Assistant Director - Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship (GCFE)

Working Title: Assistant Director - Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship (GCFE)

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

 

College/Division: College of Business

Department: 100464 - Center for Entrepreneurship

 

Pay Band: N/A

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $69,000 - $72,000 

 

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? Yes. This successful candidate must complete a statement of personal economic interest prior to their first day of employment.

 

Beginning Review Date: 08/03/2026

 

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

 

General Information:

The Leslie Flanary Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship (GCFE) at James Madison University seeks applications for the position of Assistant Director. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Assistant Director will play a key leadership role in advancing entrepreneurship education, experiential learning, and community engagement across the university and region.

The GCFE is distinguished by its interdisciplinary approach to entrepreneurship and its commitment to integrating entrepreneurial thinking into the fabric of James Madison University. The Assistant Director will help expand the Center’s impact through educational programming, student mentorship, community partnerships, and operational leadership. This individual will support and manage existing initiatives related to new venture creation, entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA), student entrepreneurship, and early-stage funding while also helping develop innovative new programs that connect students, faculty, alumni, business owners, and regional stakeholders.

The successful candidate will embody the entrepreneurial mindset the GCFE seeks to cultivate – demonstrating innovation, collaboration, initiative, and a passion for supporting aspiring entrepreneurs and economic development throughout the Shenandoah Valley and beyond.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Leadership & Entrepreneurship Education
• Manage and support existing GCFE programs and initiatives that advance entrepreneurship education and venture creation.
• Develop and deliver hands-on educational programming for undergraduate students, graduate students, alumni, and community participants, including programming related to Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA).
• Mentor and coach student entrepreneurs, startup teams, and volunteer alumni mentors.
• Advise and support entrepreneurship-focused student organizations, including the Society of Entrepreneurs and Epsilon Nu Tau – Kappa Chapter.
• Guide students toward academic, professional, and experiential opportunities including minors, conferences, competitions, incubators, and funding programs.
• Foster faculty and student engagement in entrepreneurship scholarship, innovation, and experiential learning.
• Manage the S