Assistant Director for Substance Use

Department: UL

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

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC) is committed to providing an empowering environment for all George Mason students to seek support services and to explore healthy life choices. The Center offers educational programming, one-on-one consultations, and resources in the areas of sexual and interpersonal violence, financial well-being, basic needs, and substance use. Staff also assist students encountering barriers to personal success.

About the Position:

The Assistant Director for Substance Use oversees SSAC’s comprehensive alcohol and other drug prevention, intervention, and support services. The Assistant Director engages with university and community partners to raise awareness, strengthen prevention efforts, and expand support services. Through these services, SSAC aims to increase retention, persistence, and degree completion of students affected by substance misuse. The Assistant Director is a dedicated professional focused on supporting the holistic development of students while ensuring the well-being and safety of the university community.

Responsibilities:

Prevention, Outreach, and Community Education

• Develops and implements evidence-based community education, prevention programs, social marketing campaigns, and outreach about substance use with the goal of raising awareness, encouraging healthy choices, enhancing visibility and accessibility, and increasing student usage of Center services;
• Cultivates community awareness about substance use and develops and maintains positive working relationships with campus and community partners, who are invested in supporting George Mason students;
• Participates on university and community committees, taskforces, and coalitions to represent SSAC on matters related to substance use services, ensuring the Center's interests are represented and addressed as necessary; and
• Applies analytic skills to identify trends in substance use and outreach engagement, using data to refine prevention strategies and educational programming. 

Peer Education Program Oversight

• With the Assistant Director for Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Response and Prevention, co-supervises the Center’s peer education program focused on bystander intervention, healthy relationships, and substance use education;
• Assists with recruiting, selecting, training, and evaluating peer educators to ensure appropriate staffing levels to meet Center prevention and outreach goals; and
• Monitors the effectiveness of the peer educator program and provides constructive feedback and coaching to improve individual peer educator performance. 

Synergistic Student Case Management

• Conducts intake screenings and provides compassionate individualized support to students with concerns related to substance use;
• Implements developmentally appropriate interventions, coordinates campus and community resources and services, and monitors follow-up and progress of cases;
• Collaborates with other university departments and community agencies in assisting students;
• Facilitates short-term educational interventions for students sanctioned by Student Conduct;
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation within a case management software and ensures that student records are in compliance with university policies and applicable laws; and
• Assists SSAC’s broader team by occasionally supporting students facing other life challenges not associated with substance use. 

Unit and Divisional Support

• Stays informed about best practices, current research, emerging trends, and standards of practice in the field of substance use, higher education, and student support services to ensure SSAC remains innovative and responsive to the evolving student needs;
• Supports SSAC Leadership with assessment efforts, strategic planning, and special projects focused on substance us, helping to ensure efficient and effective service and to advance Center, University Life, and university goals;
• Assists with creation of unit reports and development and implementation of SSAC policies and procedures consistent with legal and institutional mandates; and
• Actively participates in University Life divisional meetings, professional development opportunities, initiatives, and in-person events to stay connected with divisional and institutional priorities, and to foster cross-unit collaboration. 

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Professional work experience in direct service to individuals facing life challenges;
• Experience working in the substance use prevention and intervention field;
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.);
• Demonstrated problem-solving and analytical skills;
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills;
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and adapt to changing needs and deadlines;
• Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information and records;
• Ability to build and maintain successful collaborative relationships with a spectrum of various campus community stakeholders; and
• Other attributes that demonstrate effective work habits, including timeliness, accuracy, and reliability.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Health Education Specialist certification through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing;
• Professional work experience in a university setting managing substance use cases;
• Professional work experience in a university setting managing student in distress cases and related issues;
• Experience with mental health safety planning and management of cases with risk of harm to self or others;
• Experience developing and leading education programs, prevention efforts, trainings, and community outreach efforts;
• Experience advising peer education groups;
• Experience with motivational interviewing, positive psychology, or strengths-based approaches to behavior change;
• Experience effectively serving a population of students from varying backgrounds facing a spectrum of life challenges;
• Experience effectively engaging with committees, coalitions, and community agencies;
• Experience using case management software to accurately and securely document student cases;
• Knowledge about non-clinical case management practices in higher education institutions with a focus on substance use and students in distress;
• Knowledge of current national research and trends about substance use and mental health among college students; and
• Knowledge about substance use intervention and prevention best practices.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Assistant Director for Substance Use 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: December 17, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  January 13, 2026

Open Until Filled:  Yes