Health Educator

George Mason University; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

George Mason University seeks a Health Educator for Intercollegiate Athletics to design, implement, and evaluate wellness education and prevention initiatives for Division I student-athletes. You will focus on proactive education, resilience, and performance while collaborating with Sports Medicine, Strength & Conditioning, Nutrition, and coaching staff to deliver team-based programs.

The role emphasizes evidence-based prevention, education across departments, and a culture that prioritizes

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Health Education; or the equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Typical requirement: 2+ years in health education, wellness programming, student affairs, collegiate athletics, healthcare, or related field.
• Experience developing and delivering educational presentations.
• Experience coordinating health promotion initiatives.
• Knowledge of evidence-based health promotion and prevention strategies.
• Knowledge of issues affecting Division I student-athletes or elite athletes.
• Skill in public speaking and facilitation.
• Skill in organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to educate diverse student populations.
• Ability to develop engaging team presentations.
• Ability to collaborate with coaches and interdisciplinary performance staff.
• Ability to analyze program outcomes and recommend improvements.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Valid driver's license and ability to operate university vehicles as per policy.

Responsibilities

• Develop, coordinate, and deliver comprehensive health education, wellbeing, and prevention programming for Division I student-athletes.
• Partner with Athletics Mental Health Clinician to create an annual wellness plan and deliver team-based sessions.
• Coordinate and deliver educational sessions and wellness programming throughout the academic year.
• Support prevention and early-intervention initiatives to promote help-seeking behaviors.
• Collaborate with coaches and athletics staff to identify wellness education needs.
• Participate in CARES Team and department meetings to promote collaboration.
• Serve as a resource to internal and external partners regarding wellness education.
• Support communication among partners to promote holistic student-athlete development.
• Maintain relationships per university policies and privacy standards.
• Develop annual wellness education calendar and assess outcomes.

Skills

Public speaking

Facilitation

Project management

Collaboration

Confidentiality and judgment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Health Education; or equivalent combination of education and experience

Master’s degree in Health Education or related field

Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or MCHES

Mental Health First Aid certification

NCAA Mental Health Best Practices training

Suicide prevention / gatekeeper training

Motivational Interviewing training

Experience working with NCAA student-athletes

Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary healthcare teams

Experience in mental health prevention programming

Experience assessing educational outcomes and program effectiveness

Experience working in collegiate athletics or with young adult populations

Job description

Department: Intercollegiate Athletics

Classification: Professional 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: On Site Required

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visasponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education andexperience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Motor Vehicle Records Check: Yes

Important Eligibility Requirement

Employees in this position are required to operate universityvehicles in accordance with George Mason University Vehicle UsePolicy 1411. Applicants must possess and maintain an active, validdriver’s license that satisfies university requirements. Finalcandidates are subject to a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) review, andsuccessful completion of the review is a condition ofemployment. Minor or major driving violations may affect eligibility foret employment. Applicants with prior driving infractions need toreview the Eligibility & MVR Review Information ( English / Spanish) before applying.

About the Department

George Mason Athletics unites communities by developing championswith a mission to inspire and transform lives through the power ofsports. Mason Athletics serves 500 student-athletes in 22 NCAADivision I sports. We are a proud member of the Atlantic 10Conference with over 20 Conference Championships, NCAAChampionships in Women’s Soccer and Men’s Indoor Track, an NCAAappearance in Women’s Basketball, and an NCAA Final Four appearancewith Men’s Basketball, and over 30 individual National Champions.We are student-focused, education-centered, and committed toproviding transformational experiences for our student-athletes andstaff. Our five priorities are Student-Athlete Experience,Competition, Resources, Storytelling & Engagement, andChampionship Culture.

About the Position

The Health Educator for Intercollegiate Athletics serves as anintegral member of the Student-Athlete Health and Performance Teamand works under the direction of the Athletics Mental HealthClinician. The position is responsible for developing,implementing, and evaluating evidence-based health education andprevention initiatives that enhance the overall well-being,resilience, and performance of George Mason student-athletes. The Health Educator focuses on proactive education, prevention, andteam-based programming that complements the work of the AthleticsMental Health Clinician. This position collaborates closely withSports Medicine, Strength & Conditioning, Sports Nutrition, Student-Athlete Development, Academic Support, and coaching staffsto deliver programming that addresses the unique physical, mental,emotional, and social demands of Division I student-athletes. The Health Educator serves as the department's primary resource forstudent-athlete wellness education while helping create a culturethat prioritizes performance, resilience, healthy decision-making,and holistic student-athlete development.

