Assistant Director, Online Learning & Quality Assurance

Brandeis University is delighted to announce a career opportunity as the Assistant Director of Online Learning & Quality Assurance, Rabb School and Brandeis Online. At Brandeis, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package which includes medical, dental and life insurances.  If you are looking to advance your career through educational opportunities, Brandeis offers tuition assistance for employees, dependents and spouses.  Our 403b retirement savings plan includes a generous match.

The Assistant Director of Online Learning and Quality Assurance plays a critical role in ensuring the quality, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of online learning experiences at Brandeis Online. This position collaborates closely with faculty, learning designers, and administrators to ensure the quality and effectiveness of online courses and programs. The successful candidate will possess expertise in online pedagogy, online learning design, and assessment practices, with a commitment to enhancing the online learning experience for students.

Key Responsibilities:

Quality Assurance & Assessment (40%)

• Assist in the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and standards to ensure the quality and integrity of online courses and programs and enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency.

• Collaborate with faculty and learning designers to review and evaluate online courses, providing feedback and recommendations for improvement based on quality assurance criteria.

• Conduct regular reviews of online courses and programs to assess alignment with quality standards, accessibility guidelines, and best practices in online pedagogy.

• Manage the collection and analysis of data related to online course quality and student satisfaction, synthesizing findings into actionable insights and recommendations that inform continuous improvement efforts.

• Assist Assistant Dean with recommending, implementing, and administering ongoing assessment methods and procedures to ensure programs stay relevant and competitive.

• Coordinate the assessment of online learning outcomes, working with faculty and learning designers to develop assessment strategies and tools that measure student achievement and program effectiveness.

• Coordinate assessment activities across academic and administrative units, providing guidance and support to ensure the collection of meaningful data.

• Collaborate with academic departments and administrative units to ensure alignment of online learning initiatives with accreditation standards and regulatory requirements.

• Record, store, manage, and disseminate confidential and sensitive assessment data, as appropriate

• Coordinate internal and external communication of assessment results.

• Serve as a resource for faculty and administrators seeking guidance on assessment-related matters, offering expertise and support as needed.

• Contribute to institutional planning and decision-making processes by leveraging assessment data to inform strategic initiatives.

Online Learning (25%)

• Collaborate with faculty and learning designers to design, develop, and evaluate online courses and programs that promote student engagement, learning, and success.  

• Provide guidance and support to faculty in the design and delivery of interactive and engaging online courses, ensuring adherence to best practices in online pedagogy and Brandeis Online quality standards.

• Collaborate with the Assistant Dean and others to promote a culture of innovation, excellence, and continuous improvement in online education.

• Manage the queue of courses that need learning design support, coordinating with faculty, program chairs, the learning design team. Issue contracts and provide support to keep projects on-time and completed in a timely manner.

• Collaborate with the Learning Design Team to review and improve course design processes to make course revision projects more efficient and improve overall course quality.

• Ensure courses are set-up, made available to students, and backed-up in a timely manner each term.

• Organize written documentation for student issues requiring Vice President or Assistant Dean's intervention. Stay informed about emerging trends, technologies, and pedagogical approaches in online learning, incorporating innovative practices into course and program development.

Program Development (25%)

• Establish and maintain consistent program development processes that align with the university’s existing academic processes and ensure programs adhere to Brandeis Online’s standards for high-quality online courses and programs.

• Collaborate with academic units to design and develop new online offerings–including for-credit and non-credit programs and courses–shepherding them through the approval and launch processes.

• Analyze program design and development processes to determine processes optimization and/or enhancement.

Divisional and University Support (10%)

• Actively participate in regular team and divisional meetings.

• Provide recommendations to the Assistant Dean to modify or improve policies or procedures. Represent the division and university when speaking with faculty candidates and attending division-sponsored events or sessions.

• Collaborate on other divisional projects and provide coverage to team members as needed.

• Provide feedback to other team members and to Assistant Dean regarding best practices and strategies.

• Perform other divisional tasks as needed, such as supporting recruiting and admissions activities, networking events, and commencement.

• Collaborate with University partners to ensure alignment to provide the best possible experience for Brandeis Online learners.

• Develop and refine infrastructure processes seeking continuous improvements, innovation, and optimization.

• Collaborate and monitor internal and external partnerships to ensure quality and sustainability of educational services.

• Other duties as assigned.

Education & Work Experience:

• Master’s degree in higher education, educational assessment, instructional design, educational technology or a related field. Doctorate preferred.

• Minimum 3-5 years working in online learning, quality assurance, assessment, or related areas within a higher education environment.

Qualifications:

• Familiarity with quality assurance frameworks and standards in higher education and online learning.

• Demonstrated knowledge of online pedagogy, best practices in online course development and delivery, and assessment methodologies, including direct and indirect measures of student learning.

• Experience with learning management systems (LMS) and other educational technologies commonly used in online learning environments.

• Strong project management experience.

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.

• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools, such as SPSS, Excel, Tableau, or similar software.

• Collaborative mindset and demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and administrators across departments.

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and project management skills.

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the ability to integrate these principles into online learning and quality assurance practices.

• Familiarity with accreditation standards and processes in higher education (e.g., NECHE, NC-SARA, etc).

• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Diversity, equity and inclusion are important values at Brandeis today and always have been for they are rooted in our founding as an institution. These values serve as a reminder for self-reflection, and a continuous call to grow for us as Brandeisans.  Founded as a model institution for ethnic and religious pluralism, Brandeis University welcomes students, faculty, and staff of all nationalities, religions, and orientations.  Moreover, social justice is central to the mission of Brandeis, which endeavors to foster a just and inclusive campus culture that embraces the evolving diversity of our larger society.  Read more online about our Mission and Diversity Statements at Brandeis Mission and Diversity Statements.

If you are interested in a role and have relevant experience but your work history does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we nevertheless encourage you to apply.

Closing Statement

Brandeis University is committed to providing its students, faculty and staff with an environment conducive to learning and working and where all people are treated with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, caste, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, including transgender identity, religion, disability, age, genetics, active military or veteran status and any other characteristics protected under applicable federal or Massachusetts law.