Assistant Director for First-Gen+ Center

Department: University Life

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 range starting mid $60k; commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Works with Minors check: Yes

About the Department:

The First-Gen Center serves as an accessible starting point for students and their families to understand and connect with relevant university resources. The team prioritizes data to better understand the student experience and proactively works toward improving the campus to be “first-gen ready” throughout each university area. We work to enhance the collegiate experience through services, programs, policy awareness, and educating the campus community.

Staff on the team collaborate across campus and beyond, in order to streamline resources and support for students, including participating at local and national levels to share practical and scholarly content as a catalyst for institutions to broaden their work.

About the Position:

The Assistant Director for First-Gen Center focuses on the support and development of college-going students. This role is centered on student transition into college through summer bridge programs and initiatives that aid retention and success of college students.

As a part of the First-Gen Center, this position has a strong understanding of college preparation programs and familiarity with first-generation and low-income students and the intersecting identities of students who are pursuing and/or enrolled in colleges and universities in the United States. This position reports to the Director of the First-Gen Center and is a part of a team of three (3) full-time Assistant Directors within the department.

The Assistant Director for First-Gen Center is responsible for the planning and implementation of a multi-year summer bridge program – Student Transition Empowerment Program (STEP). This initiative is a longstanding tradition and retention support program within the university which successfully prepares students to succeed at Mason. In addition to the coordination of the summer program, this position coordinates multi-year events and initiatives for students who complete the program to support them through graduation and beyond.

Responsibilities:

Program Development and Implementation:

• Develops campus and community events and awareness campaigns that support the development of a sense of belonging within the first-generation student, faculty, and staff communities;
• Develops and coordinates the logistics, outcomes, and evaluation of all programs and uses evaluation results to improve future programs and initiatives; and
• Supports program implementation through event execution, including event setup and breakdown, supply transport, and other related tasks.

Awareness Building and Outreach:

• Serves as primary contact for the department regarding outreach activities, including presence at orientation activities, academic and student services outreach, and presentations;
• Develops and provides information guides to campus partners to increase knowledge and understanding of First-Gen services;
• Designs, implements, and evaluates annual outreach activities such as First-Gen week; and
• Provides support for campus-wide efforts to support first generation college students through participation in the First-Generation Students Task Force and First-Gen Faculty and Staff group.

Student Leadership Development and Direct Student Support:

• Designs program curriculum and assessments, and updates existing content as needed to ensure effective learning for all mentor program participants;
• Advises and meets individually with students to support their transition to college and provide guidance on academics and personal development; some meetings are recurring (e.g., bi-weekly, weekly, monthly) and others are one-time meetings;
• Provides professional support, mentorship, and connection to resources and programs for staff; and
• Connects students with resources through referrals to academic and student support offices as needed and receives incoming referrals to First-Gen Center.

Supervision:

• Develops, implements, and evaluates onboarding, training, and developmental opportunities (personal and professional) in order to support graduate and undergraduate student staff during the summer and academic year;
• Responsible for identifying student staff areas of improvement and plans learning-based retreats to address skill gaps and team cohesion; and
• Develops, executes, and evaluates an intentional staff supervision plan to include staff supervision and development through ongoing meetings (weekly or bi-weekly), ensuring proper hours and responsibilities are completed, providing feedback to improve effectiveness and recognition of stellar work.

Unit and Division Support/Service:

• Coordinates and manages the budget for programs and staffing, including keeping detailed records of spending and timely updates to the departmental budget sheet per semester;
• Coordinates and manages program administrative needs such as scheduling interviews for student employee positions to support programming and staffing needs;
• Contributes to the development of evidence-based reports and assessment-related activities/tasks;
• Serves on committees to support the work of First-Gen and support recruitment processes as needed;
• Supports University Life divisional initiatives and other special projects as assigned, actively participating at in-person events and volunteer opportunities to represent the First-Gen Center and UL effectively to the campus community; and
• Participates in all-staff meetings, trainings, and symposium for the Division of University Life, to stay informed, support professional development, and contribute to a cohesive and effective team environment.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field, or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience in student affairs-related departments or transition programs (e.g., summer bridge, service learning, orientation, etc.);
• Experience providing direct support to individuals, including connecting them with appropriate resources and helping them navigate complex systems or services;
• Experience working with students who identify as first-generation college students and/or students who have a variety of citizenship statuses;
• Related experience within higher education (colleges and universities, including two-year colleges or technical), secondary education (middle school and high school), or community-based organizations;
• Understanding of higher education and transition programs for first-generation college students;
• Knowledge of event planning, coordination, and logistics;
• Knowledge of the development of assessment-cycle projects, including learning outcomes, content and curriculum, and facilitation guides; and
• Skill in providing leadership and guidance in formal or informal capacity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience with first-generation college students, including complex needs or referrals and the use of policy in supporting student success at public institutions of higher education;
• Direct experience typically obtained in 1 years working in a college setting with college students or working with college-bound students;
• Experience serving on or leading committees that represent multiple campus and/or community partners;
• Experience supervising student staff at the undergraduate or graduate level;
• Experience supporting relationship-building efforts and contributing to initiatives that engage external stakeholders and promote visibility for high-impact programs and strategic priorities; and
• Understanding or involvement with higher education policy at the state and/or federal levels within the United States.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Assistant Director for First-Gen Center 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: November 4, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by: November 18, 2025

Open Until Filled: Yes