Compass Program Director

Job Description

Job Description

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. This position will oversee the Compass Academic Success Coaches as well as the graduate fellows and peer leaders associated with the program. This position will provide general oversight for the enrollment, retention and support of all students in the Compass Program.

In the fall, the Compass Program Director will teach multiple sections of the Compass first-year support course (or potentially a section of First-Year Seminar, depending on program needs). In the spring, the primary responsibility will shift to academic success coaching, with ongoing student support and program collaboration in addition to supervising the Compass Academic Success Coaches. This is an in-person, on-campus position. The Compass Program Director will report to the Assistant Dean, Student Success and Director of Academic Progress.

Position Background

Compass provides coordinated academic support to students during their first two years at Merrimack College – a critical developmental window for establishing strong learning practices, academic habits, and personal accountability. Compass students participate in structured, individualized academic coaching and a first-semester course grounded in the science of learning and human performance.

The Compass Program Director will teach the Compass course and serve as a central partner in students’ academic development. The Compass course emphasizes both practical academic skill development and the theoretical foundations that support sustained performance and growth. Areas of focus in the course will include topics related to the science of learning.

Students are expected to apply course concepts directly to their academic work, receive structured feedback, and refine their strategies over time. Peer Leaders will also attend the course and work closely with compass students and the instructor.

Primary Responsibilities

Teaching

• 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

Program Oversight and Supervision

• Oversee all staff associated with the Compass program

• Supervise Student Peer Mentors

• Responsible for the enrollment, retention and support structure for all Compass students

• Work with students and families on student support and case management

Lead Academic Success Coach

• 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

Program Collaboration

• 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.

Other duties as assigned

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 Should Include:

• 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.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.

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 one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the Regional Universities North category in 2026. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.