Innovation Specialist; Part-Time

New River Community College Dublin, VA Part-time Education

New River Community College is a two-year public institution of higher education operating under a state-wide system of 23 community colleges. The college is located on a one-hundred plus acre site at the intersection of U.S. Routes 11 and 100 in Dublin, Virginia with an instructional site in Christiansburg. The campus provides modern, well-equipped facilities for the career technical education programs as well as for the college transfer programs.

Approximately 4,000 students comprise the student body.

The people employed by New River Community College embrace the philosophy that all individuals should have an opportunity to develop and extend their skills and knowledge to increase awareness of their roles and duties as citizens. The college serves the educational needs of the public and assumes a duty to help provide the requirements for trained workers in the region through a combined effort with local industry, business, professions, and government.

The college promotes equal opportunity for prospective students and employees.

• Research & Evaluation: Research, evaluate, and recommend new and emerging educational technologies, instructional materials, and innovative pedagogical models (e.g., Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, Extended Reality (XR), andragogy, adaptive learning, micro-credentials).
• Pilot & Implement: Lead and manage pilot programs for new technologies and instructional strategies, overseeing the full lifecycle from testing and evaluation to successful campus-wide deployment or discontinuation.
• Consulting: Consult with faculty and academic departments on innovative teaching strategies and tools.
• Training & Workshops: Design, develop, and deliver comprehensive professional development programs, workshops, and one‑on‑one coaching for faculty and staff on innovative teaching methods and technology use.
• Content Creation: Develop and maintain high‑quality, engaging support resources, including online tutorials, guides, videos, and documentation for educational technology tools and best practices.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with Center for Teaching Learning and Professional Development (CTLPD), Instructional Designer (), Instructional Technology (IT), Library Services, and other departments to ensure seamless integration, functionality, and support for all instructional technology solutions.
• Strategic Alignment: Work with the  Dean of IS& I to align technology‑driven innovation projects with the college’s strategic goals, including those related to student retention, and completion rates.
• Assessment: Collect and analyze data on the effectiveness of new technologies and instructional innovations, preparing reports and recommendations.
• Awareness: Remain informed about national and regional developments in higher education technology, community college initiatives, and evolving workforce development requirements.

• 2 years of experience working in education, learning design, or a related innovation role, preferably in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated experience with a Learning Management System (LMS) such as Canvas.
• Proven ability to conduct technology training and professional development for adult learners.
• Skilled in online learning, UDL principles, and WCAG 2.1 accessibility.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a cross‑functional team.
• A collaborative and service‑oriented mindset, with a passion for student success.

• Experience in project management, leading technical or educational projects.
• Experience with emerging technologies (e.g., virtual reality, augmented reality, AI tools, simulation technologies).
• Exceptional communication (written and verbal), presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Creative problem‑solving skills and an entrepreneurial approach to identifying opportunities for improvement.

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non‑merit factors.