Digital Transformation Specialist

The George Washington University

Ashburn (VA)

On-site

USD 120,000 - 160,000

Full time

4 days ago

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Job summary

The George Washington University is seeking a Digital Transformation Specialist to guide and accelerate university-wide digital initiatives. You will partner with faculty, staff, and students to align technology strategies with GW’s mission, driving modernization while balancing risks, timelines, and budgets.

This role requires strong leadership, change management expertise, and the ability to manage complex projects across campus teams, vendors, and stakeholders.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area plus 7 years of professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 5 years of relevant professional experience.
Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position.
Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Responsibilities

Lead cross-functional teams to rethink and redesign current business practices, combining technology gains and modernized business practices to drive innovation and efficiency.
Provide leadership and strategic direction for digital transformation initiatives that vary in size and complexity.
Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on digital transformation opportunities and challenges.
Develop, plan, and apply advanced change management methodologies to ensure technology adoption success with campus partners.
Lead complex projects from requirements definition through deployment, managing schedules, scopes, and implementation plans.
Regularly update senior leadership on project progress.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Change management

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Technology adoption

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

I. JOB OVERVIEW

Job Description Summary:

Located in the heart of our nation’s capital, The George Washington University brings together diverse communities to spark creativity, advance discovery, and drive global impact. In support of this mission, GW IT builds the modern foundation for excellence by serving as a strategic partner driving enterprise digital transformation, expanding research capabilities, and safely pioneering disruptive technologies. We are looking for talented, curious, and forward-thinking professionals to join our high-performing team as we prepare the next generation of resilient leaders and build the foundation for GW’s future.

The Digital Transformation Specialist will provide direction and support for GW’s digital transformation strategies, aligning internal and campus partner needs with larger university strategic goals. The successful candidate will lead the exploration and adoption of new technologies to enhance job functions and organizational capabilities, including identifying areas for improvement, identifying and assembling key stakeholders to build a strategy, and applying change management and project management execution techniques to achieve a solution. This role involves working with faculty, staff, and students at all levels to build strong relationships and actively participate in strategic planning to align investments with current opportunities and emerging technologies. Routine travel to all GW campuses and occasional evening and weekend work are required.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

Lead cross-functional teams to rethink and redesign current business practices, combining technology gains and modernized business practices to drive innovation and efficiency
Provide leadership and strategic direction for digital transformation initiatives that vary in size and complexity.
Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on digital transformation opportunities and challenges.
Utilize effective influencing and negotiating skills in environments where the role may not directly control resources.
Deep understanding of current and emerging technologies and how other enterprises use them to drive digital business strategy.

Change Management:

Develop, plan, and apply advanced change management methodologies to ensure technology adoption success with campus partners.
Assess stakeholder resistance and overall risk to implementation and devise strategies to mitigate these risks. Develop and implement comprehensive communication plans.

Project Management:

Ability to build, develop, and manage high-performing project teams, providing purpose, direction, and leadership to achieve a defined future state.
Lead complex projects from requirements definition through deployment, managing schedules, scopes, and implementation plans.
Analyze project status and adapt by revising the scope or schedule to ensure project objectives are met.
Ensure adherence to schedules and scopes by assembling project teams, eliciting requirements and use cases, and tracking project milestones.
Continually assess risk and employ preventive or corrective actions to adhere to schedules.
Manage third-party resources, including vendors.
Regularly update senior leadership on project progress.
Take initiative and make progress with unclear, contradictory, or inconsistent information.
Adapt and make rational judgments from available information and analysis, making prompt, clear decisions that may involve tough choices or considered risks.

Performs other duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 7 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 5 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

Demonstrated expertise in leading cross-functional initiatives, including strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and technology adoption.
Proven emotional intelligence, including empathy, self-awareness, and the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics.
Strong relationship management skills, with a track record of influencing diverse stakeholders and fostering collaboration across organizational boundaries.
Advanced business acumen, including a deep understanding of organizational structures, strategic alignment, and outcome-driven decision-making.
Demonstrated sound judgment in high-stakes environments, with the ability to make data-informed decisions that balance risk, scope, budget, and timelines.
Proficiency in risk management, including the ability to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with digital transformation and change initiatives.
Professional certification in project management (e.g., PMP , PRINCE2) and/or agile methodologies (e.g., Scrum Master/Product Owner,, SAFe).
Formal training and demonstrated application of change management frameworks (e.g., Prosci, ADKAR , Kotter).
Experience working in complex, decentralized environments, preferably within higher education or large public institutions.
Familiarity with emerging technologies (e.g., AI, automation, cloud platforms) and their application in organizational transformation.

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

II. JOB DETAILS

Campus Location:

College/School/Department:

College/School/Department: GW IT

Family

Family Information Technology

Sub-Family

Sub-Family IT Business Analysis

Stream

Level

Level Level 4

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule:

Work Schedule: M-F 9-5

Will this job require the employee to work on site?

Will this job require the employee to work on site? Yes

Employee Onsite Status

Employee Onsite Status Hybrid

Telework:

Telework: Yes

Required Background Check:

Required Background Check: Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Internal Applicants Only?

Internal Applicants Only? No

Posting Number:

Posting Number: S014410

Job Open Date:

Job Open Date: 08/18/2026

Job Close Date:

If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:

Background Screening Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement:

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

* Are you a current employee of The George Washington University?
- Yes
- No
* For current GW employees, have you completed your Introductory Employment Period (IEP)? (As a reminder,employees in their IEP are not eligible to apply for other internal university staff and research positions until the IEP is complete.)
- Yes, IEP complete
- No, still in IEP
- N/a - not a current GW employee
* What is your expected salary range?
(Open Ended Question)