Graduate Program Coordinator, Environmental Science and Policy (ESP)

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Virginia; Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 52,000; Part time

Job summary

Commonwealth of VA Careers is seeking a Graduate Program Coordinator in the ESP department at George Mason University to manage graduate admissions processes and student records. You will work closely with faculty, staff, and university partners to ensure smooth operations and timely communication.

The role involves coordinating class schedules, supporting recruitment and student engagement, and providing guidance to prospective and current graduate students.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; equivalent education/experience considered.
• Experience administering multi-step graduate admission processes per university policies.
• Ability to plan and coordinate fall, spring, and summer schedules with ESP and GMU staff.
• Proficient in word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Ability to access information via on-site and internet databases and spreadsheets.
• Excellent presentation, communication, and customer service skills.
• Experience with electronic/telecommunications software for stakeholder communication.
• Enthusiasm for working in higher education and research environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary contact for ESP graduate students, guiding academic requests and referrals.
• Provide accurate information about college/university procedures to students, staff, and faculty.
• Perform data entry and track progress of requests; compile monthly calendars and update the department's web page.
• Assist with scheduling classes and coordinating recruiting events for fall, spring, and summer terms.

Skills

Admissions management

Schedule planning

Word processing

Databases

Customer service

Communication

Electronic/telecommunications software

Higher education experience

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Master of Arts in Natural or related Social Science

Tools

Ellucian Banner

TargetX

Job description

Department: College of Science

Classification: GMU Worker

Job Category: Part-Time / Hourly Wage

Job Type: Part-Time

Work Schedule: 30 hours/week; the hours for this role will not exceed 1,450 per calendar year (May 1 – April 30)

Location: Fairfax, VA

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 Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP) in the College of Science (COS) is dedicated to delivering academic programs to graduate and undergraduate students and performs scholarly activity in the areas of environmental science, environmental policy, conservation science and policy, water and watershed science and policy, and one health and sustainability. We also serve the university, local, state, national, and international communities with our expertise and our teaching programs.

For more information about the department, visit us on the web at https://esp.gmu.edu/. For more information about the College of Science, visit https://cos.gmu.edu/.

George Mason University College of Science (Mason Science) is committed to advancing inclusive excellence and fostering an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation throughout our STEM community. At Mason Science, our values include cultivating an organizational culture that promotes belonging, respect, and civility. We believe that varied opinions, cultures, and perspectives are what provides vibrancy, innovation, and growth to an academic community. By prioritizing cultural responsiveness in academics, teaching, research, and global engagement, we strive to attract faculty and staff who exemplify the Mason Science mission and vision.

About the Position:

George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of all-inclusive diversity among its students, faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will support this commitment.

The Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP) seeks a highly organized and service-oriented Graduate Program Coordinator to support the administration of its graduate academic programs. This position serves as a primary point of contact for prospective and current graduate students, providing guidance on admissions, enrollment, degree progress, university policies, and academic processes. The Coordinator works closely with faculty, students, college, and university partners to ensure efficient program operations, maintain student records, coordinate course scheduling, and support recruitment and student engagement initiatives. The ideal candidate is a collaborative professional who thrives in a dynamic academic environment, demonstrates exceptional attention to detail, and is committed to supporting student success throughout the graduate education experience.

Responsibilities:

The Graduate Program Coordinator, Environmental Science and Policy (ESP) will be responsible for:

• Serving as the initial and primary contract for graduate students in the ESP department. This position will greet, guide, and direct students in the submission of academic requests, as well as refer students to additional staff members or other university offices when needed;
• Providing accurate and timely information about college and university procedures to students, staff, and faculty who contact or visit the COS Undergraduate and Graduate Student Affairs office;
• Performing data entry and tracking progress of requests submitted for review, compiling monthly calendars, including searching for and compiling up-to-date lists of events and updates to the department's web page; and
• Preparing and troubleshooting the schedule of classes in the fall, spring, and summer semesters, and assisting with scheduling and preparation of recruiting events.

PLEASE NOTE: Visa sponsorship, including H-1B classification, is not available for this position. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field from an accredited institution or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Proven ability to administer and manage complex and multi-step admission processes for graduate students, following relevant George Mason procedures and policies, track enrolled students, and support all the administrative aspects of progress towards their degrees;
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and execute fall, spring, and summer academic schedules in coordination with ESP faculty and other George Mason personnel;
• Mid-level familiarity and significant experience in using standard word processing, spreadsheets, and databases;
• Familiarity and high-level ability to effectively utilize and navigate on-site and internet database and spreadsheet software to access information for program support;
• Excellent professional presentation, communication, and customer service skills; good judgment and the ability to prioritize and provide prompt responses to requests and inquiries for a variety of university stakeholders;
• Proven experience and high-skill level with utilization of electronic and telecommunications software, on-site and remotely, for effective management and communication with various stakeholders; and
• Enthusiasm for working in higher education and a research-oriented environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master of Arts degree in Natural or related Social Science;
• Experience working in an academic unit within a university setting, and particularly with graduate students and academic requirements; and
• Experience working with Ellucian Banner and admissions programs such as Target X.