ACCESS Academy Career Coach and Industry Liaison

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Department: Col of Ed and Human Development

Classification: Education Support Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy is an innovative partnership between George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development, Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), and Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) based in Northern Virginia for students in grades 9-12. This unique program is designed to give students a no-cost alternative educational pathway that expands access to information technology (IT) education and skills essential for IT careers.

About the Position:

The ACCESS Academy Career Coach and Industry Liaison is an outward-facing role that contributes to ACCESS Academy's mission by working as part of a multidisciplinary team of educators, faculty, administrators, and partners across K-12, community college, and university contexts, to help translate rapidly evolving workforce trends into coherent, high-quality learning experiences, internships, and career pathways for ACCESS Academy students.

Responsibilities:

• Coach students in identifying and pursuing future-ready career pathways aligned with their interests, strengths, and emerging workforce opportunities;
• Support student career exploration that intentionally integrates academic coursework, dual enrollment, problem-based learning, and applied experiences;
• Help students develop professional skills, career narratives, and portfolios that reflect real-world competencies alongside academic milestones; and
• Work in coordination with faculty, and ACCESS staff to ensure career guidance is aligned, coherent, and developmentally appropriate.

Industry and Employer Engagement

• Contribute to the cultivation and stewardship of relationships with regional and national industry partners in technology, STEM, and innovation-driven sectors;
• Serve, in collaboration with ACCESS leadership and faculty, as a visible representative of ACCESS Academy to employers, workforce organizations, and industry networks;
• Engage industry partners to understand emerging skill demands, hiring trends, and credential pathways, and share insights with the broader ACCESS team; and
• Collaborate with faculty and program leadership to translate employer insights into authentic learning opportunities for students.

Internships, Mentorships & Placements

• Collaborate with ACCESS Academy leadership, faculty, and K-12 and higher education partners to design, coordinate, and continuously improve internship, mentorship, job-shadowing, and workforce placement pathways for ACCESS Academy juniors and seniors;
• Support the identification and development of high-quality internship opportunities that emphasize skill development, professional expectations, and real-world impact;
• Help ensure internships and placements align with student learning goals, academic requirements, and employer needs; and
• Contribute to tracking placement outcomes and reflecting on data with the ACCESS team to strengthen partnerships and pathways over time.

Collaboration & Program Integration

• Work closely with ACCESS Academy leadership, faculty, and staff across partner institutions to align career pathways with curriculum, dual enrollment, and problem-based learning experiences;
• Share workforce trends and employer feedback with instructional teams to inform program design and continuous improvement; and
• Contribute to ACCESS Academy's long-term workforce and industry engagement strategy as part of a collaborative, cross-sector leadership team.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Demonstrated experience working with or within technology, STEM, workforce development, industry partnerships, or innovation-focused environments;
• Demonstrated experience working across institutions, roles, and professional cultures;
• Experience supporting students or early-career talent in navigating career pathways, internships, or applied learning opportunities;
• Strong understanding of emerging workforce trends, skill demands, and credential pathways, particularly in technology-enabled and data-rich fields;
• Proven ability to build and sustain relationships with employers, industry groups, or external partners;
• Ability to communicate effectively across educational and industry contexts, with credibility among educators, employers, and technical professionals;
• Collaborative mindset;
• Strong relationship-building skills and comfort engaging executives, hiring managers, educators, and technical professionals; and
• Strategic thinker who can translate labor-market signals into actionable insights in partnership with a multidisciplinary team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in related field.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for ACCESS Academy Career Coach and Industry Liaison at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide CV and Cover Letter for review.

Posting Open Date: September 22, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: October 6, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes