Distance Learning Director Job

Under the general direction of the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, this position directs the online, hybrid, and distance learning programs, services, and infrastructure with responsibility for supervising the distance learning personnel including the instructional designers and the college’s learning management system (LMS), distance education help desk, and support for online instructors and learners. Provides leadership, creativity, and administrative oversight for online learning.

Responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining high quality online class offerings, degree programs, and support services to best serve the needs of students and faculty utilizing the colleges learning management system (LMS) –Canvas. Provides transformational leadership for online learning and services to ensure alignment with the overall mission and goals of the college while fostering innovation in a culture of accountability. Additional responsibilities include ensuring that current enterprise systems fully support online and hybrid learners, that the technical infrastructure appropriately supports online learning programs, and that the online learning initiatives across the campuses support the college’s vision for online learning.

This position will be eligible for remote/hybrid work as determined by the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs.

• Working with the administration and the faculty, the Director develops college-wide policies and plans relating to online learning, including the infrastructure and services required to support online learning operations.
• Develops organizational and re-organizational proposals and plans for college-wide online learning in the areas of program delivery and support.
• Plans and directs the evaluation of system-wide online learning activities, and technical review and controls day-to-day operations of college-wide online learning programs and facilities. This includes creating efficiencies and establishing procedures for online learning, developing training programs, providing staff assistance, and negotiating with external facilities suppliers on behalf of the college.
• Prepares budgets and administers funds for college-wide online learning, including developing priorities and guidelines, preparation of program budget, solicitation/review/selection of proposals, supervision of projects and support activities, and evaluating projects.
• Implements a tracking mechanism for faculty credentials to teach online and professional development related to online teaching and learning.
• Works with administration and student services to support retention initiatives and faculty and student engagement-related distance learning courses.
• Works in tandem with the college’s academic chairs and faculty leadership to develop online learning programs, policies, facilities, and support structures; innovates to solve problems and implement solutions beneficial to the college’s students.
• Assesses needs, plans, evaluates, and recommends the acquisition of new hardware and software components and systems for online learning, instructional technologies, and user facilities.
• Plans and administers goals and objectives of online and hybrid courses, including a central role in assuring the quality of online and hybrid classes, online course reviewers, and academic leadership.
• Oversees operation and maintenance of user facilities and online learning (hyflex) classrooms.
• Participates in developing and implementing the Distance Learning strategic plans, goals, and objectives as a member of the OIT Governance team.

• Assists other units throughout the college system with online learning, instructional technology, instructional design, and implementation at the departmental and campus levels.
• Directs and supervises the personnel and activities of the Online Teaching and Learning staff.

• Serves as the college’s subject matter expert by keeping abreast of national trends and federal regulations in online learning and instructional technology through reading journals, attending meetings, and keeping college efforts in concert with such trends.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Demonstrated teaching excellence.
• Demonstrated expertise in the theory and practice of online distance learning pedagogy and experience in curriculum development, instructional methods, and online instruction.
• Demonstrated experience consulting with faculty and conducting training workshops.
• Experience in the development of online instructional programs and courses.
• Experience in LMS course administration, training, and user support—direct experience with the Canvas LMS preferred.
• Technical skills with appropriate software, including browsers, web page authoring tools, presentation software, web page design, networking, Windows/Macintosh operating systems, and with standard educational technology and multi-media.
• Knowledge and skill in curriculum development, instructional design, and online instruction.
• Knowledge of best practices, current research, and instructional design theory and technology innovations.
• Skill in analyzing, developing, and implementing online instruction.
• Knowledge of the use of learning management systems for the delivery of instruction and services using the Internet, including knowledge of ADA compliance related to technology.
• Knowledge of federal and state distance learning regulations, licensing, and copyright laws.

• Master’s degree in Education, Instructional Design, Technology, or a related field.
• Four (4) years of experience in the development, administration, and marketing of distance education courses and programs; progressively responsible experience with various modes of distributed learning and to include a combination of the following:
• Two (2) years of experience teaching online at the post-secondary level.
• Two (2) years of experience with and knowledge of policy and advocacy of digital learning in higher education (i.e. State Authorization, US Department of Education Federal regulations related to Distance Education and Innovation, NC-SARA guidelines, professional licensure notification, instructional design, and online pedagogy.

• Ph.D. in Instructional or Educational Technology.
• Experience managing specific technology systems and applications such as Canvas, Lumen Learning, and other SIS systems.

• 8 am to 5 pm Monday – Friday, though additional hours are expected to handle customers in all U.S. time zones. Weekend and evening work may be required occasionally.

• This work is typically performed while sitting at a desk or table or intermittently standing or walking. The employee occasionally lifts light and heavy objects. The work is typically done in an office.

• Resume
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Cover Letter