Director, Learning Technologies
University of Southern California, Glendale, CA, United States
Director, Learning Technologies – University of Southern California – Information Technology Services (ITS) – Location: Los Angeles, California (Hybrid)
As the Director of Learning Technologies, you are responsible for leading the delivery and support of the university's learning management system (LMS) and related learning technologies within Information Technology Services. This role ensures that learning technologies effectively support teaching, learning, and engagement across the university.
The Director works closely with faculty, academic leadership and IT stakeholders to support system reliability, guide enhancements, and ensure that services meet the needs of the campus community. This role also oversees vendor relationships and contributes to planning efforts that align learning technologies with institutional priorities.
Job Accountabilities
Directly or indirectly supervises all assigned subordinate staff, usually through other supervisors. Recruits, screens, hires and trains staff. Assesses need for technical and professional growth, recommends development opportunities, evaluates performance, provides guidance and feedback, and counsels or disciplines as needed.
Sets departmental goals and objectives and communicates to staff. Reassesses or redefines priorities as appropriate to achieve performance objectives.
Participates in the planning and administration of departmental and project budgets as assigned.
Consults with users on systems development project requests and communicates regularly and effectively with stakeholders, technical staff, senior‑level management and customers regarding project goals, objectives, deliverables, plans and status throughout a project. Designs systems and/or system configuration and specifications to satisfy user needs, develops project schedules and plans, estimates staffing and other resource requirements, directs staff work to ensure project plans and schedules are adhered to and follows up with users to ensure satisfaction with services provided. Makes presentations as needed.
Evaluates vendor proposals for system upgrades and configuration changes and/or purchases of hardware, software and technical services to assure adherence to specifications, and analyzes proposed projects for feasibility.
Develops internal operating policies and procedures and ensures they are well‑documented for use and reference by staff. Develops and disseminates policies and procedures for users, provides interpretation as required and/or approves exceptions as authorized.
Manages communication among all affected faculty, staff, students and teams to ensure timely issue resolution; manages response, action and communication for high‑visibility outages, problems, changes or incidents; leads root‑cause analysis and communicates steps taken to mitigate future issues.
Actively engages in collaborative, mutually effective relationships with key university leaders, IT service leaders and staff members; leverages functional expertise and technical competency within the assigned area to gain credibility and influence with stakeholders.
Collaborates with university leaders to develop short‑ and long‑term plans that enable competitive strategies and fiscal requirements; develops product/service strategies that exploit current and emerging technologies or processes; supports IT governance principles and protocols; assists in governance activities.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree
Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
7 years of work experience
5+ years of work experience in Learning Management Systems leadership, academic technology, information technology, data services, application services, IT service management, or a related field
Directly relevant experience in the field to provide technical expertise along with supervisory and budget management experience
Ability to collaborate and engage academic communities to support the adoption of technologies that improve learning outcomes and student success
Demonstrated experience managing learning management systems and associated technologies, with ability to deliver effective service and support to a campus community that includes students, faculty and staff
Preferred Qualifications
Master's Degree
7+ years of work experience in Learning Management Systems leadership, academic technology, information technology, data services, application services, IT service management, or a related field
Experience leading or managing a Learning Management System (LMS) such as Brightspace, Canvas or Blackboard
Background in higher education, academic technology or educational technology (EdTech) environments
Demonstrated experience supporting enterprise application platforms used across large, complex organizations
Experience building relationships and working with stakeholders across faculty, academic leadership and administrative units
Experience participating in cross‑functional governance groups or committees
Familiarity with LMS integrations, including connections with student information systems (SIS) and third‑party tools
Experience managing vendor relationships and working with external partners to support platform capabilities
Strong communication skills, including the ability to convey technical concepts to non‑technical audiences
Experience leading teams of technical and functional contributors
Exposure to change management or product management practices related to enterprise platforms
Salary and Benefits The annual base salary range for this position is $189,193.65 to $200,000.04. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.
