Executive Director of Online Learning

Executive Director of Online Learning — Morris Brown College

The Executive Director of Online Learning provides academic leadership and institutional stewardship for the College's online and hybrid learning environment. This role advances high-quality distance education that is mission-centered, academically rigorous, and aligned with the College's strategic priorities. The Executive Director leads the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of online learning programs, ensuring alignment with institutional learning outcomes, accreditation expectations, and regulatory requirements.

Working collaboratively with faculty, department chairs, academic leadership, and campus support units, the Executive Director oversees course quality standards, instructional design practices, faculty development, and compliance across all online learning offerings. The role also serves as the primary institutional point of contact for online learning partners and plays a key role in strengthening a cohesive, student-centered online learning experience that reflects the College's academic excellence, legacy, and future direction.

Instructional Quality, Course Design & Pedagogy

• Lead the academic quality and continuous improvement of online and hybrid courses.
• Apply evidence-based pedagogical approaches that support effective learning across online environments.
• Establish and maintain course design standards that promote clarity, engagement, accessibility, and academic rigor.
• Create training materials and lead professional development on foundational and advanced concepts of course design and online teaching.
• Review courses regularly and guide faculty in strengthening engagement, assessment, and alignment with learning outcomes.

Faculty Orientation & Professional Development

• Manage ongoing orientation and professional development for faculty teaching online and hybrid courses.
• Design and deliver workshops, tutorials, and resources that support effective online teaching practices.
• Coach faculty on inclusive teaching, accessibility, learner engagement, and assessment strategies.
• Provide instructional guidance, troubleshooting, and support related to faculty use of the learning management system.

Learning Management System & Course Experience Oversight

• Oversee the academic use of the learning management system as the central online learning environment.
• Ensure consistency in course structure and navigation while respecting instructional autonomy.
• Monitor course activity and engagement trends to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborate with instructional designers and faculty to align learning activities, assessments, and feedback practices.

Student Experience & Support

• Oversee online student support processes, including responding to student concerns and requests for assistance.
• Develop and maintain student-facing guidance and support materials for online learning.
• Work collaboratively with academic and student support services to ensure clear access to advising, tutoring, and academic resources.
• Monitor student access and engagement to support persistence and academic success.

Assessment, Data & Continuous Improvement

• Use data to evaluate the effectiveness of online learning programs and instructional practices.
• Regularly survey students and faculty to assess instructional quality, satisfaction, and support needs.
• Review retention and performance data to inform improvements in course design and student support.
• Disseminate reports and findings to support decision-making among faculty, academic leadership, and institutional stakeholders.

Compliance, Accreditation & Governance

• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations related to online and hybrid education.
• Serve as the College's primary contact and compliance officer for NC-SARA.
• Chair the Distance Learning Committee and guide institutional policy and practice related to online learning.
• Support accreditation reporting, reviews, and documentation related to distance education.

Collaboration & Institutional Strategy

• Partner with Information Technology Services to plan instructional support needs, training, and future enhancements.
• Communicate effectively with faculty, leadership, students, and collaborating organizations.
• Contribute to institutional strategies related to academic quality, student success, and retention.
• Support the growth, sustainability, and reputation of the College's online learning programs.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Instructional Design, Education, Curriculum and Instruction, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in online learning pedagogy and course design.
• Proven leadership in faculty development, course quality assurance, and online program oversight.
• Experience using data to inform instructional decisions and program improvement.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
• Minimum of two to three years of progressive experience in online learning leadership, instructional…