Hybrid Director, CELSIUS bei Merrimack College

Position: Director, Center for Entrepreneurial Learning, Science of Innovation, and University Spinouts (CELSIUS)

School: Girard School of Business

Institution: Merrimack College

Location: North Andover, MA

Appointment Type: Full-time; 12-month administrative appointment with tenured

Full Professor faculty appointment

Anticipated Start Date: Fall 2026

Reports to: Vice President of Research (Center Director role) and Academic Dean, Business(faculty role)

Merrimack College seeks a dynamic, visionary leader to serve as the inaugural Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Learning, Science of Innovation, and University Spinouts (CELSIUS). Launching in Spring 2026, CELSIUS is a bold new cross-disciplinary initiative designed to advance innovation through hands-on learning, research translation, and spinout incubation.

CELSIUS brings together the fields of science, engineering, and business to create a vibrant ecosystem where faculty and students co-create solutions with industry partners, commercialize intellectual property, and launch ventures that generate economic and social value. The Director will lead this effort from the ground up—developing CELSIUS’s strategy, programs, partnerships, and visibility as a regional and national model for innovation-driven impact.

What We Offer

The successful candidate will receive a highly competitive salary and start-up package to facilitate the growth of their research program at Merrimack College, which is located 25 miles north of Boston and has collaborations with a variety of institutions in the metro Boston area. We are dedicated to providing the necessary resources and infrastructure to enable our faculty to achieve their research goals and contribute to developing a cutting-edge research environment, including a robust Office of Sponsored Programs to support extramurally funded research. We also prioritize ongoing professional development to help our faculty remain at the forefront of their respective fields.

Join Our Mission

Join us in our mission to create a research university that serves as a hub for innovation and applied impact. We believe in the transformative power of research to enlighten minds, engage hearts, and empower lives. By focusing on the development of research clusters, labs, and research centers, we aim to foster collaboration, drive technological advancements, and contribute to solving global challenges. The Girard School of Business is deeply invested in emerging fields, and this position will play a critical role in advancing our commitment to interdisciplinary learning, applied research, and societal impact.

Position Overview

The Girard School of Business at Merrimack College invites applications for this full-time, 12-month administrative position of Director, Center for Entrepreneurial Learning, Science of Innovation, and University Spinouts (CELSIUS). We seek a scholar and educator who will contribute to the continued growth of our innovative programs, advance interdisciplinary research, and support the College’s mission of fostering academic excellence and community engagement.

CELSIUS offers a rare opportunity to lead a mission-driven innovation center from inception—shaping its strategy, building impactful programs, and forging high-profile partnerships. The Director will be instrumental in defining how Merrimack College prepares future entrepreneurs, catalyzes faculty innovation, and contributes to the region’s economic growth through new venture creation.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Establish CELSIUS’s vision, structure, and operational model as a high-impact center for innovation and entrepreneurship.

• Develop and implement a strategic roadmap aligned with Merrimack’s institutional priorities of Growth and Impact.

• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration that integrates entrepreneurial learning and innovation across departments.

Venture Creation & Industry Collaboration

• Build pipelines for student- and faculty-led startups, supporting all phases from ideation to launch.

• Engage with platforms such as Halo to match College research with real- world industry needs.

• Foster partnerships with venture capital firms, incubators, state innovation programs, and alumni entrepreneurs.

Experiential Education

• Collaborate with affiliated faculty (from business, science, and engineering) to:

  • Create and/or maintain a portfolio of high-impact programming, including startup competitions, venture mentorship, and innovation bootcamps.

  • Embed entrepreneurship into undergraduate and master’s-level curricula through project-based learning and applied research.

  • Support student teams in business planning, product development, and investor readiness.

External Relations & Resource Development

• Pursue grants, sponsorships, and philanthropic gifts to support CELSIUS activities and seed funding for startups.

• Position CELSIUS as a partner in regional and national initiatives such as the CHIPS and Science Act Tech Hubs, MassVentures, Mass Tech Collaborative, and Mass Life Sciences.

• Represent Merrimack in regional innovation consortia and at thought leadership forums.

Faculty Research & Innovation Culture

• Collaborate with affiliated faculty (from business, science, and engineering) to promote innovative research suitable for entrepreneurial ventures.

• Facilitate the commercialization of Merrimack’s intellectual property and support applied research spinouts.

• Create a culture of innovation that engages faculty, students, and external partners alike.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business, engineering, science, innovation, or related field with 7–10 years of leadership experience in startups, innovation, or entrepreneurship; OR Terminal degree (Ph.D., DBA, JD, etc.) with an academic record and practical experience in technology commercialization or entrepreneurial ecosystems.

• Demonstrated success in launching or scaling innovation programs, incubators, or venture-backed companies.

• Strong understanding of startup financing, IP strategy, and public/private sector partnerships.

• Proven ability to secure funding and engage cross-sector stakeholders.

• Experience in higher education and working with student entrepreneurs, strongly preferred.

• Familiarity with platforms like Halo and other industry challenge networks, strongly preferred.

• Regional connections in New England’s innovation and startup landscape, strongly preferred.

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials through ADP:

• Cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in Merrimack College.

• Curriculum Vitae.

• Research statement highlighting current work and future plans.

• Teaching philosophy statement, with attention to experiential learning and accessibility.

• Names and contact information for three professional references.

Note: applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, only

applications received by October 10th are guaranteed full consideration.

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 Merrimack’s 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 4,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students from 46 states and 45 countries. The College features more than 160 career-focused academic programs in science, engineering, business, nursing, health sciences, education, social sciences and humanities across 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 College’s suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Professions-focused, Undergraduate/Graduate-Master’s Large/Medium 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.