Senior Assistant Director - Centennial Scholars

Working Title:Senior Assistant Director - Centennial Scholars

State Role Title: Administrative and Professional Faculty

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Student Access and Inclusion

Department:100576 - Centennial Scholars Program E&G

Pay Band: 

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount:$55,000 - $60,000 

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 08/19/2026

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Senior Assistant Director for Centennial Scholars is responsible for the design, development, and delivery programs that advance academic success, financial literacy, and students’ ability to effectively navigate university systems at James Madison University. This role leads the implementation of programs that builds students’ social capital—ensuring they understand, access, and leverage institutional resources, policies, and opportunities. In addition, the position serves as the coordinator researching and leading the submission process for grants focused on student access and academic success while working to develop partnerships with college access programs across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Student Advising

• Work directly with Centennial and Valley Scholars participants supporting academic success, navigating barriers, and developing plans for programs of study, career and graduate plans.
• Advise approximately 90 students on a caseload, utilize a structured system for advising students through regular contact in-person, and electronic communication by utilizing established systems for case notes and participant data tracking.
• Support students in developing individualized success plans that align academic goals with career and post-graduate pathways.
• Identify systemic barriers to student success and design programmatic interventions.

2. Program Creation and Delivery

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement for programs that promote academic success, including structured academic planning, progress monitoring, and skill-building initiatives. Build partnerships with campus stakeholders with the goal of expanding outreach to the greater first generation student body.
• Create initiatives that increase students’ social capital by demystifying how JMU operates (e.g., navigating academic policies, utilizing campus resources, engaging faculty, and accessing high-impact opportunities such as internships, research, and study abroad).
• Utilize data-informed practices to assess program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Participate in Centennial Scholars selection by assisting with the academic and essay review and supporting the candidate interview process. Serves as a member of the selection committee.

3. Grant Research, Writing, and Resource Development

• Coordinate efforts to identify, research, and pursue external funding opportunities, including federal, state, and private grants.
• Develop competitive grant proposals aligned with program priorities in college access, persistence, and completion in collaboration with a team within the Division of Access and Enrollment.

4. Access Partnerships and Pipeline Development

• Build and sustain partnerships with K–12 school systems, TRIO programs, and community-based organizations committed to increasing college access.
• Represent Centennial Scholars in regional and statewide college access networks such as VCAN and First Gen Forward.

5. Supervision and Program Operations

• Supervise graduate assistants and student staff supporting program delivery, while establishing clear workflows and expectations for program implementation, student engagement, and data tracking.
• Ensure operational excellence across programming, communications, and student-facing services.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree
• 3–5 years of experience in college access, student success, or advising initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in program development and delivery for under-served student populations.
• Experience with grant research, writing, or management.
• Strong understanding of challenges facing first-generation, limited-income and/or under-served student populations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education, higher education, or related field
• Experience developing financial literacy or student success curricula
• Experience building partnerships with K–12 schools and community organizations
• Familiarity with federal grant compliance (e.g., EDGAR, U.S. Department of Education)

Additional Posting Information:

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.