Assistant Director, Strength and Conditioning

Position Overview

The Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning is responsible for assisting in fulfilling all responsibilities of the strength and conditioning department at Merrimack College. This full-time position reports directly to the Assistant Athletic Director for Strength and Conditioning and will design and implement year-round strength and conditioning programs for assigned teams. Additional responsibilities will include oversight of all aspects of strength and conditioning staff development and education programs, supporting the Assistant Athletic Director for Strength and Conditioning in the recruitment, evaluation, and supervision of all staff members, and ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all student-athletes during strength and conditioning sessions. The Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning will operate in accordance with NCAA Division I, Hockey East, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), sport-specific conferences, and Merrimack College rules, regulations and policies.

Primary Responsibilities

• Work with designated teams at the direction of the Assistant Athletic Director for Strength and Conditioning to design and implement comprehensive year-round strength and conditioning programs for designated teams.
• Assist in development, evaluation, recruitment, and supervision of graduate students (approx. six graduate fellows per academic year).
• Design, organize, and implement continuing education and skills training for the strength and conditioning staff members/graduate students/interns..
• Manage and coordinate strength and conditioning scheduling.
• Operate in accordance with NCAA Division I, Hockey East, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and Merrimack College rules, regulations and policies.
• Develop strong working relationships with all coaches, administrative, and support staff within the athletic department.
• Communicate and collaborate with athletic training staff regarding treatments, rehabilitation and preventative training plans.
• Attend practices and home competitions as possible; travel with designated teams as allowable.
• Participate in the creation of professional development and continuing education opportunities.
• Participate and contribute to continuity and strategy initiatives for strength and conditioning.
• Ensure maintenance of strength and conditioning facilities and equipment.
• Assist in the management of the strength and conditioning budget.
• Attend regular meetings and provide consistent communication/reports to head sport coaches.
• Attend regular meetings and evaluations with the Assistant Athletic Director for Strength and Conditioning.
• Foster and maintain a culture that demonstrates a commitment to NCAA rules compliance, conference protocols, and institutional policies.
• Foster and maintain a culture that demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as well as trust, mutual respect and belonging.
• Participate in athletic department activities including staff meetings, compliance education, diversity, equity and inclusion training, guest speaker presentations and other events/meetings.
• Fulfill other specific areas of responsibility related to the strength and conditioning program as assigned by the Assistant Athletic Director for Strength and Conditioning.
  
  

Qualifications

• Must maintain in good standing either CSCS (NSCA) or SCCC (CSCCa) certification
• Must maintain in good standing CPR / First Aid / AED certification
• Strong desire to develop a comprehensive and collaborative strength and conditioning department
• Demonstrate strong organizational and time management skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work during non-traditional hours as needed (early mornings, nights, weekends, holidays).
• 1-2 years of experience as a full-time collegiate strength and conditioning, preferred
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
  
  

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
• Names and contact information for three (3) references.
  
  

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

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 1,400 graduate students from 32 states and 37 countries. The College features more than 100 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, the Winston school of education and social policy and the Girard school of business. The College’s suburban 240-acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in the towns of North Andover and 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 33rd in the Regional Universities North category in 2024. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.