Graduate Student and Patriot Connect Specialist

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Department: Col of Engineering and Computing

Classification: Education Support Spec 2

Job Category: Classified Staff

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

Pay Band: 03

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Office of Graduate Studies (GS), within the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), provides proactive CEC-wide leadership, supervision, guidance, and accountability for graduate affairs. The Office works as the bridge for graduate affairs between department-level responsibilities, and university-level responsibilities with regard to:

* Graduate student recruitment and admissions;
* Graduate student advising, oversight, and conflict resolution; and
* Academic policy and program development and management.

The Office oversees graduate students and program liaisons, and interfaces with central university offices such as the Associate Provost for Graduate Affairs Office; Registrar; Central Admissions; and the Office of International Programs and Services.

In addition, the Office administers and oversees CEC's distinctive and cross-cutting PhD program in Information Technology (INFT).

About the Position:

The Graduate Student and Patriot Connect Specialist will serve as a versatile administrative and operational anchor for the office, supporting students and staff through comprehensive customer service, communication, and system management. The role oversees day-to-day operations by managing data and reporting tools, facilitating multi-channel student outreach, handling aspects of academic and program administration, and coordinating essential logistical functions.

Responsibilities:

Administrative Office Support

• Creates and manages work order requests;
• Serves as Telecom Administrator;
• Manages travel arrangements;
• Provides event planning support;
• Performs research on a variety of topics related to graduate students, such as enrollment and graduate programs at other universities, or starting salaries for new graduates;
• Assists with fiscal and financial transactions;
• Maintains a purchase card for departmental use and reconciles the purchase card account in accordance with university policy;
• Reviews and assists with monthly budget reconciliation for approval by supervisor; and
• Orders office supplies as needed.

Graduate Student Affairs/Academic Policy Advisement

• Responds to constituents (students, faculty, staff, or community members) through face-to-face walk-in interactions, online appointments, phone calls, and emails, and independently assesses their reasons for contact;
• Manages a wide range of admissions and current student questions while resolving or directing inquiries appropriately;
• Serves as the primary point of contact for the department's general email account, monitoring correspondence and providing timely responses or referrals;
• Independently assesses the nature of each inquiry and provides accurate information, guidance, and support (this may include admissions and current student inquiries);
• Researches or redirects all inquiries appropriately;
• Provides administrative support for the INFT PhD Program, under direct supervision;
• Responds to inquiries from prospective students and provides referrals to Concentration Directors when necessary;
• Schedules sections of IT 998/999 and distributes course registration numbers to students;
• Schedules final defenses based on the availability of the appropriate Associate Dean and program coordinator;
• Receives course schedules and enters into academics operations platform (CourseLeaf) choosing rooms appropriately;
• Provides outreach to various populations as needed;
• Conversion of non-degree students to degree seeking students;
• Retention of students through degree completion;
• Provide provisional student lists, conferral problems, and missing grades, to departments;
• Approves agreed-upon routine forms directed to general office email address;
• Reviews and assigns academic advisors to graduate students; share lists with departments for them to do the same for departmental-level advisors;
• Reviews and approves announcements and ad hoc emails to graduate student listservs via the general office email address;
• Demonstrates commitment to best practices for an inclusive community in order to fully engage the diverse population of graduate students;
• Reviews and updates policy sites as needed or directed by the supervisor; and
• Attends special events on behalf of CECGS (e.g., Gradstravagnza, Admissions events, Degree Celebration, OIPS Orientation, etc.).

Patriot Connect

• Establishes subject matter expertise in Patriot Connect systems and provides training to CECGS and CEC staff;
• Stays abreast of trainings and features in Patriot Connect and clearly communicates those changes/features to constituents;
• Creates and modifies dashboards and reports;
• Analyzes student operational data to find meaningful, actionable threads. Creates visual artifacts to be shared with departments and senior leadership;
• Updates interaction summaries;
• Maintains service appointments and shifts;
• Adeptly uses Marketing Cloud to email students; and
• Adeptly uses Mogli to mass text students.

Performs other related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field, or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Prior customer service experience, or in an administrative position that requires interpersonal skills;
• CRM experience;
• Knowledge of general office practices;
• Demonstrated clear communication and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to exercise independent, sound judgement with attention and accuracy to detail;
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and prioritize items of importance with and without supervision;
• Ability to work as a team;
• Aptitude to learn new software and Internet applications;
• Demonstrated skill in using institutional databases, public access sites, and primary research to obtain and organize information;
• Prior knowledge with problem solving in a new situation; and
• Resourcefulness.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a related field/Higher Education Administration, or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience (generally 2+ years) in higher education administration;
• Experience in Salesforce, Patriot Connect, Patriot Web, MicroStrategy and/or CIM; and
• Advanced computer skills, particularly knowledge in CRMs.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Graduate Student and Patriot Connect Specialist 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: November 11, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: November 25, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes