Executive Director of Online Learning and Distance Education

Bradley University•Peoria, IL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Bradley University seeks an accomplished, collaborative, and visionary leader to serve as Executive Director of Online Learning and Distance Education. Reporting to the Associate Provost for Academic Excellence, the candidate will provide strategic leadership for the University's online learning ecosystem, serving as the institutional champion for high-quality, student-centered online education. The Executive Director will lead the development and execution of a university-wide vision for online learning that aligns with Bradley's mission, strategic priorities, and commitment to academic excellence. Working collaboratively with various university units, the Executive Director will cultivate a shared sense of purpose and collective momentum to expand Bradley's reach through innovative online learning opportunities. This is an on-campus position with oversight of a hybrid team.

Requirements

Master's degree required
Significant leadership experience in online learning, digital education, instructional design, academic innovation, or a related area within higher education.
Demonstrated success developing and implementing strategic initiatives that require collaboration across multiple academic and administrative units.
Experience leading organizational change and building consensus among diverse stakeholders.
Knowledge of current and emerging trends in online learning, digital pedagogy, instructional technologies, learning management systems (Canvas), artificial intelligence, accessibility, learning analytics, and student success.
Experience supporting faculty in the design and delivery of high-quality online instruction.
Strong communication, project management, and organizational leadership skills.
Proven track record of managing remote or hybrid professionals (e.g., instructional designers, educational technologists, and adjunct staff).
Ability to establish clear communication protocols, streamline asynchronous workflows, and foster a strong, collaborative team culture within a distributed work environment.

Nice To Haves

earned doctorate or other terminal degree preferred

Responsibilities

Build strong partnerships with deans, department chairs, faculty, and administrative leaders to create broad institutional ownership of online education initiatives.
Lead the strategic expansion of Bradley's portfolio of online and hybrid academic programs, certificates, and professional education offerings.
Guide market-informed program development by collaborating with academic units to identify opportunities aligned with workforce needs and student demand.
Champion excellence in online pedagogy, instructional design, accessibility, quality assurance, and student engagement.
Foster innovation through the thoughtful adoption of emerging educational technologies, including artificial intelligence and digital learning tools, while ensuring they support effective teaching and learning.
Collaborate with Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications, and academic leadership to strengthen recruitment, retention, and student success for online learners.
Establish metrics and assessment practices to evaluate program quality, learner outcomes, operational effectiveness, and return on investment.
Oversee federal and state compliance for various programs.