• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $92,000 - $102,400

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Online Support and Academic Technology, the Associate Director of Academic Technology Solutions plays a critical role in advancing the School of Professional Studies’ (SPS) use of educational technologies to support high-quality teaching, learning, and operations across all modalities. The incumbent leads initiatives that enhance the digital learning experience, strengthen instructional delivery, and improve academic operations by strategically integrating technology to drive innovation.

This role oversees the full lifecycle of the SPS Academic Technology Stack from vendor evaluation and procurement through implementation, training, interoperability, and continuous improvement, ensuring alignment with institutional goals, security standards, and accessibility requirements. The Associate Director collaborates with faculty, program directors, and colleagues across Online Curriculum and Instruction (OCI), including Instructional Design, Faculty Assessment and Development, and Online Support and Academic Technology subteams, to develop scalable, sustainable solutions for technology-enhanced learning.

A key focus of this position involves leading pilots and evaluations of innovative technologies, including AI-enabled tools and learning management system (LMS) solutions, to assess their pedagogical value, usability, and alignment with SPS’s digital learning strategy. The Associate Director translates emerging trends in educational technology into actionable strategies that strengthen SPS’s leadership in online and digital learning. 

Responsibilities

Academic Technology Strategy and Operations

1. Strategic Planning and Academic Technology Leadership

   • Lead the evaluation, implementation, and management of tools within the SPS Academic Technology Stack, ensuring alignment with pedagogical goals, institutional policies, and technical requirements.

   • Guide long-term academic technology strategy, including evaluating learning management systems and related platforms for future readiness.

   • Partner with academic and administrative leaders to identify scalable technology solutions that advance academic quality, operational efficiency, and innovation across modalities.

   • Contribute to budgeting and forecasting for academic technology renewals, pilots, and licensing to ensure fiscal sustainability.

   • Align academic technology planning with SPS’s digital learning strategy and institutional priorities.

2. Vendor and Systems Management

   • Manage vendor relationships, including contract lifecycle management, procurement coordination, renewals, and payment processes in partnership with SPS Finance.

   • Coordinate with CUIT to conduct security reviews and risk assessments for all new educational technologies, ensuring compliance with institutional standards.

   • Ensure interoperability across academic systems and integrations to deliver a seamless, secure, and consistent user experience for students and faculty.

3. Faculty and Program Support

   • Lead collaborative processes to identify technology solutions that enhance teaching, learning, and assessment across online, hybrid, and in-person modalities.

   • Provide consultations, training, and pilot support to faculty, staff, and students to promote effective adoption of new tools and technologies.

   • Develop and maintain user guides and documentation that emphasize intuitive, user-centered design to support scalable, high-quality learning experiences.

4. Compliance, Data Governance, and Accessibility

   • Advance digital accessibility across SPS courses and systems by identifying and addressing barriers, maintaining high standards of compliance, and supporting continuous improvement.

   • Ensure that all academic technologies and vendor integrations adhere to institutional data privacy policies and accessibility standards.

   • Collect and analyze usage and impact data to evaluate technology effectiveness, inform continuous improvement, and guide decisions on tool retention or sunset.

5. Innovation and Emerging Technologies

   • Monitor and evaluate developments in generative AI and automation within educational technologies to assess their implications for digital teaching, learning, and operations.

   • Evaluate AI capabilities embedded within existing tools and new technologies to ensure alignment with academic governance standards, institutional policy, and pedagogical frameworks, and to determine readiness for responsible adoption.

   • Coordinate with institutional partners to review AI-enabled tools for privacy, security, and ethical considerations prior to adoption.

   • Develop and apply structured frameworks for piloting and evaluating emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to ensure responsible and evidence-based adoption at scale.

   • Provide documentation and recommendations regarding the technical readiness, compliance status, and instructional value of emerging tools to inform institutional decision-making. 

    

Leadership and Management

• Supervise and guide the activities of Educational Technologists, student workers, and temporary staff to align with the goals and priorities of the Online Support and Academic Technology unit.

• Manage workload distribution, mentoring, and professional development for direct reports.

• Lead change-management and communication efforts for academic technology initiatives, ensuring transparency and adoption across faculty and staff.

• Maintain comprehensive documentation, workflows, and resources related to the SPS Technology Stack and pilot processes.

• Serve as the primary liaison for academic technology projects with internal and external partners, coordinating efforts to ensure alignment, collaboration, and successful implementation.

• Anticipate and resolve issues with new or existing educational technologies, implementing timely and effective solutions.

• Represent SPS on university-wide academic technology groups, including the Academic Technology Leadership Group (ATLG) and related committees, ensuring alignment with institutional initiatives and bringing insights and best practices to SPS.

Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned/requested

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree desirable
• 4 years of related experience
• A resume and cover letter with salary requirements must be submitted for consideration

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in educational technology, instructional design, or related field
• Minimum of four years of experience in higher education, educational technology, or a related academic support area
• Demonstrated experience teaching or supporting faculty in higher education
• Experience leading cross-functional projects or academic technology pilots in higher education
• Experience supporting technology-enhanced assessment, data analytics, or reporting
• Experience as an instructor or trainer in academic or corporate environments
• Familiarity with data governance, privacy, and compliance in educational contexts
• Knowledge of systems architecture and the integration of academic technologies within enterprise environments
• Experience in a supervisory role including the training and development of staff is strongly preferred

Other Requirements

• Proven success in evaluating, implementing, and supporting academic technologies that enhance teaching and learning
• Experience managing vendor relationships, procurement processes, and technology budgets
• Familiarity with learning management systems (e.g., Canvas, Brightspace, or similar platforms)
• Working knowledge of evidence-based online teaching practices to inform technology recommendations and faculty consultations
• Strong knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG, ADA) and digital accessibility best practices
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Demonstrated commitment to staying current with developments in educational technology, including AI-enabled tools, automation, and interoperability

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.