Director of Advancement

The Office of Advancement at Mason Korea is responsible for advancing the mission and reputation of George Mason University Korea through strategic fundraising, alumni engagement, corporate relations, and stewardship of the Dean’s Advisory Boards. The office builds sustainable philanthropic and partnership relationships that support academic programs, student success, facilities development, and the long-term institutional growth of Mason Korea as a premier international branch campus on the Incheon Global Campus.

Purpose of the Position

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration, the Director of Advancement serves as the senior Advancement leader at Mason Korea and a key member of the campus administrative leadership team. The Director is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive advancement strategy encompassing fundraising, alumni relations, corporate partnership development, and stewardship of the Mason Korea Dean’s Advisory Boards (U.S. and Korean). The position provides strategic direction for all advancement activities aligned with the Dean’s institutional priorities and directly supervises the Advancement function, including the Director of Advancement.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising and Development (40%)

• Develop and implement an annual and multi-year fundraising strategy for Mason Korea, aligned with the Dean’s institutional priorities.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects, including Korean-American companies with U.S. operations, Korean corporate foundations, and individual donors; coordinate with the GMU Foundation and Vice Provost for Advancement on gift acceptance and compliance under GMU Policy 1123.
• Lead capital and programmatic funding campaigns, including naming rights proposals and technology or facility endowment initiatives.
• Maintain an active prospect pipeline and donor relationship management system; produce regular fundraising reports for the Dean and the Associate Dean.
• Collaborate with the GMU Foundation President and relevant Foundation staff to leverage university-wide fundraising infrastructure on behalf of Mason Korea.
• Ensure all gift acceptance, acknowledgment, and reporting activities comply with applicable U.S. and Korean legal and tax requirements.
  
  

Alumni Relations (25%)

• Develop and lead a strategic alumni engagement program, including event planning, communications, and digital engagement strategies targeting Mason Korea’s growing alumni base in South Korea and internationally.
• Build and maintain the Mason Korea alumni database in coordination with the GMU Alumni Association; track alumni milestones, career developments, and regional chapter activity.
• Coordinate alumni recognition programs, including award nominations, mentorship opportunities, and participation in campus events such as Commencement.
• Partner with the Office of Enrollment, International, and Strategic Initiatives to leverage alumni as ambassadors for recruitment and enrollment efforts.
• Facilitate alumni giving campaigns and cultivate alumni as prospective donors, with special attention to early-career alumni engagement.
  
  

Corporate Relations and Partnerships (20%)

• Develop and manage relationships with Korean and multinational corporations operating in the Songdo-Incheon area, across the Korean peninsula, and in the U.S., with a focus on companies whose business interests align with Mason Korea’s academic programs.
• Structure corporate partnership agreements, sponsored programming, naming rights, and co-branding opportunities, consistent with university policy.
• Represent Mason Korea at relevant business, industry, and government forums in Incheon, Seoul, and, as appropriate, in the United States.
• Maintain current knowledge of the Korean corporate philanthropy landscape and advise the Associate Dean on strategic positioning accordingly.
  
  

Dean’s Advisory Boards — U.S. and Korean (10%)

• Serve as the primary staff liaison for both the Dean’s Advisory Boards in the US and Korea; manage all board logistics, including scheduling, agenda development, briefing materials, minutes, and follow-up action items.
• Support the Dean in board member cultivation, recruitment, onboarding, and recognition; maintain membership records and term rotation schedules.
• Coordinate board engagement between meetings through strategic communications, campus updates, and targeted cultivation activities.
• Identify and develop board member pipeline prospects in collaboration with the Dean and the Associate Dean.
  
  

Advancement Leadership and Administration (5%)

• Directly supervise Advancement staff, including the Director of Advancement, conducting annual performance evaluations and providing ongoing coaching and professional development.
• Develop and manage the Advancement office operating budget in coordination with the Associate Dean; ensure expenditures align with the approved budget.
• Maintain and report Advancement metrics and KPIs to the Associate Dean on a regular basis.
• Undertake special projects and other duties as directed by the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or higher strongly preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience in higher education advancement, fundraising, corporate relations, alumni engagement, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising and donor cultivation.
• Experience managing and staffing advisory or governing boards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-cultural, bilingual environment.
• Strong organizational, project management, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive donor and institutional information with discretion.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual proficiency in Korean and English.
• Experience at an international branch campus or transnational higher education institution.
• Familiarity with Korean corporate culture and the Korean philanthropic landscape.
• Knowledge of U.S. gift acceptance policies and Korean tax law pertaining to donations.
• CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) certification or equivalent.
• Experience managing advancement staff and mentoring junior development professionals.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of fundraising, alumni relations, corporate partnerships, and advancement operations in higher education or nonprofit settings.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder engagement skills in cross-cultural environments.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives, manage projects, and oversee multiple priorities effectively.
• Leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to coach staff and collaborate across departments.
• Proficiency in donor/alumni database systems, reporting, budgeting, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to maintain professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality in handling sensitive institutional and donor information.

To Apply 
For full consideration, applicants should do the following by June 08, 2026. Submit applications in our hiring site (click on "Apply for this Job" on the right)

• A cover letter that explains your interest in the position and any other relevant experience. 

• Current curriculum vitae. 
  
• At least three references with full names and contact information. References will not be contacted without consent from applicants. 

Application materials must be submitted by June 08, 2026 and review of materials will begin immediately thereafter. 

About George Mason Korea
George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. It is among the 115 or so top “R1” ranked research universities in the US and in the top 200 of the Shanghai World Ranking of Universities. A public university located in Fairfax Virginia, George Mason is the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs.

George Mason, Korea, is George Mason’s campus in Songdo, South Korea. Mason Korea was established as part of George Mason University’s commitment to education on a global scale and its belief in the power of international perspective and connection. Mason Korea is located on the Incheon Global Campus (IGC), which it shares with three other international branch campuses. Mason Korea students, staff, and faculty have access to modern facilities and resources on the IGC for a terrific living and work environment. Songdo, South Korea is a modern “smart” city designed from the start with large parks, plentiful walking and bike paths, and excellent public transportation. Songdo is convenient to Korea’s Incheon International Airport—around a half hour by car—as well as to the capital city of Seoul—around an hour by car. Further information on Mason Korea can be found at: http://masonkorea.gmu.edu/.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community.