Senior Director of Instructional Design and Development

Job Description

About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University:

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is an independent, culturally diverse institution providing quality education and research in aviation, aerospace, engineering, and other related fields with residential campuses located in Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona. The University's Worldwide campus provides educational opportunities online and at approximately 130 locations throughout the United States, Asia, Europe, and Central/South America.

As the largest and most comprehensive aviation and aerospace-focused university in the world, Embry-Riddle is a unique institution. Over the past 90 years, the University has evolved with industry to break new ground and produce top-level graduates who serve the ever-changing needs of aviation and aerospace and other STEM-related disciplines. Embry-Riddle offers programs in seven primary fields of study including: Applied Science; Aviation; Business; Computers and Technology; Engineering; Safety, Security, and Intelligence; and Space.

The Opportunity:

As a senior leader, the Senior Director has primary responsibility for the successful design and production of hundreds of high-quality, asynchronous online courses. There is daily interaction with Instructional Design and Development leadership members, instructional designers, digital media specialists, media producers, course developers, contractors, and other Worldwide staff – including members of the Academic Innovation Division. The position requires superior leadership, critical thinking, decision-making, negotiation, and communication skills, along with comfort working in a team environment.

Key job functions include:

• Provide leadership to the Instructional Design and Development department.
  
  
• Responsible for the direction and oversight of the University’s online course development processes, assigning and managing the work of production staff to ensure adherence to expected quality standards, conventions, and timelines. Production staff includes Directors of Instructional Design and Development, Director of Instructional Design Operations, Instructional Designers, Digital Media Specialists, Media Producers, contract workers, interns, and student assistants.
  
  
• Has responsibility for long- and short-term strategic planning, in consultation with senior academic representatives, including the Associate Dean of Learning Design and Technology, the Dean of Academic Innovation, College Deans and Associate Deans, Department Chairs, and the Director of Professional Programs, to determine online course production priorities and resources assignment.
  
  
• Strategic plans production schedules, deadlines, and deliverables to meet and exceed stakeholder demands.
  
  
• Benchmarks and makes recommendations to the Associate Dean of Learning Design and Technology regarding trends in online course design and development.
  
  
• Provides supervision to the execution of the departmental strategic plan.
  
  
• Researches and recommends technology enhancements.
  
  
• Provides annual performance evaluations for direct reports, to include recommendations for merit increases and performance improvement plans, as required.
  
  
• Mentors/Coaches production staff.
  
  
• Authors and/or approves course development standards and policies and implements those in conjunction with Directors of Instructional Design and Development.
  
  
• Coordinates and, if necessary, negotiates the production and/or acquisition of instructional materials, including video, graphics, animations, and interactive media elements with outside entities.
  
  
• Liaises with the WW Bookstore vendor regarding the adoption of textbooks and instructional materials as well as resolving student issues pertaining the purchase of textbooks and instructional materials through the WW Bookstore.
  
  
• Liaises with the Academic Technology team and the Information Technology team regarding the creation of sections in the University’s Learning Management System.
  
  
• Responsible for the issuance of course development contracts and course revision contracts to course developers.
  
  
• Responsible for compensating course developers for their work in the development, redevelopment, and update of the University’s online courses.
  
  
• Effectively manages departmental budget and makes recommendations for future budgetary needs.
  
  
• Researches and negotiates with new and existing vendors as necessary.
  
  

Qualifications

Required Education :

• Ph.D. or other doctorate level equivalent. Area of study: Instructional Design or related field.
  
  

Required skills, knowledge, abilities:

• Demonstrated effective leadership skills in a complex academic organization.
  
  
• Demonstrated understanding of the budgetary and financial systems of the University.
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to identify and resolve problems.
  
  
• Effective interpersonal relationship skills including ability to resolve conflict, support, encourage, and motivate staff.
  
  
• Ability to lead and work effectively in a team setting.
  
  
• Effective time management skills.
  
  
• Expertise with software applications used in designing online learning experiences (e.g., MS Office, Canvas).
  
  
• Applies advanced critical thinking skills in a fast-paced, changing environment.
  
  
• Addresses multiple deadlines and balances multiple needs and perspectives.
  
  
• Communicates proactively, collaboratively, and professionally with team members.
  
  
• Negotiation, team-building, and conflict resolution skills.