Assistant Director Jobs in Arlington, VA

Department: Antonin Scalia Law School

Classification: Education Support Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Arlington, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Starting salary $70,000; commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Motor Vehicle Records Check: Yes

Important Eligibility Requirement

Employees in this position are required to operate university vehicles in accordance with George Mason University Vehicle Use Policy 1411. Applicants must possess and maintain an active, valid driver’s license that satisfies university requirements. Final candidates are subject to a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) review, and successful completion of the review is a condition of employment.

Minor or major driving violations may affect eligibility for employment. Applicants with prior driving infractions need to review the Eligibility & MVR Review Information (English / Spanish) before applying.

About the Department:

To educate students to become lawyers, the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School has designated a curriculum that addresses three of the most pressing requirements of contemporary legal practice: facility with economic and quantitative methods, the increasing need for specialization, and a thorough grounding in fundamental skills of legal research, writing, and analysis. George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School is located in Arlington, VA, just two miles from downtown Washington, D.C. Antonin Scalia Law School is a Top 50 law school. A relatively young law school, Scalia Law offers students an opportunity to pursue a JD, JM, or an LLM.

About the Position:

The Assistant Director of JD Admissions supports the recruitment, evaluation, and enrollment of students into Scalia Law’s JD program. The Assistant Director leads prospective and admitted student engagement and yield initiatives, manages the Student Ambassador program, develops and coordinates student communications, recruits and evaluates applicants, and supervises the Admissions Counselor responsible for admissions operations.

The Assistant Director works collaboratively with the Associate Dean for Admissions and Enrollment Management and the JD Admissions team to support the Law School’s recruitment, enrollment, and yield goals.

This position requires regular travel during peak recruitment periods, including local and overnight travel, as well as occasional evening and weekend work.

Responsibilities:

Prospective & Admitted Student Engagement and Yield:

• Leads prospective and admitted student engagement initiatives and programming;
• Plans and executes admitted student programs and yield initiatives;
• Leads prospective student engagement programs, including prospective student phone calls and application information sessions;
• Develops and manages communications for prospective, admitted, and incoming JD students;
• Maintains the annual Admissions communication calendar, including recruitment outreach, admitted student communications, enrollment deadlines, and onboarding communications;
• Leads the Student Ambassador program, including recruitment, training, expectations, and program development; and
• Evaluates engagement and yield initiatives and recommends improvements.

Recruitment & Outreach:

• Represents Scalia Law at local, regional, and national recruitment events;
• Travels extensively during peak recruitment periods to attend law school fairs, forums, panels, and other recruitment events, including multi-day and overnight travel;
• Counsels prospective students and applicants regarding the admissions process, Scalia Law programs, and the JD student experience;
• Participates in campus visits, information sessions, panels, group visits, and other recruitment activities;
• Develops and implements recruitment and outreach initiatives in support of enrollment goals;
• Assists with recruitment communications, presentations, and materials; and
• Performs recruitment-related special projects as assigned.

Application Review & Admissions Interviews:

• Reviews and evaluates incoming JD applications upwards of 80 per week in a timely manner;
• Conducts admissions interviews for the JD program upwards to 30 per week in a timely manner;
• Provides recommendations, feedback, and reports to the Associate Dean; and
• Supports special admissions review projects as assigned.

Staff Supervision & Admissions Operations:

• Directly supervises the Admissions Counselor responsible for admissions operations and accountable for staff performance;
• Provides training, guidance, professional development, and performance management to assigned staff;
• Establishes priorities and timelines for admissions operations and monitors completion of assigned responsibilities;
• Provides management-level review of key admissions processes, including application processing, enrollment and matriculation, transfer and visiting student admissions, and admissions database procedures;
• Reviews and maintains Standard Office Procedures in collaboration with the Admissions Counselor;
• Identifies and implements process improvements to increase accuracy, efficiency, and applicant service; and
• Serves as an escalation point for complex applicant and operational matters.

Other Duties:

• Supports major Admissions Office programs, events, and initiatives as needed; and
• Performs other duties related to the position as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience in higher education admissions, student recruitment, enrollment management, or a related field;
• Experience planning and implementing recruitment, student engagement, or enrollment programs;
• Experience using Microsoft Office and computer databases;
• Experience providing supervision, work direction, or leadership to employees or student staff;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Demonstrated organizational and analytical skills;
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and provide effective direction to staff;
• Ability to independently manage multiple programs, projects, and priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment;
• Strong customer service skills and a customer service-oriented attitude;
• Skill in public speaking in large and small group settings;
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive and confidential information;
• Ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, administrators, staff, alumni, and external partners;
• Ability to independently manage and complete work assignments with general supervision;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ability to utilize admissions databases and related technology systems;
• Ability to work flexible hours and travel as needed; and
• Must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor vehicle operator’s license that meets all of GMU’s requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason’s Vehicle Use Policy 1411 https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/. The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review the driver’s licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all candidates selected with employment contingent upon a favorable review.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor degree or Master’s degree in related field;
• Experience in law school or graduate admissions, student recruitment, and/or enrollment management;
• Experience supervising professional staff;
• Experience with ACES2, Unite, Banner, or comparable admissions systems;
• Experience with recruitment travel, application review, admissions interviews, and admitted student programming;
• Experience developing or maintaining admissions processes and Standard Office Procedures;
• Knowledge of law school admissions, recruitment, and enrollment management;
• Knowledge of student recruitment, enrollment, and yield strategies;
• Knowledge of university and law school admissions policies and procedures;
• Knowledge of admissions CRM and student information systems;
• Skill in developing prospective and admitted student programming; and
• Ability to identify opportunities for process improvement and implement effective solutions.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Assistant Director of JD Admissions 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 CV for review.

Posting Open Date: September 15, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: September 29, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes