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 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 multi-million-dollar federal portfolios; and
- Demonstrated experience in leadership within higher education, federally funded research, or national security initiatives.
Instructions to Applicants: For full consideration, applicants must apply for
Senior Director, Federal Programs at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.
Posting Open Date: April 8, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: May 15, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
