At this time, this position requires a minimum of one day a week on our main campus in DeKalb, IL. We are committed to providing flexibility for our staff to work remotely, but the availability of remote work is subject to change.
Join Our Team!
The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) at Northern Illinois University (NIU) invites applications for the Director of Online Program Development and Support. This is a twelve-month, full-time position with robust benefits including flexible schedule options and remote work opportunities.
Join the team at Northern Illinois University dedicated to expanding access to high-quality online education! The Director of Online Program Development and Support will provide strategic leadership for the development, launch and continuous improvement of NIU’s online academic programs, partnering with academic and administrative units to advance innovative, student-centered and workforce-aligned online learning opportunities that support adult, transfer and returning learners.
Director of Online Program Development and Support
Position Summary
The Director of Online Program Development and Support provides strategic leadership for the development, launch, and continuous improvement of NIU’s online academic programs. This role leads end-to-end program development efforts, working in close partnership with colleges, departments, and institutional leadership to design high-quality, market-responsive, and student-centered online programs. As part of Academic Affairs and CITL, the Director plays a central role in advancing NIU’s online growth strategy, supporting adult and returning learners, and ensuring alignment between program design, workforce needs, and institutional priorities.
The Director of Online Program Development and Support will report to the Associate Vice Provost for Teaching, Learning, and Digital Education
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Program Development
- Lead the end-to-end development of new online programs, from concept through launch and evaluation.
- Partner with academic colleges and departments to identify, prioritize, and advance online program opportunities aligned with market demand and institutional goals.
- Ensure online programs are designed to meet the needs of adult, transfer, and returning learners, with a focus on flexibility, accessibility, and career relevance.
- Provide strategic oversight and accountability for program timelines, quality, and successful implementation.
- Contribute to the institutional strategy related to online portfolio growth and competitive positioning.
Program Design, Quality and Innovation
- Guide program-level instructional design approaches that ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with best practices in online learning.
- Lead development and scaling of fully online general education offerings and other high-impact program initiatives.
- Integrate evidence-based practices in online pedagogy, student engagement, and learning technologies.
- Promote innovation in program structure, delivery models, and credential design (e.g., stackable credentials, alternative pathways).
- Ensure alignment with institutional policies, accreditation standards, and quality frameworks.
Collaboration and Partnership Development
- Serve as a primary liaison between CITL and academic units for online program development initiatives.
- Collaborate with Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications (EMMC) as well as the Office of Online Learning to align program development with recruitment and marketing strategies.
- Partner with institutional stakeholders (e.g., advising, student support services, institutional research) to ensure holistic program design and student success.
Operations, Project Management and Team Leadership
- Oversee project management for online program development initiatives, ensuring coordination across multiple stakeholders and timelines.
- Provide leadership and direction to instructional design and development staff involved in program development.
- Allocate resources effectively to support program design, development, and implementation efforts.
- Monitor progress and remove barriers to ensure timely program launches.
Assessment, Data and Continuous Improvement
- Establish metrics and processes to evaluate program performance, including enrollment, retention, and student outcomes.
- Utilize data and market insights to inform program development decisions and continuous improvement efforts.
- Prepare reports and recommendations for academic and institutional leadership.
- Support alignment with institutional assessment, accreditation, and accountability expectations.
Minimum Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in higher education, instructional design, educational technology, business, or a related field.
- Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in higher education, including online learning, instructional design, academic program development, or related areas.
Additional Requirements
- Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional projects or initiatives.
- Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills across academic and administrative units.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and strategic planning skills.
- Knowledge of trends in online education, adult learning, and higher education innovation.
Preferred Qualifications
- Doctorate in higher education, instructional design, business, or a related field is highly preferred.
- Experience leading online program development at the program or institutional level.
- Familiarity with market analysis tools and enrollment strategy for academic programs.
- Experience supporting adult, transfer, or nontraditional student populations.
- Demonstrated success in scaling online or hybrid academic offerings.
- Knowledge of quality assurance frameworks (e.g., OLC Scorecard, Quality Matters).
- Experience working in a diverse and inclusive higher education environment.
Starting Pay Rate (Semi-monthly)
$4,166.67 - $4,583.34 ($100,000 - $110,000 annualized). Includes robust benefits package.
Posting Details
Posting Date: 5/7/2026
Priority Application Deadline Date: 6/5/2026
About NIU
Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law. Through its main campus in DeKalb, Illinois, and education centers for students and working professionals in Chicago, Naperville and Rockford, NIU offers more than 100 courses of study while serving a diverse and international student body.
About CITL
The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) provides comprehensive services supporting excellent teaching and learning at Northern Illinois University.
Vision
Our vision is to be a catalyst for transformative learning experiences for faculty and students.
Mission
We support effective and innovative teaching in pursuit of transformative learning experiences.
Functions
The major functions of the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning are as follows:
- Coordinate, develop, and deliver professional development for faculty, instructors, teaching assistants, and other teaching staff, addressing teaching excellence, online pedagogy, and technology integration.
- Conduct individual and group consultations for teaching staff—faculty, instructors, TAs—focused on course design (face-to-face and online), technology integration, and effective teaching strategies.
- Provide leadership, service, and support for the design, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of online programs and courses, ensuring alignment with quality standards and student-centred design.
- Partner with academic units to guide the development of new online programs, promote flexible learning pathways, expand access, and support institutional enrollment goals.
- Support student success in online learning contexts by collaborating campus-wide to remove barriers, anticipate learner needs, ensure equitable access, and create virtual spaces of belonging for online students.
- Connect faculty, staff, and academic units to broader university resources and support, including instructional technology, student services, enrollment management, and and other support offices to enable a seamless teaching and learning experience.
- Create, curate, and disseminate resources and toolkits on effective teaching, online learning best practices, technology integration, inclusive pedagogy, and the student online-learning experience.
- Engage with the university at-large as a resource and partner, serving as a strategic leader in teaching innovation, online learning, faculty concerns, institutional policy, and community-building for learners and instructors alike.
- Monitor emerging trends, champion innovation, and lead anticipatory guidance in online teaching and learning—ensuring CITL and NIU remain responsive, forward-looking, and inclusive in digital education environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
We want to accommodate as much flexibility as possible for the members of our team. While the university work week is typically Monday - Friday from 8 AM - 4:30 PM, we would be happy to discuss alternatives that meet the 37.5 hour requirement for full-time employment, such as adjusting work hours or adopting a 4-day work week.
While this position is not a teaching position, staff are allowed and encouraged to teach up to one course overload per semester as they are interested and able to do so. We're happy to discuss the nuances of your teaching interests.
While we are eager for someone to join our team in this role by July 1st, we recognize the likely need for a successful candidate to finish an existing contract and/or existing commitments. We will work with you on a mutually beneficial start date and accommodate a successful transition.