Position Overview & Responsibilities
The Assistant Director of Career Education and Preparation will be responsible for the design, development, and implementation of career education and preparation programming and aligned materials by focusing on personal/professional and skill development to close the gap between career exploration and career preparation. This role will support school-based advising teams who have the primary responsibility of one-to-one student advising, hosting training, and developing a campus-wide career influencers training program. This role reports to the Assistant Vice President & Director of the O’Brien Center for Career Development and supervisors the Career Education & Preparation Coordinator.
The position requires a commitment to and experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion, cultural competency, and the ability to relate to and communicate effectively with students, staff, and faculty, representing diverse identities, communities, and experiences.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Design, develop, and implement career education programming in collaboration with the school-based advising centers, affinity groups, centers, and student organizations to create customized learning opportunities; this includes workshops, drop-in hours, mock interviews, and non-employer-based events with the goal of career preparation
- Contribute to the campus-wide facilitation of new programming to support personal/professional development
- Manage LinkedIn Learning & Digital Branding initiatives, to increase access to skill-building opportunities and hosting opportunities to showcase the Merrimack Communities professional growth
- Research and make recommendations to implement new learning techniques based on best practices to provide enhancements to existing programs and identify next-generation programmatic approaches to learning
- Build trusted relationships with faculty, staff, and vendors to support the integration of career development across campus
- Create feedback loops to identify opportunities, gaps, or concerns around the effectiveness of programming and outcomes related to programming
- Support additional initiatives that meet the goals of the O’Brien Center focused on career outcomes and participation in internships/co-op opportunities
- Supervise the Career Education & Preparation Coordinator
- Represent the O’Brien Center for Career Development and attend campus activities such as Open House, Accepted Students Day, Commencement, Reunion Weekend, and Orientation as well as meetings, events, and activities that align with the responsibilities and outcomes of this role
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree with 7 years experience or Master’s degree with 5 years of experience required in Higher Education, Counseling, or a related field.
- Knowledge of career development theories, adult development theory, counseling process, career coaching techniques, career decision making, learning styles, and job search techniques
- Familiarity with recruiting practices, hiring trends, and employment market channels
- Functional knowledge of LMS systems/learning platforms(Canvas) and e-learning tools; knowledge of LinkedIn Learning preferred
- Proficiency with MS Office products and Google Suite; preferred knowledge of career management and higher education systems, such as Handshake and Slate
- Self-starting, creative professional with the ability to create and maintain collaborative relationships and adapt to change while handling multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
- Experience with equity-minded work and working with people of diverse identities such as socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religion, veterans, race and ethnicity, including those with different levels of academic preparation and varying physical and learning abilities
- Strong verbal/written communication skills, exemplary interpersonal skills and demonstrates a genuine appreciation in working with diverse audiences.
- Strong organizational skills; ability to manage multiple work streams and activities
- Ability to work effectively in cross-departmental teams and manage the timely delivery of projects
Application Materials Should Include:
- 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, our values, and our desire to be a more diverse, equitable and inclusive institution of higher learning.
- Resume
This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.
Required Vaccinations & Remote Work:
Unless otherwise stated above, this is an on-campus position. This is not a remote or hybrid position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.
Merrimack College currently has a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. Students, faculty and staff are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Statement on Our Mission
Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building a culturally and racially diverse 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 Augustinian mission and values and advance our work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. All candidates should describe in their application previous experience related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as how they will engage in fostering a culture that supports our Augustinian mission, our Catholic faith and our values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
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 5,000 undergraduates and graduate students from 32 states and 37 countries, and comprises schools of liberal arts, science and engineering, health sciences, education and social policy, and business. The college’s 260-acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges & Universities/Medium Programs 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 U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, coming in 46th out of 170 schools ranked in the Regional Universities North category in 2020. Merrimack is also listed as one of the top 10 most innovative schools and placed 35th for best undergraduate teaching programs among schools in the U.S. News category.
Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
