Vice President of Human Resources

Merrimack College invites applications and nominations for the position of Vice President of Human Resources (VPHR). Merrimack College seeks a collegial and exceptional leader with an extensive record of professional accomplishments in support of a motivated and dedicated staff and faculty. The VPHR will be a visible and valued campus leader who will recommend, implement, and evaluate strategies that best support the College’s faculty and staff to accomplish Merrimack’s institutional mission and goals.

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, and coeducational college nestled in the Boston suburbs of Andover and North Andover, Massachusetts, and is an institution with great upward momentum. In the 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Merrimack ranked 3^rd for Most Innovative Schools making improvements in curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology, or facilities. U.S. News also ranked the College at 34 in the Regional Universities North category and 41 for Best Value Schools.

The College has over 4,000 undergraduate and 1,400 graduate students from 40 states and 38 countries who form an engaged community of thinkers, learners, and achievers integrated into an academic culture of excellence. In the last five years, undergraduate enrollment has increased approximately 20 percent and graduate enrollment has increased 55 percent, and Merrimack has hired more than 80 new faculty in that same time.

The VPHR is a valued and vital member of the College’s leadership team who oversees a departmental operating budget of approximately $1,000,000. and reports to the Senior Vice President and General Counsel. The VPHR leads a group of four (4) high-performing individuals, laser-focused on the customer and the institution, and unrelenting in achieving excellence across a broad range of services. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing a progressive, efficient, and collaborative HR organization that supports a culture of efficiency, engagement, and innovation. The VPHR will be a strong partner to the Senior Vice President and General Counsel and President. They will design, implement, and evaluate strategies and policies to ensure that the College attains its objectives related to employee resources and organizational needs. The VPHR is responsible for the oversight and administration of all HR services and functions, including a strategic focus on sourcing and providing a quality benefits program, system implementation and maintenance, compensation structural review, employee performance review, proactively improving support systems, and strengthening trusting partnerships between HR and all constituents of the campus community. The successful candidate will lead by example in modeling trust, transparency, compassion, enthusiasm, and encouragement across all constituencies of the Merrimack community.

Required Qualifications:

The Vice President for Human Resources will be required to have a bachelor’s degree, while an advanced degree is highly preferred.

Desired Qualities:

The ideal candidate will have a growth mindset and will be an energetic partner to all stakeholders on campus. They will have demonstrated emotional intelligence and excellent listening and communications skills, especially in communicating to senior executives. The VPHR will collaborate with their staff to continue strengthening the College’s commitment to supporting and retaining individuals, especially those from groups historically excluded from higher education, including BIPOC, women, and all LGBTQ+ individuals, among others. The VPHR will bring experience understanding and serving the needs of multiple different stakeholders in disparate roles, including the institution’s needs. The VP will be a collaborative leader, a team-builder, and a compassionate advocate for Merrimack employees. And the institution. Finally, the VPHR should be familiar with and provide leadership regarding HR workflow management and software systems.

In addition, the VPHR will possess the following experiences, capabilities, and personal attributes:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and nimble climate.
• An appreciation for, and ability to thrive in, a team-oriented environment.
• Project management and facilitation skills in settings with multiple and competing priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrated skills in the leadership of organizational change and design.
• An ability to engage with, mentor, and develop staff.
• Demonstrated experience in the assessment of and best use of HRIS/ERP systems for HR, benefits, and payroll.
• An understanding of the management of international exchange issues (J1 visas/SEVIS);
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, judgment, and communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex concepts to a variety of constituencies and in highly emotional environments.
• An ability and desire to provide excellent service and to work in a collegial manner with students, faculty, staff, and other constituencies.
• An understanding of shared governance and employment issues in an academic setting; and,
• A collegial, collaborative, transparent, and responsive professional nature.

The successful candidate will have held roles of increasingly responsible experience as an HR professional, with experience in compensation and benefit plan design and administration, employment and benefits law, strategic planning, and recruitment. Significant supervisory experience is required.

A detailed position profile for this opportunity can be found at https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/merrimack-vp-of-human-resources/.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The search committee will be reviewing materials immediately. Application materials shall include a cover letter and resume outlining interest; administrative experience; professional experience; and 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. All applications and nominations will be treated confidentially. For best consideration, please send a cover letter and resume to:

Steve Leo, Managing Director

Jeffrey Alston, Senior Associate

Brian Bustin, Senior Associate

MerrimackVPHR@storbecksearch.com

For more information on Merrimack College and its programs, please consult its website: www.merrimack.edu

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.