Managing Director, Instructional Technology

Department
 

HUM Staff: CLC Chicago Language Center

About the Department
 

The Chicago Language Center (CLC) is a hub for professional development for language instructors across all departments and programs at the University. It currently leads two grants, Mellon Foundation Transforming Language Instruction, and the UChicago-funded Language Pedagogy Innovation Initiative. Professional staff in the CLC lead multiple workshops in language assessment and curriculum design for audiences of on-campus instructors and instructors from across the country. The Office of Language Assessment (OLA) is also housed in the CLC, and administers language testing for the entire University, including placement tests, English language tests for non-native speakers, and graduate reading exams, among others. The CLC’s work involves multiple funding agencies, revenue accounts, and discretionary accounts. In the recent past, the CLC has hosted international conferences around language testing and teaching.

Job Summary
 

Reporting to the Director of the University of Chicago Language Center (CLC), the Managing Director, Instructional Technology leads the development, deployment, and support of information technology products and services used in teaching and learning; provides leadership in supporting language faculty in the development of pedagogical projects, both in response to faculty needs and ideas as well as in anticipation of their work.

Responsibilities

• Directs all aspects of the Online Language Pedagogy Initiative (OLPII), an expansion of the LPII devoted specifically to the design and development of courses to be taught online, including identifying opportunities and developing innovative solutions to teaching and learning problems, designing a research-based comprehensive pedagogy, curriculum and professional development program, conducting outreach to language instructors for potential course offering, guiding them through all phases of course design and development, and the implementation of multimedia into course design and delivery.  Works with CLC director to create an administrative plan for offering online courses to a wide range of students.
• Shepherds new projects from the idea phase to grant writing (local or other) and budget development, through project implementation and development, leading to project completion. Conducts assessments and evaluates resources and services ranging from basic online courses to application of technology in teaching. Develops problem-solving approaches that support development and deployment of technology products used in teaching.
• Provides innovative direction for the integration of multimedia and language instruction across campus.  Serves as a resource to advise and consult with faculty and graduate student lecturers about technology and pedagogy, providing a wide range of multimedia applications to meet pedagogical goals.  Acts as adviser to the CLC and wider language-teaching and learning community on research and development of multimedia, as well as the long-term usefulness and practicality of new technologies. 
• Conducts outreach to all language teaching staff, including the ELI, to determine needs for new multimedia, including hardware, software, applications, and multimedia use techniques.  Schedules, advertises and conducts technology and multimedia workshops for language faculty, demonstrating how new technologies can be implemented.  Stays informed about webinars available from other institutions, plans and holds sessions for language faculty to view and discuss these presentations.  Manages logistic for holding workshops and events, including reserving space, managing and tracking attendance, preparing materials and multimedia.
• Supports video conferencing, editing of audio/video, the use of editing software and audio/video production, audio recorders, video camera, the use (and when needed, training) of FinalCutPro, Audacity audio editing, Qucktime video format, and all equipment used in audio and video editing and recording.
• Works with the CLC Director and Managing Director of the Office of Language Assessment to support needs of language faculty participating in the Mellon Transforming Language Instruction Grant and Language Pedagogy Innovation Initiative, including co-planning, designing, and presenting workshops.
• In collaboration with the Managing Director of the Office of Language Assessment (OLA), assists in research projects and other initiative, including presentation of work at national and international conferences.
• Directs the support of all language instructors in the transition and adjustment of instruction to online platforms, including development and coordination of workshops, webinars and meetings.  Serves on multiple University and Divisional committees concerned with online instruction, voices concerns of the language teaching cohort, shares pedagogical expertise, and effectively disseminates information to the broader language teaching community.
• In collaboration with CLC staff, maintains CLC websites in order to raise visibility and share information around initiatives including the Mellon TLI, LPII, transition to online instruction, proficiency assessment certification.
• Supports the University’s learning management system, working closely with all language faculty to implement the LMS, upload and update materials.  Acts as a expert and resource for the LMS, liaises with University central agents for LMS to stay up-to-date.
• Creates multiple types of audio and video products to promote language study and the work of the CLC and language-related activities, to build community across all language faculty and learners at the University.
• Develops and carries out cross-institutional initiatives, especially to foster collaboration across the units and divisions of the University. Collaborates with all information technology groups on campus and at peer institutions to stay up-to-date on new directions in technology-assisted learning.
• Directs the CourseShare program and oversees all sharing of language instruction via video conference.  Sets up registration details, working with Registrar.  Establishes procedures and policies in consultation with the CLC director and agents off-campus involved in course-sharing.  Works closely with students and programs to determine needs and feasibility of requests.  Keeps abreast of all development in language course-sharing, to provide expertise and knowledge base to CLC director and others on campus.
• Works closely with IT manager to ensure that new multimedia applications are supported by CLC hardware and software.
• When requested, assist language faculty in the development of ideas for research projects, using resources available in the CLC.
• With minimal guidance performs a variety of IT activities supporting an e-learning environment, such as designing curriculum content and facilitating in-person instruction.
• Conducts assessments and evaluates resources and services ranging from basic online courses to application of technology in teaching. Develops problem-solving approaches that support development and deployment of technology products used in teaching.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in related field.

Experience:

• Organizing events
• Presenting at conferences.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate on projects.
• Teaching a foreign language or English as a second language at the post-secondary level, or experience working in a language resource center.
• Active engagement in research, development or implementation of instructional technologies.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Working with technology in foreign language instruction, including remote instruction, and the interface between technology and pedagogy.
• In-depth knowledge of language pedagogy and/or applied linguistics pertaining to second language acquisition and instruction.
• ​Knowledge and experience in designing, developing, and implementing online courses.
• Facility with web design and maintenance for a variety of purposes.

Preferred Competencies

• Managing projects, keeping track of progress and fine-tuning processes to ensure project completion.
• Multitask and manage multiple, disparate projects and tasks at the same time.
• Work collaboratively within the unit and with language instructors, staff and students across the Humanities Division and the College.
• Comfortable working in a multicultural and multilingual environment.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Agile and able to respond on a daily, hourly and at times, minute-by-minute basis to requests for assistance.
• Collaborative, relationship skills.
• Leadership.
• Results oriented.
• Problem solver.

Working Conditions

• Office environment.
• Minimal evening and weekend work.
• Fast-paced environment.
• Lift up to 25 lbs.
• Push carts with up to 40 lbs of material.
• Sit at a computer for 2-4 hours.
• Periodic walking to other campus locations.
• Climbing up to 5 flights of stairs.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References Contact Information (3)(required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Information Technology

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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