School Counseling Program Director, Open Rank

Merrimack College • North Andover, MA

15h • Onsite

About The Position

The Graduate School of Counseling and Social Work invites applications for a School Counseling Program Director to provide visionary, collaborative leadership for our DESE accredited master’s program. This non-tenure-track, open-rank, 12-month faculty position beginning July 2026 combines strategic program leadership with teaching and mentorship. The Director will advance program innovation, strengthen P–12 partnerships, ensure accreditation excellence, and foster a mission-driven culture that prepares culturally responsive, data-informed school counselors.

Aligned with the mission of Merrimack College, the Master of Education in School Counseling represents a dynamic, innovative, and growth-oriented training program with a commitment to the principles and values of supporting all youth in their psychological, academic and career growth and development. Our on-campus and online programs maintain high-touch engagement and connectedness to meet the needs of graduate students as we prepare them to deliver quality care for youth, using strengths-oriented and evidenced-based interventions. Our graduates are trained to meet the growing demand for mental health counseling in schools as well as address academic needs and career and college planning.

Requirements

• Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision, Counseling Psychology, or closely related field.
• Minimum 5 years of post-secondary teaching experience with evidence of teaching effectiveness.
• Demonstrated program leadership experience (e.g., coordination, accreditation, assessment) and success fostering cross-unit collaboration.
• Demonstrated experience with state licensure frameworks (e.g., DESE).
• Demonstrated commitment to community building, and data-informed, student-centered practice.

Nice To Haves

• P–12 school counseling experience and/or licensure as a school counselor, clinical mental health counselor, or psychologist.
• Experience with online/hybrid program delivery and innovative field placement models.
• Record of scholarly or practice-based contributions relevant to school counseling.
• Budget stewardship, grant writing, or external funding experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee curriculum design, course scheduling, assessment, and continuous improvement aligned with state licensure requirements (DESE).
• Lead accreditation reporting and evidence cycles.
• Teach 8–12 credit hours per semester in areas such as Foundations of School Counseling, Group Counseling, Mental Health Interventions, Counseling Theory, or Research and Leadership; advise students and supervise field experiences.
• Recruit, mentor, and evaluate faculty; cultivate a collaborative, student-centered teaching community across on-ground and online modalities.
• Strengthen relationships with P–12 districts for high-quality field placements; steward advisory boards and community partnerships that enhance candidate pipelines and graduate outcomes.
• Champion evidence-based, fairness-focused pedagogy; advance trauma-informed practice, MTSS frameworks, and technology-enhanced learning to meet evolving workforce needs.
• Partner with Admissions, Registrar, Field Placement, and Student Success teams to support recruitment, progression, and completion; represent the program at campus and community events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees