Senior Director, Federal Programs

About the Position

The Senior Director, Federal Programs provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and business development direction for CPE’s involvement in Mason Defense’s federal portfolio. This position is responsible for building and managing a sustainable pipeline of federal opportunities, overseeing execution of complex federal programs, and coordinating multi-disciplinary matrixed teams across the university. The Senior Director ensures that all programs align with university policies, federal regulations, and the strategic priorities of Mason Defense and CPE.

• Lead execution and oversight of federally funded programs within CPE;
• Establish program plans, milestones, internal controls, and performance metrics;
• Manage program risks, resources, deliverables, and reporting requirements;
• Ensure high-quality program performance in accordance with federal and university standards.

• Develop and execute a strategic plan to build a pipeline of new opportunities with DoD, Intelligence Community, DHS, and other federal sponsors;
• Lead capture planning, partner engagement, and proposal development;
• Maintain relationships with government sponsors, prime contractors, industry partners, and research collaborators;
• Identify emerging federal needs and align opportunities with university expertise.

• Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams involving faculty, researchers, administrative staff, and technical experts;
• Facilitate cross-campus collaboration to assemble competitive teams and capabilities;
• Ensure effective communication and alignment across colleges, institutes, and centers.

• Ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, OMB Uniform Guidance, agency-specific regulations, and GMU policies;
• Support audits, sponsor reviews, and contract oversight;
• Serve as primary point of contact for federal sponsors and external partners;
• Provide briefings, reports, and strategic updates to university leadership.

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Business Administration, Engineering, Defense Studies, Project/Program Management, or related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Progressively responsible experience (typically 10+ years) in federal program management, defense initiatives, or large-scale sponsored research;
• Demonstrated experience building and managing a federal business development pipeline;
• Strong knowledge of federal acquisition processes, FAR/DFARS, and sponsored research compliance;
• Proven ability to lead and influence matrixed teams across diverse academic and technical disciplines;
• Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills;
• U.S. citizenship required;
• Active Top Secret (with a preference for SCI) or the ability to maintain a US security clearance is required.

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Experience working with DoD, DHS, IC agencies, or federal R&D organizations;
• Experience managing multi‑million‑dollar federal portfolios;
• Demonstrated experience in leadership within higher education, federally funded research, or national security initiatives.

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, veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.