Senior Academic Advisor Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Department: Col of Engineering and Computing
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 with occasional travel to other campuses
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:
The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) Office of Undergraduate Studies provides proactive CEC-wide leadership, supervision, guidance, and accountability for CEC undergraduate studies. The Office works as a bridge for undergraduate studies between CEC department-level responsibilities and university-level responsibilities with regard to academic policy, student recruitment and admissions, academic advising, oversight and conflict resolution, and program development and management.
About the Position:
The Director of Undergraduate Academic Affairs provides senior-level higher education expertise to manage academic affairs for CEC undergraduate programs and students, to include facilitating and guiding curriculum, creating and interpreting academic policy, and developing programs to improve retention and degree completion. The role also includes supervising staff and supporting accreditation efforts.
Responsibilities:
Oversees Academic Affairs for CEC Undergraduates

• Holds primary accountability for undergraduate academic affairs within CEC, ensuring that academic policies, practices, and procedures support student success, institutional integrity, and compliance with university standards;
• Owns the development, interpretation, and application of undergraduate academic policy for CEC, including translating university policy into effective college-level rules, regulations, and decision frameworks to address complex academic cases;
• Serves as the SME for CEC on academic policy, providing guidance and final interpretation to Chairs, Program Directors, advisors, and students on policy-related matters and academic exceptions;
• Leads evaluation of academic policies and outcomes, using student data and trend analysis to assess effectiveness, identify gaps, and recommend policy or process improvements that enhance student academic outcomes;
• Designs and establishes systems for monitoring the progress and pathways of key student populations, ensuring accurate tracking for assessment, intervention, and accreditation;
• Advises CEC faculty on the academic policies relevant to development and implementation of multidisciplinary programs;
• Supports strategic resource planning related to undergraduate academic affairs, advising the Associate Dean and Chief Business Officer on budget priorities that align with academic goals and student support needs;
• Leads and supervises undergraduate academic affairs staff, ensuring effective operations, professional development, and consistent, fair, and sound decisions on academic requests and policy exceptions; and
• Leads CEC's engagement with other academic unit peers and central administrative offices including, but not limited to, the Registrar, Provost's Office, Office of Financial Aid, and Student Accounts.

Retention

• In collaboration with the Associate Dean, Director of Advising, and CEC Departments, develops, implements, and oversees retention strategies and processes to improve current student retention and graduation;
• Designs, implements, and manages meaningful data analysis to proactively advise students and departments about their student populations, particularly focused on common barriers to students' academic progress; and
• Champions cultivation of an inclusive community and an environment of academic support for undergraduate students in CEC.

Catalog/Curriculum

• Responsible for the accuracy of catalog content and updates for all undergraduate CEC programs;
• Advises departmental representatives on curriculum submission process; and
• Represents Undergraduate Studies Office in CEC Undergrad Studies Committee and in Undergraduate Council.

Administrative

• Manages resolution of student issues that cannot be resolved at the departmental or program level;
• Provides program information for New Student Orientation;
• Cultivates and disseminates academic information via the Undergraduate Student Newsletter;
• Oversees approval of undergraduate academic forms;
• Contributes to recruiting, orientation, and advising efforts within the Office of Undergraduate Studies as needed; and
• Supervises office staff and students as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in higher education administration or a closely related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience (generally a minimum of five years) in academic affairs or a closely related area in a higher education setting;
• Knowledge of federal student data privacy laws;
• Knowledge of strategies that support student progress and graduation;
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with students, staff, and administrators;
• Ability to independently interpret policies and procedures within delegated authority;
• Ability to make sound, policy-aligned judgments;
• Ability to organize and oversee projects and processes across departments;
• Ability to use data systems and dashboards effectively to interpret complex data, identify actionable trends, and generate reports;
• Ability to interpret and operationalize academic regulations;
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities, prioritize effectively, and develop internal procedures;
• Ability to develop collaborative partnerships with faculty and staff;
• A minimum of two years experience supervising/mentoring staff and student workers;
• Ability to handle data and personal issues with discretion and to maintain integrity in all communications and decisions;
• Skill in demonstrating flexibility when handling change or unexpected issues;
• Excellent computer skills. Required proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; and
• Ability to learn new software.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience (generally a minimum of five years) in academic affairs or a closely related area in a higher education setting with evidence of increasing responsibility over work history;
• Experience with Banner, MicroStrategy, CourseLeaf, and Salesforce;
• Knowledge of catalog processes, academic governance, and curricular changes; and
• Outstanding teamwork and supervisory skills.

Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for Director of Undergraduate Academic Affairs at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.
Posting Open Date: May 13, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: June 1, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Mason Engineering: A Force for Innovation in the Heart of Northern Virginia's Technology Corridor!
About the College:
The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at George Mason University is a fast-growing force for innovation in research and education. Ranked nationally in the top 100 in both undergraduate and graduate education, the CEC will have more than 11,000 students in fall 2025. The college has 34 undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs, including several first-in-the-nation offerings. Of its 326 instructional faculty, 100 are tenured, 64 are tenure-track, 100 are term faculty, and 62 are research faculty. As part of a nationally ranked research university, CEC research teams expended $83.7 million in sponsored research awards in the past year and had projects with over $66.8 million in awards. The college stands out for its leading research in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics engineering, cybersecurity engineering, biomedical imaging and devices, healthcare, autonomous systems, 5G/Next G communications, systems architectures, computational biomedicine, advanced materials and manufacturing, sustainable infrastructure, and more. The college encourages and supports multidisciplinary research and provides ample opportunity for faculty to work with other disciplines.
About the University and the Region:
George Mason University is the largest and most diverse public research university in Virginia, with an enrollment of more than 40,000 students studying in over 200-degree programs. Mason is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in a range of academic fields. It was classified as an R1 research institution in 2016 by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutes of Higher Education. The university has campuses in Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William County. Its proximity to Washington, D.C. provides unmatched geographical access to federal agencies and national laboratories. Northern Virginia is also home to one of the largest concentrations of high-tech firms in the nation, providing excellent opportunities for interaction with industry. The region is consistently rated as being among the best places to live in the country and has an outstanding local public school system.
About the Future:
In conjunction with Amazon's decision to establish a second headquarters in Northern Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced a multi-year plan to invest in the growth of degree programs in computing. As a result, Mason has committed to accelerating its plans to grow its capacity in computing and high-tech fields. Among the university's exciting initiatives are the launch of the Institute for Digital Innovation-a university think tank and incubator to serve the digital economy-and the expansion of Mason Square home to its Arlington facilities. In 2025, Fuse, a new 355,000 square foot building will open to students, faculty, and research teams. This net-zero facility will house the Institute for Digital Innovation, state-of-the-art classrooms, labs, and collaborative spaces. It will also include retail space, and leasing opportunities for local businesses. These initiatives reflect hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment by Mason that will rapidly elevate the university's already leading national position in computing and related areas.
Mason Ad Statement
George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 research university committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous world. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largest and most diverse public research university in Virginia, offering degree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level, along with certificates and credentials.
George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment for students, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. We believe in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancing our mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; and we believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity of origin, identity, circumstance, and thought.
Equity Statement
George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
Campus Safety Information
Mason's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/