Senior Director, Federal Programs

George Mason University; Fairfax (VA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

George Mason University (GMU) via Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) seeks a Senior Director, Federal Programs to provide strategic leadership for the university's federal portfolio. This role builds and manages a sustainable pipeline with DoD, IC, DHS and other sponsors, directing cross-disciplinary teams and ensuring alignment with policies and federal requirements.

The Senior Director oversees program execution, contract oversight, and sponsor engagement, coordinating across Mason

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Business Administration, Engineering, Defense Studies, or related field.
• 10+ years of federal program management, defense initiatives, or large-scale sponsored research.
• Experience building and managing a federal business development pipeline.
• Strong knowledge of FAR/DFARS and sponsored research compliance.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a Top Secret clearance (SCI preferred).

Responsibilities

• Leads execution and oversight of federally funded programs within CPE.
• Develops and implements a strategic plan to build a pipeline of federal opportunities.
• Coordinates multi-disciplinary teams across the university to assemble competitive capabilities.
• Ensures compliance with federal regulations and GMU policies and manages sponsor engagement.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Team coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Business Administration, Engineering, Defense Studies, Project/Program Management, or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Senior Director, Federal Programs

• Job ID: 10003947
• Location: Fairfax, VA
• Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty
• Opening on: Apr 8 2026

Department: Academic Affairs

Classification: Administrative 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: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Security Clearance Check: Yes

About the Department:

Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) at George Mason University serves as the university's central hub for workforce development, executive education, and applied professional learning. CPE partners with federal agencies, industry, and academic units across Mason to design and deliver highimpact training programs that strengthen the region's talent pipeline. CPE supports strategic university initiatives by offering flexible, missionaligned programs-including short courses, certificate programs, customized federal training, and largescale workforce skilling efforts-that advance organizational performance and address emerging national security, defense, and technology needs. As part of GMU's research and innovation ecosystem, CPE collaborates closely with Mason Defense, academic colleges, and research centers to ensure programs are responsive, experiential, and aligned with federal workforce priorities. CPE also supports George Mason University's efforts to expand and deliver impactful defense and national security programs through applied research, federal partnerships, workforce development, and strategic initiatives. The unit collaborates closely with academic units, research centers, and federal agencies to advance mission-critical national security objectives.

About the Position:

The Senior Director, Federal Programs provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and business development direction for CPE's involvement in Mason Defense's federal portfolio. This position is responsible for building and managing a sustainable pipeline of federal opportunities, overseeing execution of complex federal programs, and coordinating multi-disciplinary matrixed teams across the university. The Senior Director ensures that all programs align with university policies, federal regulations, and the strategic priorities of Mason Defense and CPE.

Responsibilities:

Program Leadership and Oversight

• Leads execution and oversight of federally funded programs within CPE;
• Establishes program plans, milestones, internal controls, and performance metrics;
• Manages program risks, resources, deliverables, and reporting requirements; and
• Ensures high-quality program performance in accordance with federal and university standards.

Federal Business Development and Pipeline Growth

• Develops and executes a strategic plan to build a pipeline of new opportunities with DoD, Intelligence Community, DHS, and other federal sponsors;
• Leads capture planning, partner engagement, and proposal development;
• Maintains relationships with government sponsors, prime contractors, industry partners, and research collaborators; and
• Identifies emerging federal needs and align opportunities with university expertise.

Matrixed Team Leadership and Cross-Campus Coordination

• Coordinates multi-disciplinary teams involving faculty, researchers, administrative staff, and technical experts;
• Facilitates cross-campus collaboration to assemble competitive teams and capabilities; and
• Ensures effective communication and alignment across colleges, institutes, and centers.

Compliance, Contracts, and Sponsor Engagement

• Ensures compliance with FAR, DFARS, OMB Uniform Guidance, agency-specific regulations, and GMU policies;
• Supports audits, sponsor reviews, and contract oversight;
• Serves as primary point of contact for federal sponsors and external partners; and
• Provides briefings, reports, and strategic updates to university leadership.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Business Administration, Engineering, Defense Studies, Project/Program Management, or related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Progressively responsible experience (typically 10+ years) in federal program management, defense initiatives, or large-scale sponsored research;
• Demonstrated experience building and managing a federal business development pipeline;
• Strong knowledge of federal acquisition processes, FAR/DFARS, and sponsored research compliance;
• Proven ability to lead and influence matrixed teams across diverse academic and technical disciplines;
• Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills;
• U.S. citizenship required; and
• Active Top Secret (with a preference for SCI) or the ability to maintain a US security clearance is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in related field;
• Experience working with DoD, DHS, IC agencies, or federal R&D organizations;
• Experience managing multimilliondollar federal portfolios; and
• Demonstrated experience in leadership within higher education, federally funded research, or national security initiatives.