creation of application review committees and management of the College Access Ambassadors (Mason students)
Ensures the online application is up to date and functions properly
Manages the new student and family onboarding process
Manages waitlists and notifies students and families of their standing as it pertains to the application process
Leads the maintenance and enhancement of student records and data systems, tracking student demographics, participation, program completion, academic standing, and college-prep coursework, including Summer Academy scheduling
Tracks the post-secondary progress of EIP alumni at Mason and outside of Mason with the assistance of Assistant Directors
Liaises with the Office of Admissions, Institutional Research, and Office of the University Registrar to receive and maintain up-to-date statistics on EIP alumni
Provides updated data to mark progress toward unit and student journey team key performance indicators
Works collaboratively with the Assistant Directors and University Life Advancement staff to organize and coordinate the scholarship application process
Selects scholarship committee members, creates timelines, and provides improvements to the selection process
Works closely with the Budget Specialist to ensure scholarship awards are processed promptly
Works with Assistant Directors to ensure scholars remain in compliance with scholarship guidelines
Assists the Executive Director in efforts to devise a strategy, while establishing and tracking unit goals and key performance indicators to mark progress toward unit and student journey team key performance indicators
In collaboration with the Associate Director of Operations, contributes to an annual programs assessment
Leads efforts to compile survey data and lead review sessions with program staff to review data to enhance services for program participants
Ensures all efforts to assess and measure program impact are aligned with University Life and will work closely with the Executive Director to contribute to the design and production of impact reports for corporate, public schools, funders, and community stakeholders
Identifies and reports trends in data and assists the Executive Director and team members in addressing issues that may arise, by way of reports pulled from data
Provides assessment of student academic and program progress, while implementing programmatic efforts to increase retention and student satisfaction with services provided
Provides leadership for the EIP's major events including the Board of Visitors meeting, Senior Graduation, and weekend events
Assigns and delegates responsibilities to the appropriate staff members for such events
Ensures all logistical plans for events are sound, including event communication to stakeholders, securing facilitators, remittance of payments (if applicable), and securing space
Works closely with the Assistant Directors to enhance and develop programs that are relevant and aid in the success of college-bound first-generation college students
Stays abreast of trends and best practices to ensure programs are impactful
Works collaboratively with the Executive Director to ensure the EIP remains in compliance as it pertains to ensuring student safety. This includes liaising with Public School partners, Mason's Risk Management Office, and Human Resources to ensure the EIP is up to date on university and public school policies and procedures focused on student health, safety, and well-being when participating in the EIP and developing policies as needed to remain in compliance
Provides leadership and works with staff to create student Summer Academy schedules
Oversees the hiring and training process of near peer mentors
Oversees the hiring process and supervision of certified teachers for Summer Academy faculty and staff roles
Works closely with the Office of the University Registrar and the Office of Events Management to secure space needed for instruction and program activities
Liaises to public schools and third-party vendors for lunch services during the Summer Academy. This includes working closely with the Budget Specialist to ensure billing is accurate and distributed to public school partners in a timely fashion
Assists the Assistant Directors and Operations team with student and family communication
Works with program staff to facilitate special activities for program participants
Provides oversight to EIP staff members in the absence of the Executive Director
Supports divisional planning initiatives and other special projects as assigned, acting as a technical resource and SME as required
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 the EIP remains innovative and responsive to the evolving needs of the student body