Meritus College is a new kind of not-for-profit online college, built from the ground up to meet the needs of working adults and career-changers who’ve been overlooked by traditional higher education.
The problem is clear: only 33% of Pell grant recipients complete their degrees at two-year colleges within six years. College has become too rigid, too expensive, and too disconnected from both student realities and career outcomes. Meritus College is different. Our online, asynchronous programs and "workplace as laboratory" approach allow students to learn and apply new skills directly to their jobs, while receiving personalized support from dedicated coaches every step of the way. We focus on real-world skills and stackable credentials in high-demand fields, ensuring graduates are prepared for today's jobs and tomorrow's opportunities. Founded in 2025 with an inaugural Associate of Applied Science in Technology and Innovation degree, Meritus College is building a mainstream pathway to economic mobility—one designed not for the privileged few, but for the talented many who’ve too often been left behind.
The primary mission of the Director, Instruction and Learner Experience is to own the learner-facing academic experience at Meritus College - what learners study, how well it is taught, and whether they are supported well enough to persist and complete. Most institutions split this work across a curriculum shop, a faculty office, and a student services division. Meritus deliberately does not, because curriculum design, instructional practice, and learner support succeed or fail together.
As Meritus College launches and builds in real time, you will lead the instruction, program design, and learner services teams while personally building what does not yet exist, writing the policy, redesigning the course, coaching the instructor, fixing the advising workflow, and documenting all of it to a standard that holds up under accreditation review. You will also serve as a core innovation partner to the Chief Academic Officer, bringing evidence from live delivery to sharpen the College’s competency-based, workforce-aligned model, and being candid when the current design is not working.
This role requires someone who moves fluidly between designing the model and doing the work, and who responds to unfinished systems by building rather than waiting for direction. The Director, Instruction and Learner Experience will report directly to Melinda Day, Chief Academic Officer, serve on the College’s core leadership team, and work cross-functionally across Meritus College teams.
The responsibilities of the Director, Instruction and Learner Experience will include, but are not limited to, the following:
We recognize that some individuals from underrepresented backgrounds may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet 100% of the listed qualifications. Please don’t let that discourage you from applying! We value the unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that each applicant brings, and we encourage you to apply if you believe your background demonstrates the required skills and competencies:
We take care of our employees by providing the following perks and benefits (please note that some of the benefits do not apply to temporary employees):
*Eligibility for some benefits may vary based on employment status, full-time or part-time. Eligibility will be outlined during the hiring process.
Candidates must reside within the 50 states or District of Columbia and have full authorization to work in the 50 U.S. states & the District of Columbia (international work abroad, including the U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other islands are excluded). In addition, Merit America doesn't offer employment visa sponsorship.
Building an inclusive, high-performing team that is diverse across lines of personal identity is integral to our success and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
This means we do not discriminate against any job applicant or employee because of their race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment.
We actively strive and evolve to develop and maintain workspaces that are fully inclusive. We encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.
Still excited about our work? You can learn more about our work in this video we made with our founding partner, Google.
Applicants who have arrest or conviction records and are in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County will be considered in accordance with the state’s fair chance ordinance law. Employment under the ordinance includes part-time work, seasonal work, contract work, contingent work, work on commission, and work through the services of a temporary or employment agency.
This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the I-9 Form.
