K-State Online

Associate Dean of Learning Innovation

K-State Global Campus

Associate Dean of Learning Innovation

(Associate Dean, Global Campus)

Position Description

The associate dean of learning innovation is responsible for leading the coordinated organization, direction and implementation of a dossier of curriculum projects and transformation activities to achieve a university-wide strategic portfolio of market-driven learning opportunities poised to better serve today’s learners to realize substantial enrollment growth. The portfolio includes credit-bearing courses, microcredentials and degree programs in all modalities as well as noncredit and professional development programming building on collaborative experiences with various sectors (e.g., business, government, industry). The associate dean works collaboratively with cross-institutional and external stakeholders driving critical business development strategies; designing program lifecycle stage plans; engaging market intelligence research; developing pro forma projections and financials; guiding quality course design and curriculum design processes; and supporting successful launch implementation planning. Utilizing an intrapreneurial mindset, design thinking, Lean, and project management approaches, the associate dean will have a multitude of projects in various stages of development and revision at one time.

This position reports to the dean of Global Campus.

Strategic Portfolio Management - Program Lifecycle Leadership – 10%

  • Develop and maintain a strategic academic portfolio plan, leading a highly collaborative effort to build new and/or revitalize existing learning opportunities to maximize access across Kansas and beyond, fully actualizing K-State’s land-grant mission.
  • Utilize a data-informed approach to continually assess program lifecycle stage and develop action plans for sharing with key stakeholders the health and vibrancy of individual programs.
  • Engage actively with the existing university Academic Program Review and Revitalization (APRR) initiative.
  • Build and manage administrative processes to provide structure for new program roll out, academic planning and portfolio management as well as course and curriculum development.

Stakeholder Engagement and Business Development – 30%

  • Develop a comprehensive framework to support faculty across colleges and campuses.
  • Articulate the value of learning innovation and propose ways to create and sustain a robust academic environment at K-State.
  • Serve as a liaison between colleges, departments and units to coordinate the necessary support needed to provide successful courses and programs that enhance faculty-student engagement.
  • Collaborate with potential stakeholders to identify specific needs and direct market analysis to determine program structure, viability and return on investment projections.
  • Lead the grant-funding program for development of new courses and academic programs, managing awards of approximately $500,000 in funding each fiscal year.
  • Spearhead collaborative engagement with other campus units (e.g., IT, K-State Teaching and Learning Center) for the design and delivery of high-quality learning experiences for both faculty and students.
  • Develop, promote and deploy internal collaborative and knowledge-sharing events around innovation topics.
  • Support just-in-time and customized learning opportunities to meet the needs of employers in various sectors (e.g., business/government/industry).
  • Build multiple on-ramps to university learning experiences in support of today’s learners.

Market Intelligence – 10%

  • Utilize and incorporate the use of market insights (e.g., market understanding, labor market information, student insight) and competitive insights (competitor intelligence, program understanding) in the evaluation/redesign of current curriculum and development of market-driven academic and professional development programs.
  • Develop standardized market- and competitor-reporting capabilities and action-planning approaches.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with third party vendors and educational technology solutions in collaboration with ITS and other stakeholders.

Financial Projections and Program Planning/Development – 35%

  • Implement a systematic and scalable pro forma financial projection and plan process clearly articulating return on investment and other performance measures for new and/or revised programs.
  • Lead design implementation for small- and large-scale instructional projects engaging design thinking and project management principles and approaches with faculty across the university.
  • Develop project charters, plans, milestones, schedules and timelines using standard project management and agile methodologies to ensure projects are completed on time.
  • Establish and lead an instructional designer network across the university building professional expectations for various learning design professionals (e.g., instructional designers, videographers, instructional technologists, and program developers)
  • Ensure industry best practices and high quality, just-in-time instructional design and curriculum development support at the course, program and operations levels.
  • Develop and implement relevant quality and compliance standards across all new and revised courses/programs. Establish feedback loops related to course quality, student engagement and success for continuous improvement.
  • Oversee and allocate resources as they relate to individual programs as well as the overall program portfolio budget. Develop the annual program portfolio budget, participate in the budgeting process, monitor budgets and prepare for and participate in periodic budget review meetings.
  • Work on special projects in response to university needs.

