Associate Director THRIVE

Bowdoinham Country Store; Portland, Northern (ME, KY); Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Life and disability insurance

PTO 20 days + 12 personal/sick time

Parental leave

Facilities access

Job summary

Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, seeks an Associate Director to lead THRIVE, advancing student success and belonging for first-generation and income-constrained students. Reporting to the Director, you will guide long-range planning for core THRIVE initiatives, with primary responsibility for the Geoffrey Canada Scholars program and the THRIVE Ambassadors.

You will help cultivate an inclusive space for students to gather, reflect, and access support networks, while collaborating with faculty

Qualifications

• Relentless commitment to making higher education accessible for all students.
• Experience supervising, training, and mentoring student workers, peer leaders, or staff.
• Proven success leading complex student success initiatives in higher education.
• Experience designing academic enrichment or bridge programs, especially in STEM or liberal arts.
• Knowledge of persistence, retention, mentoring, and belonging for all students.
• Commitment to empathy, inclusion, and cultural responsiveness.

Responsibilities

• Provide long-term strategic planning for core THRIVE initiatives.
• Lead Geoffrey Canada Scholars (GCS) program and THRIVE Ambassadors program.
• Serve as a senior THRIVE team member, translating vision into well-run programming.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to create opportunities for students to explore goals and pathways.
• Cultivate an inclusive space where students can build community and access support networks.

Skills

Program management

Supervision

Long-term strategic planning

Student development knowledge

Communication skills

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

If selected as a finalist, you will be required to submit information for three references, including name, email address, phone number and how you know the reference.

Title

Title Associate Director THRIVE

Posting Number

Posting Number S01578JP

Department

Department THRIVE

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of THRIVE , the Associate Director will play a central leadership role in advancing Bowdoin College’s commitment to student success, belonging, and for first-generation, limited-income, students. This position provides long-term strategic planning for core THRIVE initiatives, with particular responsibility for the Geoffrey Canada Scholars ( GCS ) program and the THRIVE Ambassadors program. The Associate Director will serve as a senior member of the THRIVE team, working closely with the Director to translate long-term vision into sustained, well-run programming.
The Associate Director will help cultivate and sustain a welcoming and inclusive physical and intellectual space where students can gather to discuss their experiences, build community, engage in critical reflection, and access support networks across campus. The Associate Director will also work with faculty and staff colleagues to create intentional opportunities for students to explore their goals, values, and academic and career pathways.

COMPENSATION

• The hiring range for this position is expected to be: $75,500-78,500

BENEFITS AND PERKS

• A variety of health insurance plans (Medical, Vision, Dental)
• Generous Retirement Plan – 401(a) and 403(b)
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off: 20 days of vacation per calendar year, 12 days of personal/sick time
• Paid Parental Leave (Available after one year of service)
• Household access to many of the College’s facilities including the gym and pool

• Strong background in program management, supervision, and long-term strategic planning
• Demonstrated knowledge of student development, higher education administration, and equity-focused programming
• Excellent written, interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to convene and facilitate meetings and events involving students, staff, and families
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and long-term initiatives simultaneously

Experience Requirements and/or Equivalents

Experience Requirements and/or Equivalents

The successful candidate will demonstrate many of the following:

• A relentless commitment to making higher education accessible and manageable for all students, particularly first-generation and limited-income students. Significant experience in program development, implementation, supervision, and long-term planning
• Experience supervising, training, and mentoring student workers, peer leaders, and/or professional staff
• Demonstrated success leading complex student success or retention initiatives in higher education or education focused non-profits
• Experience designing and implementing academic enrichment or bridge programs, particularly within STEM and/or interdisciplinary/liberal arts contexts
• Knowledge of best practices related to persistence, retention, mentoring, and belonging for all students
• A commitment to empathy, inclusion, and cultural responsiveness
• Highly developed listening, communication, and networking skills
• Commitment to thoughtful, timely, intentional, and student-centered interventions and supports
• Appreciation for the value and mission of a liberal arts education

Standard Work Days and Hours

This is a full-time, year round position (1.0 FTE ). This is an exempt level position and requires the time commitment necessary to fulfill all job duties. Some weekends and evenings will be required, and this position is considered non-essential.
We regret that Bowdoin College is unable to provide visa sponsorship for staff positions.
Employment at Bowdoin College is contingent upon satisfactory completion of applicable background checks including but not limited to: criminal records, educational verifications, driving records (when job-related), and/or credit history (when job related).

About Bowdoin

Bowdoin embraces diversity in all forms, and the College is home to talented students, faculty and staff—with a variety of racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; religious beliefs; and gender identities, among other factors.
We encourage applications from candidates committed to the support of an inclusive campus community and those who will enrich and contribute to the College’s multifaceted diversity. We value a community in which individuals of all backgrounds are warmly welcomed and encouraged to succeed.
Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has maintained its commitment to the liberal arts for well over 200 years. Bowdoin’s reputation as a preeminent liberal arts college rests on the excellence of its faculty, students, and staff; intimate size; strong sense of community; and connections to the people, history, and natural beauty of Maine.
Bowdoin’s campus is situated in a beautiful natural setting. Located in Brunswick, Maine, a town of approximately 20,000, the College is a short drive from the Maine coast, twenty-five miles from Portland and 120 miles from Boston.

Shift

Shift N/A

Employment Category

Employment Category Full Time Year Round

FTE

FTE 1.00

Benefits Eligible

Benefits Eligible Yes

Pay Type

Background Check Package Requirements Faculty/Administrative

Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Bowdoin vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job?

Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Bowdoin vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job? No

Is a pre-placement physical required for this position?

Is a pre-placement physical required for this position? No

Posting Date

Posting Date 10/02/2026

Applications Accepted Until

Open Until Filled Yes

Type of Posting

Type of Posting Internal/External

Special Instructions to Applicants

If selected as a finalist, you will be required to submit information for three references, including name, email address, phone number and how you know the reference.

EEO Information

Bowdoin College complies with applicable provisions of federal and state laws that prohibit unlawful discrimination in employment, admission, or access to its educational or extracurricular programs, activities, or facilities based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry and national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, marital status, place of birth, genetic predisposition, veteran status, or against qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities on the basis of disability, or any other legally protected statuses.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

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  (Open Ended Question)