3 to 5 years of leadership experience in higher education registrar operations or related area.
Proven success in supervising and developing staff and leading administrative operations.
Strong knowledge of Registrar operations, FERPA, and compliance frameworks.
Experience with student information systems; Jenzabar J1 preferred.
Experience in creating efficient workflows and implementing automation for service improvement.
Familiarity with AI and technology solutions in student services, with a focus on privacy and compliance.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a focus on change management.
High degree of professionalism in handling confidential information.
Responsibilities
Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Office of the Registrar.
Ensure integrity, accuracy, and security of academic records and registration processes.
Collaborate with various campus stakeholders to enhance the student experience from matriculation to graduation.
Implement academic policies and oversee data governance.
Utilize student information systems effectively, particularly Jenzabar J1.
Drive continuous process improvement and service effectiveness in academic administrative services.
Evaluate and leverage technology solutions to enhance operational performance.
Benefits
Professional development opportunities.
Collaborative work environment with cross-functional teams.
Access to advanced technology and systems.
Engagement in strategic decision-making processes.
Support for work-life balance initiatives.
Full Job Description
The Registrar provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and continuous process improvement for the Office of the Registrar at Merrimack College. The Registrar is responsible for the integrity, accuracy, security, compliance, and service effectiveness of academic records, registration, degree progress and conferral processes, and related student-facing academic administrative services. This role partners closely with Academic Affairs, Admissions, Finance, Student Affairs, Information Technology, Institutional Research, and other campus stakeholders to ensure a high-quality, student-centered experience from matriculation through graduation. The Registrar also serves as a key steward of academic policy implementation, data governance, and the effective use of student information systems, including Jenzabar J1.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree required.
3 to 5 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education registrar operations, academic records administration, or a closely related area.
Demonstrated success supervising and developing professional staff and leading cross-functional administrative operations.
Strong knowledge of Registrar operations, academic records administration, FERPA, and higher education compliance frameworks.
Demonstrated experience with student information systems; significant experience with Jenzabar J1 strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience creating efficient workflows, redesigning business processes, and implementing automation to improve service quality, compliance, and operational performance.
Some experience evaluating or leveraging AI and other technology-enabled solutions in student services, operations, or administrative processing, with sound judgment regarding privacy, ethics, and regulatory requirements.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data, improve processes, and manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
Excellent communication, collaboration, and change-management skills, with the ability to work effectively with students, families, faculty, academic leaders, and administrative partners.
High degree of judgment, discretion, and professionalism in handling confidential student and academic information.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree preferred
7 to 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education registrar operations, academic records administration, or a closely related area.
Experience in a private higher education environment.
Experience leading technology-enabled transformation, including workflow optimization, process automation, or AI-supported service delivery in higher education administration.
Familiarity with accreditation reporting, National Student Clearinghouse reporting, veteran certification, and collaboration with institutional research and finance offices.
About Merrimack College
Merrimack College is a private, Catholic college located in North Andover, Massachusetts. Founded in 1947, the college offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields, including business, education, engineering, health sciences, and liberal arts. Merrimack College is known for its strong commitment to experiential learning, and offers students numerous opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships, research projects, and community service. The college has a diverse student body, with students from over 30 states and 20 countries.
