Ecampus is seeking two Assistant Directors. These are full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, fixed term professional faculty positions. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Director of Course Development and Training.

The Assistant Director is a professional faculty member in Oregon State University’s Division of Ecampus and reports to the Director of Course Development and Training. OSU Ecampus is a fast-growing, entrepreneurial organization with a commitment to providing access to Oregon State University’s programs of excellence. The Division of Ecampus administers Ecampus (online degrees), the Ecampus Research Unit (ECRU), and Open Educational Resources (online educational resources). The Ecampus Course Development and Training (CDT) unit is the unit within Ecampus that works with faculty to develop high-quality online and hybrid courses by providing training, media development, and instructional design services. Faculty bring subject matter expertise, and CDT brings expertise in online pedagogy, best practices in online course design, learning management system and educational technology training, and multimedia development.

This Assistant Director is an instructional designer who works with faculty to provide instructional design services for online and hybrid courses, and who supervises one half of the instructional design team. This individual works closely with the other Assistant Director of instructional design to ensure consistency across the unit in policies and procedures, delivery of excellent customer service, and teamwork and collaboration around unit goals.

The Assistant Director is responsible for the design of effective and engaging online and hybrid education and other instructional materials. The Assistant Director develops and jointly leads the instructional design team in interface design, sequencing of instruction, use of assessments, and design of course materials and activities. This position requires coordination of projects, tracking and reporting on project status, teamwork, leadership, innovation, and the delivery of consistent, quality courses and instructional materials within established timelines.

The person in this position also manages the quarterly course development production schedule in coordination with the Assistant Directors in charge of training and of media development; develops and maintains operational and programmatic goals and practices for instructional design; and assists the director with reviewing course developments to ensure they progress on schedule, meet design standards, and adhere to applicable laws and university policies.

The Assistant Director facilitates regular evaluations and assessment of the instructional design team and their customer service, using formal surveys as well as empirical and anecdotal evidence. The Assistant Director assures that instructional design, operational systems and policies are in place for maximum efficiency in planning and developing courses. The Assistant Director will contribute to the development and implementation of best practices and standards that facilitate communication between instructional design team employees and faculty.

Oregon State University and OSU Ecampus maintain and enhance a collaborative and inclusive community that is dedicated to equity and equal opportunity. All employees of this division are responsible for ensuring that these commitments are achieved. This position directly contributes to these goals by overseeing the design of learning environments that are inclusive, accessible and follow best practices of Universal Design for Learning.

Position Duties:

35% – Management and supervision of instructional design team

This person supervises and provides leadership for the instructional design team within the Ecampus Course Development and Training (CDT) unit, and coordinates with the multimedia development and training teams within the CDT unit to ensure the development of high quality, engaging, and effective courses.

Supervision includes planning, assigning and approving work, reviewing work, responding to grievances, determining training needs, providing mentoring and training for new hires, and hiring and disciplinary processes (up to and including termination or recommending termination). Coordinates work and leave schedules. Conducts regular and timely performance evaluations of direct reports.

Serves as an expert resource on instructional design and online course facilitation by consulting with faculty and the instructional design team on optimal online curriculum design and effective multimedia uses. Recommends procedures and solutions for effective online learning and instruction.

Identifies and helps promote outstanding courses and programs via communication with Ecampus Marketing, faculty development and training, awards nominations, and conference presentations.

35% Instructional design

Provides ongoing instructional design services, working directly with faculty to design and develop courses. The Assistant Director carries a smaller course load per term than other instructional designers, but does work actively on the instructional design of courses.

Provides ongoing instructional design support to aid in the adoption of academic technologies and effective teaching strategies.

Collaborates with faculty course designers on optimal online design of curriculum and instruction and effective uses of multimedia.

Participates in faculty development trainings, when appropriate.

Coordinates with Ecampus multimedia developers to assure that media projects developed for hybrid and online courses are in alignment with course learning outcomes and that open education media projects are developed for the intended audience and purpose.

10% Online program support and maintenance

Oversees course development work from a program-level perspective. Ensures that course development plans for programs actively under development remain current and updated.

Coordinates with all IDs involved in a program to ensure that programs maintain consistency and quality.

Communicates with program leads within departments to address issues that arise related to individual course developments. Examples of issues include faculty timeliness in submission of materials, reassignment of instructional designers, requests for adjustment in terms of course delivery, etc.

Meets with program leads within colleges to improve communication between Ecampus and colleges. Works with colleges and departments in evaluating and making recommendations for ongoing program improvement.

Contributes data and information from the unit for use in annual program review reporting.

10% Quality assurance

Reviews course developments in progress and upon completion to assure quality and compliance with design standards and applicable laws, rules, regulations, and policies.

Coordinates with the Assistant Director in charge of training to support Quality Matters course reviews and certification preparations.

Works with departments and faculty to continually improve the quality of hybrid and online courses through a variety of quality improvement initiatives, including Quality Matters.

5% Research, professional development, and service:

Attends professional workshops and meetings, sharing knowledge and networking with other instructional design professionals. Also enhances expertise by reading appropriate professional journals and trade publications. Coordinates and collaborates with the Ecampus Research Unit for ongoing research in online education. May present at professional workshops, meetings, and conferences, and/or write white papers, professional blogs, book chapters, and journal articles.

Provides service to OSU by working on departmental, division, university, regional and national committees and projects.

5% Coverage in director’s absence:

In the absence of the Course Development and Training Director for vacation or other extended leave, the Assistant Director leads, makes decisions, acts in a supervisory role, speaks on behalf of the instructional and curriculum design teams in Ecampus CDT, and fills in at meetings, presentations, etc. In the event the director leaves and the position is not immediately filled, the Assistant Director is a likely candidate to assume the role of Interim Director, if needed. The assistant director is expected to pursue and assume leadership opportunities and positions within professional organizations on behalf of Ecampus and OSU.

*OSU is committed to a culture of civility, respect, and inclusivity.  As an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, OSU values diversity in our faculty and staff regardless of their self-identity; to that end, we particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, veterans, women, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. 

To apply, go to http://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/73378

Posting closes April 14, 2019