Assistant Director of Instructional Innovation and Strategic Programs

Overview

The Assistant Director of Instructional Innovation and Strategic Programs provides high-level support to the Associate Vice President of eLearning and the Director of Instructional Design and Development. Reporting directly to the AVP of eLearning, this role is responsible for turning NOVA Online’s strategic goals into action through the planning, coordination, and evaluation of course development projects, instructional quality initiatives, and innovation pilots.

It bridges day-to-day operations with long-term planning to ensure that online learning experiences are scalable, accessible, and fully compliant with institutional and regulatory standards.

• Track the redesign and development of online courses in collaboration with faculty and instructional designers
• Manage project timelines and deliverables to ensure alignment with academic and equity standards
• Oversee administrative tasks tied to projects, including supplemental work agreements and All Access textbook account tracking
• Ensure all online courses meet ADA/Section 508, accreditation, and VCCS/state/federal instructional standards
• Monitor course accessibility using tools such as UDOIT and assist faculty in resolving issues
• Support and coordinate training efforts to improve faculty compliance with accessibility and instructional regulations
• Represent NOVA Online on internal and external committees
• Develop and implement streamlined cross-functional processes and supporting documentation to ensure course development efforts align with institutional priorities and strategic goals.
• Support pilot initiatives such as AI-integrated assessments and flexible learning models
• Track and evaluate pilot outcomes; prepare recommendations for improvement or scale-up
• Assist in the design and testing of new instructional models based on emerging best practices
• Generate reports that summarize NOVA Online’s performance, instructional compliance, and student learning outcomes to inform strategic planning and continuous improvement.
• Analyze trends and stakeholder feedback to propose workflow or quality assurance enhancements
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of NOVA Online processes and institutional reporting systems
• Manage and guide a diverse team of staff to meet project milestones
• Prioritize deliverables and ensure alignment with timelines and strategic goals
• Contribute expertise as needed to support project completion

• Deep understanding of online learning environments, instructional design processes, and course development life cycles
• Knowledge of higher education standards, including ADA/Section 508 accessibility, VCCS, accreditation, and federal compliance requirements
• Familiarity with learning management systems (e.g., Canvas) and course accessibility tools (e.g., UDOIT)
• Awareness of emerging trends in instructional technology, AI-enhanced learning, and flexible course delivery models
• Understanding of institutional strategic planning, quality assurance, and accreditation processes in online education
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple, complex initiatives simultaneously
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills to track and meet critical deadlines
• Advanced skills in process design and documentation for instructional and administrative workflows
• Skilled in using data to evaluate program effectiveness and guide decision-making
• Proficiency in written and verbal communication, with the ability to convey complex information to diverse stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills to build effective partnerships across academic, administrative, and technical teams
• Ability to translate strategic goals into actionable operational plans
• Ability to assess and improve online compliance and accessibility through both training and oversight
• Ability to evaluate pilot programs and recommend scale-up or redesign based on evidence and feedback
• Ability to represent the college effectively in committees and collaborative settings at the institutional, state, and national level
• Ability to foster innovation while maintaining adherence to standards, compliance, and…