Senior Graduate Academic Affairs Coordinator

George Mason University; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

George Mason University is seeking a Senior Graduate Academic Affairs Coordinator in Fairfax, VA, to support the Graduate Division with policy management and procedure development. You will coordinate student exceptions, oversee appeals, and liaise with faculty and staff to ensure compliant, efficient workflows.

The role emphasizes confidentiality, data integrity, and collaboration with departments to enhance graduate education operations and reporting tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Generally 2–4 years of professional experience in a fast-paced office environment.
• Experience with policies, codes, regulations, rules or laws.
• Knowledge of applying policies and procedures and ability to facilitate related processes.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead review and processing of graduate student requests for exceptions to policies and admissions, and for appeals.
• Manage the exception-to-policy process and draft final decisions with recommended actions.
• Coordinate graduate student appeals with faculty review committees and ensure timely communications.
• Serve as primary resource for inquiries related to academic exceptions and appeals.
• Oversee internal records to comply with accreditation and university procedures and improve workflows.
• Manage leave of absence requests and evaluate eligibility per policy.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Information gathering

Organization

Multitasking

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

MS Office

Adobe products

Job description

Department: Academic Affairs

Classification: Education Support Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

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 visasponsorship

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience;salary range is between $62K - $66K

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department

Part of the Office of the Provost, under the Academic AffairsDivision, the Graduate Division elevates Mason graduate educationby augmenting the work of the academic units by increasing theimpact of graduate students and programs, fostering a collaborativeculture of academic excellence, and contributing to the researchproductivity and the workforce development appropriate to an R1institution.

About the Position

The Senior Graduate Academic Affairs Coordinator provideshigh-level support to the Graduate Division and its key constituentgroups by managing graduate academic policies and procedures,coordinating student exception and appeal processes, andcontributing to the development and enhancement of graduateacademic workflows. This position reports to Senior Director ofGraduate Academic Affairs and Initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the review and processing of graduate student requests forexceptions to academic and admissions policies, as well as academicappeals, ensuring alignment with institutional policies andguidelines;
• For complex exception cases, manage the full exception topolicy process: review initial submissions using internal systems,identify and request additional documentation, conduct criticalanalysis based on policy criteria, and draft a comprehensivesummary with recommendations for supervisory review and discussion.Prepare and deliver oral briefings, draft final decisions, andensure timely communication with student, faculty, and staff, andmaintain proper records of management;
• Manage the graduate student appeals process involving facultyreview committees: conduct thorough review of student submissions,prepare and distribute materials, brief committee members on keyissues, facilitate communication between stakeholders, and ensuretimely resolution and notification of outcomes to students andstakeholders;
• Serve as the primary resource for inquiries related to academicexceptions and appeals, ensuring timely, accurate responses;
• Oversee internal record management processes so they arecarried out in compliance with accreditation and universityprocedures and lead any needed enhancements;
• Manage graduate student leave of absence requests, includingreview of submissions, follow-up for additional documentation,eligibility evaluation based on academic policy, engagement withstudents and stakeholders as needed, and communication of outcomesusing established workflows;
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all student records andsensitive information in accordance with university policy;and
• Utilize available data to support the supervisor in assessingimplementation of new policies and procedures, and in identifyingtrends and gaps in policy exception requests.

Graduate Policy and Procedures

• Contribute to the development of new and enhanced graduatestudent academic and admissions policies through review, issueidentification, and assist in gathering input fromstakeholders;
• Collaborate with graduate partners to ensure creation,implementation, and communication of procedures and processes thatenhance the graduate student experience and assist in ensuringunits’ compliance with existing graduate university, academic, andadmission policies through analysis of available data anduniversity engagement; and
• Work with the Graduate Division Operations team to identify andprovide information relating to requirements, updates, andmaintenance needs that ensure accurate graduate academic andadmissions policy and procedures information is presented onrelevant webpages.

Communication and Outreach

• Assist with the development and implementation of relevantpolicies and procedures and the management of communication withall graduate policies and procedures;
• Contribute towards presentations and training related tograduate education of new faculty and staff through written andverbal communication;
• Serve as a primary liaison for academic units andadministration on the use of systems related to graduate academicand admissions policies and procedures; and
• Chair college/school graduate academic affairs workinggroup.

Technology Support and Data Management

• Help monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of existingacademic affairs technology and data management tools foroperational efficiency;
• Collaborate with Graduate Division partners to supportinnovations in graduate academic electronic workflows and otherrelated technologies to address graduate education needs acrossacademic units and elevate the graduate student experience;and
• Help facilitate and participate in the testing of newtechnologies and processes. Engage with schools and colleges togather feedback regarding impact.

Graduate Council Support

• Support the planning and operations of the Graduate Council bycoordinating key administrative functions, including thedevelopment and editing of policy documents, monitoring chat roomquestions and discussions, and ensuring meeting minutes arecomplete by assigned staff; and
• Ensure timely execution of follow-up actions, including catalogentries, and assisting in the development of the Council’s annualagenda in collaboration with the supervisor.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, or the equivalentcombination of education and experience;
• Generally, 2-4 years experience as a professional in afast-paced office environment, and strong stakeholder or customerservice experience;
• Experience with policies, codes, regulations, rules orlaws;
• Knowledge of and familiarity with applying policies andprocedures to presented circumstances coupled with the ability tofacilitate the administration of related processes;
• Knowledge of effective communication and stakeholder managementtechniques to professionally engage with a wide variety ofstakeholders;
• Skill in information gathering, analysis, and clear, concisewritten and verbal presentation;
• Skill in operating applicable office equipment and software,including MS Office and Adobe products, and the ability to learnand utilize new technology;
• Skill in organizing, prioritizing, and managing multiple tasksconcurrently in a professional setting to ensure timely completionthat meets deadlines;
• Ability to proactively identify needs and assist in developmentand execution of solutions;
• Ability to produce high-quality, detail-oriented workindependently and collaboratively; and
• Ability to manage information and records while maintainingconfidentiality and compliance with requirements for student andGraduate Division materials and discussions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Experience in higher education at the graduate studentlevel;
• Experience with George Mason higher education studentinformation and reporting tools;
• Knowledge of higher education academic processes and ability tocommunicate them;
• Knowledge and interest in issues impacting graduateeducation;
• Skill in data collection and assessment; and
• Demonstrated familiarity, skill, and interest in highereducation operations and technology.

Posting Open Date

September 18, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by

October 9, 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 athttp://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/