School Counseling Program Director, Open Rank

Position Code:1185

School Counseling Program Director Open Rank Faculty Associate/Professor of Practice Non-tenure Track (12 month)

Position Overview:
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 masters 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 P12 partnerships ensure accreditation excellence and foster a mission-driven culture that prepares culturally responsive data-informed school counselors.

On Campus and Online School Counseling Program(s):
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.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Leadership: Oversee curriculum design course scheduling assessment and continuous improvement aligned with state licensure requirements (DESE). Lead accreditation reporting and evidence cycles.

• Teaching & Mentorship: Teach 812 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.

• Faculty Development: Recruit mentor and evaluate faculty; cultivate a collaborative student-centered teaching community across on-ground and online modalities.

• Partnership Building: Strengthen relationships with P12 districts for high-quality field placements; steward advisory boards and community partnerships that enhance candidate pipelines and graduate outcomes.

• Innovation & Quality: Champion evidence-based fairness-focused pedagogy; advance trauma-informed practice MTSS frameworks and technology-enhanced learning to meet evolving workforce needs.

• Collaboration: Partner with Admissions Registrar Field Placement and Student Success teams to support recruitment progression and completion; represent the program at campus and community events.

Required Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• P12 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.

Join Us:
We welcome experienced faculty leaders who value teamwork innovation and preparing practitioners for measurable impact in P12 settings. If you are energized by building partnerships and advancing program excellence we invite your application.

Application Materials Should Include:

• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position citing experience relevant to both key responsibilities and qualifications.

• Curriculum vitae.

• Statement of experience associated with key responsibilities for the position including teaching philosophy and evaluations

• Statement of experience with and commitment to our Catholic Augustinian mission our values and our desires to promote belonging access and opportunity for all members of our institution of higher education.

• Contact information for three professional references (name title address phone number email address). Applicants will be notified before references are contacted.

For questions related to application submission please contact Dr. Michael Mobley Academic Dean Graduate School of Counseling and Social Work at or via email at

Review of applications will begin immediately.

Application Deadline: 05/30/2026

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

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.

Compensation:
The expected 12-month base salary range for the Associate Professor of Practice is $120000-$140000 and for the Full Professor of Practice is $130000-$150000. The actual pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as but not limited to candidate qualifications and prior experience scope of responsibilities internal equity and market considerations.

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 Merrimacks 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 4100 undergraduate 2500 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 Colleges suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Masters 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 Reports 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.