Director of Operations and Strategic Planning

George Mason University; Fairfax, Virginia (VA, IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

George Mason University in Fairfax, VA seeks a Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives to lead daily department operations, mentor a multi-disciplinary admin and fiscal staff, and coordinate cross-functional processes to support academic and research goals.

You will manage a $16M portfolio, ensure compliance with federal, state, and university policies, and drive strategic planning, KPI tracking, and continuous improvement across facilities, budgeting, and communications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience leading operations in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environment.
• Strong working knowledge of government grants, budgeting, and reconciliation processes.
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, and supervise staff; succession planning.
• Ability to manage cross-functional teams and coordinate with faculty, staff, and students.

Responsibilities

• Translates leadership vision into actionable projects and monitors progress across programs.
• Serves as the primary project manager for major initiatives, identifying bottlenecks and resolving issues.
• Oversees departmental facilities and assets, including a laboratory space; acts as SME for space, equipment, and maintenance.
• Coordinates renovations, space moves, and construction with Facilities and external vendors until sign-off.
• Mentors staff and conducts targeted training; supervises progress toward departmental goals.
• Manages budgets, reporting, and internal controls to ensure financial stability and policy compliance.
• Acts as a liaison between the chair, senior leadership, and stakeholders; triages inquiries.
• Defines long-term department objectives and tracks KPIs; analyzes enrollment trends.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Financial governance

Grant administration

HR leadership

Budgeting & forecasting

Staff development

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Director of Operations and Strategic Planning

Department:

Col of Humanities and Soc Science

Classification:

Gen Admin Supv 2/Coord 2

Job Category:

Classified Staff

Job Type:

Full-Time

Work Schedule:

Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location:

Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type:

On Site Required

Sponsorship Eligibility:

Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Pay Band:

05

Salary:

Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check:

Yes

About the Department

The Psychology Department advances the understanding of behavior and its determinants and educates our students in the methods and knowledge of the discipline. To this end, we support a broad, high-quality undergraduate curriculum; attract and train excellent graduate students; attract and support faculty who excel in teaching and scholarship. A hallmark of this department is the integration of scholarship and practice; we support application of advances in Psychology to the individual and provide common good support for students and faculty, so university and department degree program and operational objectives are met. Interact in a pleasant, supportive manner with other staff, faculty, students, and university agencies as well as general public.

About the Position

The Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives is the central hub for the psychology department. The Director manages daily operations, directs and mentors a multi-disciplinary administrative and fiscal staff with six direct reports. Required to facilitate cross-functional communication across faculty, staff and students and coordinate processes to support the department's overarching academic and research goals. Responsible budget authority who ensures Federal, Commonwealth, and University policy compliance for $16M in commonwealth and external funding annually. Triage and prioritize university-wide information and initiatives that have department, college, and university-wide academic and research impact.

Operational Execution and Oversight

• Translates high-level leadership vision into actionable projects and monitor progress across all programs within the psychology department;
• Serves as the primary project manager for major initiatives, proactively identifying bottlenecks and resolving operational issues;
• Accountable for departmental laboratory facilities and assets, including a specialized laboratory classroom. Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) and point of contact (POC) for lab space allocation, equipment purchasing, and maintenance;
• Collaborates with Facilities and external vendors to coordinate all renovations, space moves, and construction phases through to final sign-off;
• Manages, mentors, and develops professional staff, providing and recommending targeted training and supervising their progress toward departmental goals; and
• Directs annual and interim evaluations to establish and monitor SMART goals for direct reports, including the lab manager, business administrator, and finance team.

Departmental Financial Oversight

• Oversees departmental organizational budgets, including all funds and orgs and foundation accounts; serve as approver;
• Provides financial reporting and engages in longrange fiscal planning discussions in collaboration with the Department Chair to ensure ongoing budget sustainability; and
• Evaluates financial risks, establish internal controls, and guide chair decision-making to ensure the department's financial stability and growth.

Communications & Stakeholder Management

• Functions as a proxy or surrogate for the chair in internal and external meetings when necessary;
• Serves as a central liaison between the chair, senior leadership, faculty, staff, and students; and
• Exercise sound judgment in triaging or resolving complex or sensitive inquiries.

Strategic Advising & Planning

• Serves as a trusted sounding board and thought partner for the chair;
• Assists in defining long-term departmental objectives and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs); and
• Analyzes enrollment trends and manage departmental enrollment growth each semester.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Department Leadership: Proven success managing, operating, and directing broad department operations in a fast-paced, shifting environment;
• Financial & Grant Administration: Strong working knowledge of government grants, alongside direct experience developing, managing, and reconciling complex department budgets;
• Human Resources & Talent Management: Significant expertise in human resources leadership, including recruitment, workforce development, employee engagement, performance management, succession planning, and the effective leadership and development of staff;
• Financial Stewardship: Mastery of departmental budgeting, forecasting, and comprehensive account reconciliation processes;
• Grant Management: Expertise in the administration, compliance, and budget tracking of government grants and other external funding sources;
• Human Resources: Thorough working knowledge of HR management, including recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and training protocols;
• Team Leadership: Solid understanding of supervisory practices, performance management, employee motivation, and conflict resolution;
• Technical & Adaptability: Proficiency across multiple computer applications, with the ability to swiftly manage shifting priorities and multiple projects simultaneously;
• Communication & Interpersonal Acumen: Exceptional written, verbal, and coaching abilities, with a history of effectively interfacing and collaborating with a wide range of internal and external constituencies; and
• Process Optimization & Problem Solving: Demonstrated critical thinking skills with a record of identifying, troubleshooting, and resolving complex operational issues.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in related field;
• Executive level experience performing a wide variety of complex duties in a higher education setting is preferred; and
• Higher Education Administration: In-depth understanding of general business practices, financial processes, and institutional procedures specific to a higher education environment.

For Full Consideration, Apply by:

August 5, 2026