Director, Distance Learning

The purpose of this position is to collaborate with college Deans and Instructors in the role of planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of online and distance education programs. This position ensures high-quality, accessibility, and engaging virtual learning experiences while supporting faculty, students, and institutional goals. The Director serves as a central resource for instructional design, technology integration, compliance, and student support in distance learning environments. Essential Duties Program Development and Instructional Design Collaborate with faculty and instructional designers to develop, revise, and implement online and hybrid courses and programs. Support curriculum planning, platform selection, and the integration of instructional technologies that promote student engagement and effective learning outcomes. Technical Support and Systems Coordination Provide ongoing technical assistance to faculty and students using learning management systems and related educational technologies. Troubleshoot issues, ensure access to required resources, and serve as a liaison between academic departments and IT support teams. Faculty Training and Professional Development Design and facilitate training sessions, workshops, and orientations to support faculty in online pedagogy, instructional tools, student engagement strategies, and effective assessment practices in virtual environments. Student Support and Engagement Support online students by addressing technical and instructional questions, assisting with access to course materials, and facilitating communication between students and instructors. Promote a positive and supportive online learning experience. Quality Assurance and Assessment Monitor and evaluate the quality of online courses and programs to ensure alignment with institutional standards, best practices, and accreditation requirements such as Quality Matters. Collect and analyze feedback from students and faculty to support continuous improvement efforts. Collaboration and Communication Foster collaboration among faculty, instructional designers, administrators, and other stakeholders. Maintain clear communication to ensure alignment with program goals, timelines, and expectations. Compliance, Accessibility, and Regulatory Oversight Ensure distance learning courses comply with applicable laws, regulations, accreditation standards, accessibility guidelines, and copyright requirements. Support universal design and equitable access for all learners. Evaluation and Data Analysis Analyze data related to student performance, engagement, and course effectiveness. Use findings to identify trends, evaluate instructional strategies, and implement data-driven improvements to distance learning offerings. Continuous Improvement and Innovation Stay informed of emerging technologies, instructional strategies, and best practices in online education. Recommend and implement innovative solutions that enhance course delivery, instructional effectiveness, and student success. Additional Duties Revises the Faculty Resources shell in the LMS. Provides suggestions for the college's webpages and content. Records and edits training sessions. Trains faculty on demand on many topics. Troubleshoots and fixes computer related issues for students and faculty using the Zoom share screen tool. Other duties as needed. Supervisory Responsibilities Supervise, instruct, or train others through explanation, demonstration, and supervised practice or make recommendations based on technical expertise; may have first-level supervisory duties including administration of performance feedback; or coordinate work activity schedules for teams.

Minimum Qualifications Education and Experience:

Completion of a bachelor's degree in instructional design, graphic design, web design, instructional technology, or related field and two years of experience. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of Moodle and Canvas. Knowledge of online course management, learning management systems, and other software to provide comprehensive education support to faculty, students, and staff. Knowledge of college departments, services, and policies. Knowledge of Student Development Services information. Knowledge of student databases and how to retrieve data, including Webadvisor, Aviso Retention, and Colleague. Knowledge of distance learning procedures and protocols. Knowledge of Quality Matters standards. Knowledge of distance learning tools/software (Ally, VidGrid, Respondus LockDown, IntelliBoard, SoftChalk, Harmonize, etc..). Skilled in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Publisher), MS Teams, Zoom, MS Stream, Google Voice, MS People, ASW, XBOX recorder, video editing software and extensions (Wave, ColorZilla). Ability to think logically and out of the box to brainstorm ideas or solve issues. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. Ability to have patience with all users. Ability to accept change and to see it as a good thing. Ability to teach clearly and at different levels to match the learner. Physical Demands This job requires continuous sitting; frequent talking or hearing; occasional standing and walking. Occasionally required to lift up to 10 pounds. Working Conditions While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to an indoor environment. Health and Safety Standards All employees of Piedmont Community College who must enter an outside agency for the purpose of their work will be expected to adhere to the health and safety standards of that agency. This includes background checks, vaccinations, or any other requirements set forth by the agency.