Program Assistant

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 24,796 - 30,307; Part time

Job summary

The Program Assistant at George Mason University’s Carter School is a part-time, in-person role at the Fairfax campus. You will support undergraduate recruitment, student engagement, and office operations, providing mission-driven representation and strong frontline service.

The position emphasizes outreach, communications, and coordination across events, with a focus on high school pipelines and transfer enrollment. Excellent interpersonal skills and a passion for social impact are essential.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated connection to, or passion for, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, or social impact work.
• Ability to represent the Carter School’s mission with authenticity and enthusiasm.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and virtual platforms including MS Teams and Zoom.

Responsibilities

• Recruitment & Outreach: Represent the Carter School at tabling events, fairs, and outreach activities; Utilize kiosk on campus to promote Carter classes and opportunities to boost non‑major enrollment; Serve at Fairfax campus recruitment events; Expand transfer recruitment beyond NOVA; Outreach to partner high schools and campus visits; Build relationships with prospective students through informed conversations.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Conflict resolution passion

Organizational skills

MS Office Suite

MS Teams/Zoom

Tools

MS Teams

Zoom

Job description

Department: Carter School

Classification: GMU Worker

Job Category: Part-Time / Hourly Wage

Job Type: Part-Time

Work Schedule: Approximately 25 hours/week

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution is a community of faculty, students, staff, alumni, and partners with a fundamental commitment to building peace. Through the development of cutting‑edge theory, research, education, and practical work, we seek to identify and address the underlying causes of conflict and provide tools for ethical and just peacebuilding on the local, national, and global stages.

About the Position:

The Program Assistant is a part‑time, in‑person, staff position dedicated to supporting the Carter School’s undergraduate program at the Fairfax campus. This role is designed to strengthen recruitment, improve student engagement, and expand the School’s visibility across key transfer and high‑school pipelines. As undergraduate enrollment growth and outreach demands continue to increase, the addition of this role will provide consistent, mission‑driven representation of the Carter School while improving operational capacity within the undergraduate office. The Program Assistant will focus on recruitment, outreach, student‑facing communication, and undergraduate program support. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, creativity, comfort with administrative systems, a clear connection to the Carter School’s mission, and the ability to communicate the value of the program with passion and clarity.

Responsibilities

Recruitment & Outreach:

• Represent the Carter School at tabling events, fairs, and outreach activities;
• Utilize kiosk on campus to promote Carter classes and opportunities useful to other majors in order to boost non‑major enrollment and engagement;
• Serve as a consistent and engaging presence at Fairfax campus recruitment events;
• Expand transfer recruitment efforts beyond NOVA;
• Support outreach to partner automatic‑admitted high schools, including potential campus visits; and
• Build relationships with prospective students through informed, mission‑driven conversations.

Communications & Student Engagement:

• Monitor and respond to undergraduate program email inquiries in a timely and professional manner;
• Support development and distribution of the undergraduate newsletter; and
• Provide accurate and detailed information about academic programs, opportunities, and pathways.

Front Desk & Office Support:

• Provide reception coverage at the undergraduate front desk;
• Serve as a welcoming and knowledgeable first point of contact for students and visitors; and
• Assist in general administrative coordination of the undergraduate office.

Events & Program Operations:

• Support planning and execution of undergraduate events (especially high‑school outreach such as Rotary, CRYS, and D4D);
• Coordinate room reservations and logistics; and
• Assist staff in managing activities across multiple locations, with a focus on ensuring strong Fairfax presence.

Marketing & Digital Content:

• Attend events to capture photos and develop content for social media;
• Create and schedule posts to enhance program visibility and engagement; and
• Assist with basic graphic design needs for promotional materials.

Required Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Demonstrated connection to, or passion for, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, or social impact work;
• Ability to represent the Carter School’s mission with authenticity and enthusiasm;
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently; and
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and virtual platforms including MS Teams and Zoom.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with social media platforms or basic graphic design tools, photography, or storytelling; and
• Experience with outreach, recruitment, or student engagement.

Instructions to Applicants

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Program Assistant at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume.

Posting Open Date: June 29, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: July 20, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Mason Ad Statement

George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 research university committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous world. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largest and most diverse public research university in Virginia, offering degree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level, along with certificates and credentials.

George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment for students, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. We believe in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancing our mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; and we believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity of origin, identity, circumstance, and thought.

Equity Statement

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran 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/.