Director of Operations & Strategy — Higher Ed Grants

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

George Mason University is seeking a Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives within the Psychology Department to oversee daily operations, budget, and staff. You will drive cross-functional coordination among faculty, staff, and students while ensuring policy compliance and strategic alignment with university goals.

You will manage a multi-disciplinary administrative and fiscal team, provide mentorship, and coordinate with facilities and external partners on space, equipment, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven success managing, operating, and directing broad department operations.
• Strong working knowledge of government grants and managing complex budgets.
• Expertise in HR leadership, including recruitment and staff development.
• Mastery of budgeting, forecasting, and account reconciliation.
• Grant management: administration, compliance, and tracking.
• HR: recruiting, onboarding, and training protocols.
• Supervisory practices, performance management, and staff motivation.
• Proficient with multiple computer applications and handling changing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Translates leadership vision into actionable projects and monitors progress.
• Primary project manager for major initiatives; identify bottlenecks and resolve issues.
• Oversee departmental facilities and assets, including lab space and equipment.
• Coordinate renovations, space moves, and construction through final sign-off.
• Mentor and develop professional staff; supervise progress toward goals.
• Direct evaluations and establish SMART goals for reports.

Skills

Leadership

Budget & Grants

HR & Talent Development

Financial Stewardship

Grant Management

Communication

Strategic Thinking

Operations Management

Process Improvement

Analytical Reasoning

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master’s degree

Job description

George Mason University is seeking a Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives within the Psychology Department to oversee daily operations, budget, and staff. You will drive cross-functional coordination among faculty, staff, and students while ensuring policy compliance and strategic alignment with university goals.

You will manage a multi-disciplinary administrative and fiscal team, provide mentorship, and coordinate with facilities and external partners on space, equipment, and