Compass Program Director
Position Overview
Merrimack College has an immediate opening for a Compass Program Director starting summer 2026. This staff position combines teaching and individualized academic coaching in support of students enrolled in Compass.
Primary Responsibilities
Teach multiple sections of the Compass first-semester course in the fall semester (or First Year Seminar, as needed)
Design and facilitate hands-on, applied learning experiences
Provide timely, developmental feedback on student work
Maintain high academic standards while supporting student growth
Oversee all staff associated with the Compass program
Supervise Student Peer Mentors
Work with students and families on student support and case management
Plan and assign incoming students to coaches and coordinate coaching outreach
Help students develop effective learning strategies, academic planning skills, and performance habits
Monitor student progress and promote accountability
Collaborate with faculty, advisors, and student support offices as needed
Coach compass students who need extra support
Oversee the Compass Academic Coaches, who also serve as academic advisors, to deliver coordinated student support services
Participate in assessment, continuous improvement efforts, and initiatives to increase student retention, satisfaction, and progress toward degree completion
Work with Student Success throughout the year and summer, as needed, to register incoming students, participate in summer orientation, etc.
Work with Assistant Dean of First Year Experience to ensure that Compass student schedules are set up for academic success
Be available to attend enrollment recruitment efforts such as open houses, admitted student days, and other outreach to prospective students
Qualifications
Master’s degree with demonstrated college/university administration or teaching experience required
Preferred experience teaching first-year or transition-focused courses
Demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching
Ability to teach a hands-on, applied course grounded in theories of learning, motivation, self-regulation, and human performance
Demonstrated creativity in assignment design that promotes transfer of learning across courses
Strong relational skills paired with the ability to maintain high expectations and accountability
Commitment to collaborative work across academic and student success teams
Application Materials
Resume or CV
Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.
Work Location
This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.
About Merrimack College
The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoral students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more than 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, the Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling and social work. The College’s suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution. Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.