Supervision – 10%

  • Provide strategic leadership and oversight for staff directly responsible for business development, program development and instructional design with a strong liaison relationship with the market analysis team.
  • Supervise, provide training and mentoring, and define responsibilities, goals, priorities and objectives for all members of the unit staff.
  • Provide guidance to staff including development of unit goals and regularly evaluate performance.
  • Encourage ongoing professional development for staff.
  • Allocate and deploy staff for ongoing assignments and special projects.

K-State Global Campus/University Responsibility – 5%

  • Actively engage with Global Campus strategic goal assignments and complete Global Campus goals as assigned.
  • Represent Global Campus and the university at local, regional and national meetings and events and make presentations to stakeholders.
  • Serve fully on unit, Global Campus or university teams, committees, task forces, etc. as needed or requested.
  • Participate in professional development to include programming related to future market and educational trends in higher education, leadership programs and other programs to expand knowledge base.
  • Contribute information for inclusion in publicity efforts and/or public facing venues.
  • Complete other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Master’s degree required
  • Five years of relevant experience
  • Excellent organizational and communication skills
  • Experience using key performance indicators, metrics and data/predictive analytics to support planning, decision-making and continuous improvement efforts
  • Experience leading best practices in course/program design and adaptive learning in order to develop and implement programs and processes that help engage students
  • Demonstrated success supervising, training, motivating and mentoring staff in a high performing operation
  • Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize across multiple projects, strategic priorities and issues with a drive toward informed answers and results in a focused and efficient manner with an agility to make changes to plans as new information is learned and analyzed
  • Ability to plan, oversee and assess strategic initiatives
  • Prior use/understanding of course/program quality frameworks and teaching/learning best practice foundations
  • Demonstrated success serving as a digital learning advocate, navigating and resolving challenges and collaborating with faculty on academic initiatives

Preferred Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction, instructional design, educational technology or related academic discipline
  • Five or more years of experience working with faculty members in a research-intensive setting
  • University teaching experience
  • Hold a PMP certification and/or other relevant certifications (e.g, PgMP, DASM, DASSM, PMI-ACP, Prosci, Lean Six Sigma)
  • Experience utilizing and applying design thinking, Lean principles, project management and market intelligence in higher education settings
  • Must be self-motivated, detail oriented and analytical
  • Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-tasked environment, thinking proactively and using good judgment and experience to make decisions
  • Strong customer service orientation with an ability to work independently as well as in a team environment
  • Change-management skills, including the ability to adapt and handle some level of ambiguity
  • Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify the appropriate analytical processes for addressing particular issues, arrive at supportable recommendations, build consensus and ensure successful implementation
  • Understanding of and sensitivity to diversity issues related to effective communication and interaction with persons from diverse cultural backgrounds, age ranges, social backgrounds, experience levels and more
  • Ability to evaluate the attractiveness of new opportunities with an intrapreneurial mindset with appropriate fiscal foundations
  • Ability to work with internal stakeholders to set standards relating to innovation, student engagement and learning efficacy to be applied across the university programs and overseeing application of these standards

Appointment conditions: Unclassified, regular 12-month, exempt appointment

Inclement weather designation: Nonessential

Salary range: 14A $92,179 to $152,096

Work location: This is a remote position with K-State Global Campus, but the incumbent must be available to work occasionally on the Manhattan campus. Employees must reside in the United States in order to comply with all federal, state and local payroll withholding taxes and wage requirements. The employee is expected to maintain a home office or other approved location (in accordance with university policy) from which they would work. K-State Global Campus operates on Central time. Applicants may review the university’s remote work policy here. Details of an individual’s remote work arrangement will be finalized with the selected candidate directly as part of the hiring process.

Submit your application and required materials via the K-State Jobs applicant portal. https://careers.k-state.edu/cw/en-us/job/514787/associate-dean-of-learning-and-innovation

Application materials should include:

  • Cover letter addressing your qualifications and skills related to the position
  • Resume or curriculum vita listing education and employment history
  • Three professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate) and email address

Screening of applicants begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. For best consideration, apply by April 6.

Kansas State University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran.

Background check required.