Responsibilities

Direct and Indirect Services

• Develop, coordinate, and deliver comprehensive healtheducation, wellbeing, and prevention programming tailoredspecifically to Division I student-athletes. Responsibilitiesinclude:
  • Partner with the Athletics Mental Health Clinician to developand implement an annual student-athlete health and well-being andprevention plan for all varsity teams aligned with NCAA,university, and Athletics Department priorities. Coordinate anddeliver team-based educational sessions and wellness programmingthroughout the academic year;
  • Support prevention and early-intervention initiatives designedto reduce barriers to student-athlete well-being and promotehelp-seeking behaviors;
  • Collaborate with coaches and athletics support staff toidentify student-athlete wellness education and programmingneeds;

Administrative Duties

• Participate in CARES Team meetings and other interdisciplinarymeetings, as appropriate, to promote communication andcollaboration across student-athlete support services. AttendAthletics Department staff meetings and other departmentalmeetings, as appropriate, to remain informed of departmentalpriorities and initiatives;
• Serve as a collaborative resource to internal and externalpartners regarding student-athlete wellness education, preventionprogramming, and available support resources;
• Support communication and coordination among appropriatepartners to promote a holistic and integrated student-athleteexperience; and
• Maintain collaborative relationships in accordance withapplicable university policies, privacy standards, andconfidentiality protocols.

Strategic Planning, Assessment & DepartmentInitiatives

• Develop an annual student-athlete wellness educationcalendar;
• Assess programming effectiveness using measurable outcomes andstudent feedback;
• Prepare annual reports outlining participation, educationaloutcomes, and recommendations;
• Assist with NCAA Mental Health Best Practices implementation;and
• Represent Athletics on campus wellness committees whenappropriate.

Perform other relevant duties as assigned by thesupervisor

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in: Health Education; Public Health;Community Health; Exercise Science; Psychology; Kinesiology; HealthPromotion; or related field or the equivalent combination ofeducation and experience;
• Typically, 2+ years of experience in health education, wellnessprogramming, student affairs, collegiate athletics, healthcare, orrelated field;
• Experience developing and delivering educationalpresentations;
• Experience coordinating health promotion initiatives;
• Knowledge of evidence-based health promotion and preventionstrategies;
• Knowledge of issues affecting Division I student-athletes orelite athletes;
• Skill in public speaking and facilitation skills;
• Skill in organizational and project management skills;
• Ability to educate diverse student populations;
• Ability to develop engaging team presentations;
• Ability to collaborate with coaches and interdisciplinaryperformance staff;
• Ability to analyze program outcomes and recommendimprovements;
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise soundjudgment; and
• Valid driver's license: must currently possess an appropriate,active, valid motor vehicle operator’s license that meets all ofGMU’s requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment underMason’s Vehicle Use Policy 1411https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/. The Officeof Risk Management reserves the right to review the driver’slicenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all candidatesselected with employment contingent upon a favorable review.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in: Health Education; Public Health; CommunityHealth; Exercise Science; Psychology; Kinesiology; HealthPromotion; or related field;
• Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES); CHES or MCHEScertification;
• Mental Health First Aid certification;
• Training related to NCAA Mental Health Best Practices;
• Suicide prevention/gatekeeper training;
• Motivational Interviewing;
• Experience working with NCAA student-athletes;
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary healthcareteams;
• Experience in mental health prevention programming;
• Experience assessing educational outcomes and programeffectiveness;
• Experience working in collegiate athletics or with young adultpopulations; and
• Knowledge of NCAA Mental Health Best Practices.

Posting Open Date

November 5, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by:

November 19, 2026

Open Until Filled

Yes

Mason Ad Statement

George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 researchuniversity committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperousworld. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largestand most diverse public research university in Virginia, offeringdegree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,along with certificates and credentials. George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment forstudents, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. Webelieve in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancingour mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; andwe believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity oforigin, identity, circumstance, and thought.

Equity Statement

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative actionemployer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in itscommunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration foret employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability orveteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

Campus Safety Information

Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/