To support the well‑being of our faculty and staff, USC provides benefits‑eligible employees with a broad range of perks to help protect their and their dependents' health, wealth and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package.
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The Director works closely with faculty, academic leadership and IT stakeholders to support system reliability, guide enhancements, and ensure that services meet the needs of the campus community. This role also oversees vendor relationships and contributes to planning efforts that align learning technologies with institutional priorities.
Job Accountabilities
Directly or indirectly supervises all assigned subordinate staff, usually through other supervisors. Recruits, screens, hires and trains staff. Assesses need for technical and professional growth, recommends development opportunities, evaluates performance, provides guidance and feedback, and counsels or disciplines as needed.
Sets departmental goals and objectives and communicates to staff. Reassesses or redefines priorities as appropriate to achieve performance objectives.
Participates in the planning and administration of departmental and project budgets as assigned.
Consults with users on systems development project requests and communicates regularly and effectively with stakeholders, technical staff, senior‑level management and customers regarding project goals, objectives, deliverables, plans and status throughout a project. Designs systems and/or system configuration and specifications to satisfy user needs, develops project schedules and plans, estimates staffing and other resource requirements, directs staff work to ensure project plans and schedules are adhered to and follows up with users to ensure satisfaction with services provided. Makes presentations as needed.
Evaluates vendor proposals for system upgrades and configuration changes and/or purchases of hardware, software and technical services to assure adherence to specifications, and analyzes proposed projects for feasibility.
Develops internal operating policies and procedures and ensures they are well‑documented for use and reference by staff. Develops and disseminates policies and procedures for users, provides interpretation as required and/or approves exceptions as authorized.
Manages communication among all affected faculty, staff, students and teams to ensure timely issue resolution; manages response, action and communication for high‑visibility outages, problems, changes or incidents; leads root‑cause analysis and communicates steps taken to mitigate future issues.
Actively engages in collaborative, mutually effective relationships with key university leaders, IT service leaders and staff members; leverages functional expertise and technical competency within the assigned area to gain credibility and influence with stakeholders.
Collaborates with university leaders to develop short‑ and long‑term plans that enable competitive strategies and fiscal requirements; develops product/service strategies that exploit current and emerging technologies or processes; supports IT governance principles and protocols; assists in governance activities.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree
Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
7 years of work experience
5+ years of work experience in Learning Management Systems leadership, academic technology, information technology, data services, application services, IT service management, or a related field
Directly relevant experience in the field to provide technical expertise along with supervisory and budget management experience
Ability to collaborate and engage academic communities to support the adoption of technologies that improve learning outcomes and student success
Demonstrated experience managing learning management systems and associated technologies, with ability to deliver effective service and support to a campus community that includes students, faculty and staff
Preferred Qualifications
Master's Degree
7+ years of work experience in Learning Management Systems leadership, academic technology, information technology, data services, application services, IT service management, or a related field
Experience leading or managing a Learning Management System (LMS) such as Brightspace, Canvas or Blackboard
Background in higher education, academic technology or educational technology (EdTech) environments
Demonstrated experience supporting enterprise application platforms used across large, complex organizations
Experience building relationships and working with stakeholders across faculty, academic leadership and administrative units
Experience participating in cross‑functional governance groups or committees
Familiarity with LMS integrations, including connections with student information systems (SIS) and third‑party tools
Experience managing vendor relationships and working with external partners to support platform capabilities
Strong communication skills, including the ability to convey technical concepts to non‑technical audiences
Experience leading teams of technical and functional contributors
Exposure to change management or product management practices related to enterprise platforms
Salary and Benefits The annual base salary range for this position is $189,193.65 to $200,000.04. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.
To support the well‑being of our faculty and staff, USC provides benefits‑eligible employees with a broad range of perks to help protect their and their dependents' health, wealth and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package.
#J-18808-Ljbffr