Career Center

Assistant Dean for Administration

George Mason University Libraries seeks an experienced, creative, collaborative, and skilled leader for its newly-augmented administrative services portfolio as Assistant Dean for Administration. Incumbent serves as a senior member of the Office of the Dean of Libraries and University Librarian, fulfills a broad range of administrative functions for the University Libraries, and reports to the Dean.

George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.

About the Position:

The responsibilities of the Assistant Dean for Administration position include: oversight and coordination of the Libraries’ budgets (E&G, grants and Foundation); direction for and support of a holistic human resources program; implementation and performance of fiscal services and related business management services; management of facilities-related activities; and coordination of communications, grants, and marketing programs.

Incumbent supervises administrative services personnel, directly or indirectly, (currently 8 FTE comprised of professional faculty, classified staff, and regular part-time employees), and provides management leadership and support enabling the Libraries’ organization with relevant university administrative processes and procedure, and adherence to policy and regulations. Liaises with such university offices as: Academic Administration, Office of the Provost; Budget; Purchasing; Human Resources & Payroll; Sponsored Programs; Facilities Administration; University Police; Safety and Emergency; and Risk Management.

Responsibilities:

• Prepares for authorization and implements the Libraries’ operating budget, monitors fund expenditures, and manages the (non-Collections) finances for the operations of University Libraries – involving E&G budget, grants funding and restricted funds with the GMU Foundation;
• Performs, and/or appropriately supervises, fiscal managerial functions within university and Libraries policies and procedures, and analyzes and interprets financial and/or operational issues;
• Directs holistic management of the human resources function for University Libraries, including personnel recruitment/hiring, payroll, employee relations, talent development, diversity and inclusion, organizational development, and associated personnel activities – involving a broad range of employees (Administrative and Professional Faculty, Classified personnel, Graduate Research and Graduate Professional Assistants, student assistants, and other regular part-time Wage personnel);
• Supervises and guides the Libraries’ Human Resources Officer (and indirectly other staff in the HR functional area) in the implementation of the university’s and the Libraries’ Human Resources multifaceted program;
• Advises the Libraries’ executive management on human resources planning and organizational development needs, exercising sound judgment and informed thinking, and ability to facilitate applicable decision-making with discretion and confidentiality;
• Oversees and guides the fiscal and business management team performing the Libraries’ purchasing, contracting, conference registrations, travel, memberships, invoice payments, and fund disbursements and reimbursements (excluding library research materials acquisition and licensing), and ensures proper expenditure of authorized funds from various sources – general budget (E&G), grants, and GMU Foundation;
• Oversees the Libraries’ communications, grants, and marketing program, guiding assigned staff for those activities, and demonstrating active leadership to the success of programmatic goals;
• Directs the Libraries’ facilities-related docket on all three university campuses, maintaining an effective “library as a place” program for the students, faculty, and staff of the university, including: planning and funding for major projects involving physical renovations, furniture and technology placements, space programming, and ADA compliance;
• Provides guidance and support to library managers and administrators for resolution of diverse or complex administrative issues based on data and accurate interpretation of university policies and regulations; and
• Ensures development and distribution of written materials pertaining to policies and procedures relating to the position’s overall responsibilities and prepares administrative reports encompassing both text narratives and numerical data.

Required Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in business administration or related management field; or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Significant (five 5+ years) of progressively responsible management experience involving leading and supervising professional and staff level personnel;
• Competence and demonstrated record of achievement in at least three of these administrative areas: budgeting and financial management; human resources program management; marketing and communications; facilities operations, grants development/management program; and project management;
• Evidence of ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships and working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders internally and externally;
• Demonstrated track record of using organizational skills, strategic vision, and creative thinking to help an organization achieve its mission;
• Proven record of effective personnel management, including: team building, goal setting and supervising, talent development, and performance analysis and feedback;
• Successful record of serving and supporting diverse constituencies of employees, and fostering a collegial, productive, and healthy work environment;
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills demonstrated by: ability to listen actively, speak and write clearly, and present ideas and information to group; and
• Demonstrated commitment to access, diversity and inclusiveness.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in an academic library setting, or in an organization with higher education or cultural heritage mission;
• Experience with financial processes, purchasing operations, and business contracting;
• Experience with Human Resources programming and processes encompassing multiple categories of personnel, and involving differing applicable policies and practices;
• Experience with facilities management, large-scale planning, and construction projects; and
• ALA-accredited graduate degree or certified foreign equivalent.

Appointment/Benefits/Salary:

12-month Administrative Faculty appointment; health plan options and paid life insurance; several retirement plans, including TIAA-CREF; 24 vacation days and 12 paid holidays; tuition waiver for self. Salary is commensurate with academic qualifications and professional experience, with an anticipated appointment salary of low $100s.

The George Mason University library system, comprised of a large central library and three other distinctive libraries, is located on three campuses in the Northern Virginia-metropolitan Washington, D.C., region. Serving an R1 university, the Mason Libraries pursues an ambitious programmatic agenda in all areas that are key to a 21st century academic research library — innovative technologies and services, expert library faculty and skilled staff members, growing collections, digital scholarship, publishing, modern facilities, and transformational partnerships. For more information, visit us at https://library.gmu.edu

Special Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.

Questions should be directed to Diana Tippett (dtippett@gmu.edu) or Della Patrick (dpatrick@gmu.edu), Office of the Dean of Libraries.

Review of applications will begin August 8, 2022.

Equity Statement: 

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.