What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Intercultural Initiatives position at Merrimack College?
Position Overview
The Director of Intercultural Initiatives is a full-time, 12-month position with evening and weekend responsibilities. The Director of Intercultural Initiatives is an integral part of the team that promotes a campus environment that is inclusive, supportive and respectful of all community members. They will provide direction and oversight of leadership training and workshops that will provide growth in different components to provide student development. Additional responsibilities include coordinating intercultural affiliated programming, supporting and advising all student organizations and student based events and programs associated with diversity, equity and inclusion. The Director of Intercultural Initiatives is expected to manage multiple tasks while meeting deadlines, ensure compliance and consistency with college policies and procedures, and provide exceptional customer service.
Primary Responsibilities
Vaccinations and 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.
The COVID-19 vaccine and booster for which an individual may be eligible are highly recommended for students, faculty and staff. Merrimack College does not require proof of COVID vaccination for enrollment, employment or to be a guest on our campus.
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 Catholic and 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 Catholic and Augustinian mission 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 4,000 undergraduate and 1,700 graduate students from 43 states and 42 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 five schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy and the Girard school of business. 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 37th in the Regional Universities North category in 2025. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.
Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The Director of Intercultural Initiatives is a full-time, 12-month position with evening and weekend responsibilities. The Director of Intercultural Initiatives is an integral part of the team that promotes a campus environment that is inclusive, supportive and respectful of all community members. They will provide direction and oversight of leadership training and workshops that will provide growth in different components to provide student development. Additional responsibilities include coordinating intercultural affiliated programming, supporting and advising all student organizations and student based events and programs associated with diversity, equity and inclusion. The Director of Intercultural Initiatives is expected to manage multiple tasks while meeting deadlines, ensure compliance and consistency with college policies and procedures, and provide exceptional customer service.
Primary Responsibilities
- Oversee the management of the Unity House Community. Creating a vibrant environment in which student engagement, programming and diversity, equity and inclusion events will take place. This does include providing excellent customer service to our visitors, answering phone calls, and responding to emails as well.
- Design and facilitate campus wide training in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion for all students. These trainings include but are not limited to the Diversity Badging program, Safe Zone training, Warrior’s Impact, and Orientation.
- Develop new and innovative programs along with oversight of the planning of all high impact programs coordinated by Intercultural Initiatives. These events include but are not limited to Breaking Bread, Heritage/Awareness Months, First Gen Reception, and First Gen Day.
- Develop and support Peer Mentoring programs that support the transition and retention of our International, First-Generation and BIPOC students.
- Collaborate with the Office of Student Involvement. Advise student clubs and organizations dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and promote dialogue, leadership development, and student programming support.
- Coordinates and/or plans programming that supports the unique academic, cultural, and social needs of international students including, but not limited to: plans for arrival, orientation, acculturation, and campus engagement.
- Hire, train and supervise the Assistant Director and Graduate Fellows.
- Present and facilitate sessions at Admissions, Orientation and other signature events of Merrimack College. This also includes planning sessions for International orientation.
- Coordinate all media accounts associated with the Unity House including webpages and social media.
- Serve on selected Student Affairs divisional and College Wide committees. This includes serving as a member of the Bias Team.
- Conduct ongoing assessments of all Intercultural Initiatives and Unity House programs and events.
- Other duties as assigned
- Masters Degree in related field required
- At least 4-6 years professional experience working in higher education or related field
- Commitment to and demonstrated ability to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion issues into work with diverse student populations in both individual and group settings.
- Commitment to and experience with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and programming, preferably in a higher education setting.
- Exceptional in person and written customer service as the first point of escalation in the office and on the phone.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to manage competing demands in a calm and friendly manner.
- Ability to work independently and use discretion and independent judgment in decision making.
- Availability to work a flexible work schedule that could sometimes include nights and weekend responsibilities.
- Advanced Computer Skills (Microsoft Office word, excel, publisher). Experience with Jenzabar or other higher education databases, Google Suite, webpage editing knowledge.
- Supervision experience preferred
- 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
Vaccinations and 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.
The COVID-19 vaccine and booster for which an individual may be eligible are highly recommended for students, faculty and staff. Merrimack College does not require proof of COVID vaccination for enrollment, employment or to be a guest on our campus.
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 Catholic and 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 Catholic and Augustinian mission 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 4,000 undergraduate and 1,700 graduate students from 43 states and 42 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 five schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy and the Girard school of business. 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 37th in the Regional Universities North category in 2025. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.
Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
