Department: University Life
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 range starting in the mid $70k's; commensurate with education and experience
Restricted: Yes
Criminal Background Check: Yes
About the Department:
The Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement (CLIE) supports student leadership, identity development, intercultural understanding, community engagement, and coalition-building across the university. CLIE offers programs, workshops, resources, and experiential opportunities that help students build community, understand themselves and others, and engage across differences. Its work includes leadership development, intercultural dialogue, ethics, and identity-focused initiatives, spiritual and interfaith engagement, service projects, and support for student organizations.
About the Position:
The Associate Director advances spiritual wellness, interfaith literacy, and spiritual and cultural pluralism by managing the daily operations, programs, and partnerships of Mason’s Spiritual and Interfaith Center. Reporting to the Director of CLIE, this role implements interfaith and spiritual engagement initiatives that align with CLIE and University Life priorities. The Associate Director collaborates with ambassadors, chaplains, campus partners, and student organizations to deliver programs that support student belonging and holistic development.
Responsibilities:
Programming & Student Support
- Leads the planning, implementation, and evaluation of interfaith and spiritual engagement programs, including dialogues, retreats, observances, and educational experiences, to support students’ meaning-making, belonging, and engagement across diverse religious, spiritual, secular, and worldview identities;
- Oversees the daily operations of the Spiritual and Interfaith Center, including space utilization, scheduling, space reservations, room logistics, program flow, and coordination of student, faculty, and staff engagement, to ensure effective, inclusive, and consistent use of the Center;
- Advises and provides developmental support to faith based, spiritual, secular, and worldview student organizations by guiding leadership development, reinforcing community standards, and promoting inclusive practices to support organizational effectiveness and student growth. This may include a combination of 1:1 advising, group consultations, and structured development experiences (e.g., retreats, trainings); and
- In collaboration with the Director, coordinates and implements timely campus responses to national or global events that impact students’ religious, spiritual, or cultural identities to support student care, community dialogue, and institutional responsiveness. Includes direct student support and coordinated campus efforts, as well as contributing to after-hours response coordination.
Supervision & Leadership
- Supervises, trains, and mentors 10–15 graduate and undergraduate student staff by establishing role expectations, providing ongoing feedback, and supporting professional development to ensure effective operations and student staff growth;
- Manages operational budgets for the Spiritual and Interfaith Center and related initiatives by tracking expenditures, monitoring budget performance, and aligning financial decisions with student needs and Center priorities to support responsible fiscal stewardship; and
- Conducts assessment, data collection, analysis, and reporting related to interfaith and spiritual engagement initiatives to inform program improvement, demonstrate impact, and support divisional and institutional reporting requirements.
Campus Partnerships
- Collaborates with campus partners and affiliates to design and deliver learning and development initiatives for faculty, staff, and student leaders that strengthen understanding of religious, spiritual, secular, and worldview diversity and its relevance to the student experience and well being;
- Identifies, develops, and disseminates campus wide educational and operational resources that enhance institutional awareness and responsiveness to students’ religious, spiritual, and worldview related needs, including observances, practices, and accommodation considerations that affect participation, access, and well being; resources are shared through multiple channels (e.g., the Center’s website, digital communications, printed materials, and workshops or trainings.);
- Partners with campus units to integrate interfaith and spiritual engagement into broader student support, leadership development, and well being initiatives, in alignment with CLIE and University Life priorities; and
- Serves as liaison to the Religious Professionals Council by managing affiliation roles with the university, ensuring compliance with institutional and Center policies, coordinating onboarding for new affiliates, and collaborating with University Life HR to support effective oversight and partnership alignment.
Unit & Division Support/Services
- Contributes to CLIE and University Life initiatives through cross-unit collaboration, shared projects, and divisional priorities that support student well-being, belonging, and leadership development;
- Participates in professional development workshops and training sessions for staff across the division to promote continuous learning and skill enhancement;
- Stays informed about best practices, research, and emerging trends in higher education and student support services to ensure CLIE and the Spiritual Center remains innovative and responsive to the evolving needs of the student body; and
- Supports divisional initiatives and other special projects as assigned, actively participating at in-person events and volunteer opportunities to represent CLIE, the Spiritual Center, and UL effectively to the campus community and other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience;
- Professional experience, typically obtained in 3+ years, supporting student engagement, identity based programs, campus programming, or community initiatives;
- Experience facilitating group based experiences, such as discussions, workshops, dialogues, or student programs;
- Experience supporting program logistics, including event coordination, scheduling, and/or advising student organizations;
- Experience designing and implementing programs that address the needs of multifaceted student populations;
- Experience overseeing or supporting daily operations in a high traffic physical space, including managing space use, scheduling, and logistical needs in a center, office, or program environment;
- Experience supporting individuals or groups representing perspectives from a broad range of backgrounds;
- Knowledge of interfaith dialogue frameworks and spiritual development theory and the ability to apply these concepts to program design, facilitation, and student support;
- Ability to forecast expenses, and monitor budget activity and expenditures to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment with approved budgets;
- Demonstrated organizational and problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate complex challenges;
- Demonstrated interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills with the ability to communicate and engage effectively with varying audiences of constituents and departmental stakeholders;
- Ability to build relationships with students, families, staff, and community partners from a broad spectrum of backgrounds and perspective; and
- Ability to effectively supervise and develop staff by setting expectations, providing feedback, and supporting professional growth.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience, typically obtained in 3+years, implementing interfaith or spiritual engagement programs;
- Experience developing all-inclusive programs for students with varied religious, spiritual, secular, and questioning worldviews;
- Experience navigating complex, decentralized campus environments to coordinate work and advance initiatives;
- Experience contributing to assessment, evaluation, or planning efforts for student engagement or well being programs;
- Knowledge of emerging cultural, legal, and political issues and their impact on institutional practice and student support;
- Ability to transport program materials and supplies as required to support program delivery, including travel to and from off campus locations; and
- Ability to build and sustain collaborative working relationships with campus and community partners to advance shared goals.
Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for Associate Director of Spiritual & Intercultural Center at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide Resume and Cover Letter for review.
Posting Open Date: June 12, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: June 26, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
