Director of Learning Experience and Design

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Director of Learning Experience and Design serves as a key senior member of the Professional Education (PPE) team at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). This role manages the Learning Experience and Design (LXD) team of learning designers and learning technologists to drive the strategic development and continuous improvement of high-quality, learner-centered programs, focusing primarily on online, hybrid, and on-demand formats. The Director oversees the program design process including instructional design and course development, developing and leading a team, and shaping PPE's online program strategy.

The Director is an experienced people manager and project lead with expertise in project management, instructional systems design, and vendor/contractor management, and leads the design, development, and implementation of professional learning solutions for education practitioners.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Program and Course Design Leadership (40%)
- Lead the creation, implementation, and continuous improvement of instructional design standards, processes, and practices across the PPE portfolio.
- Serve as the primary liaison with HGSE faculty, Portfolio Directors, and subject matter experts to translate learning goals into compelling, research-informed learning experiences.
- Oversee learning design for online, blended, and on-demand programs for professional educators, ensuring alignment with adult learning principles and instructional best practices.
- Lead the integration of innovative learning technologies and multimedia resources to enhance engagement and effectiveness of PPE programs, courses, and extensions.
- Serve as an administrative leader of a portfolio of programs and related professional development opportunities designed to support educational leaders across the US and globally.

Team and Project Management (30%)
- Direct, manage, and mentor the LXD team of learning designers and technologists, supporting their growth and ensuring high performance across multiple, concurrent projects.
- Allocate LXD team resources proactively; delegate tasks and foster collaboration and professional development within the team.
- Proactively assess projects to identify when additional technical support is needed and engage external resources including contractors, vendors, or specialty experts; recruit, hire, and manage those positions.
- Oversee LXD project timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
- Manage video and media production teams and contractors.
- Instill a deadline-driven, data-informed, and results-oriented team culture.

Program Quality Assurance, Delivery, and Assessment (20%)
- Partner with PPE's Program Delivery team to ensure a seamless participant experience.
- Partner with PPE's Insights & Impact (I&I) team to develop and implement program evaluation frameworks; collect and analyze data on in-course participant engagement.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure accessibility, inclusivity, and consistency.
- Stay abreast of trends in learning design, educational technology, and generative AI.

Manage Accreditation Process (10%)
- Manage and implement the organization-wide accreditation process, including drafting and submitting IACET annual reports.
- Keep abreast of any new or updated IACET standards, educate PPE stakeholders, and update PPE's Standard Operating Procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications:
- Master's degree in education, instructional design, learning science, or a related field.
- Minimum of five years of relevant work experience in instructional design or learning design, including at least three years in a supervisory or team leadership role managing instructional technologists and/or learning designers.
- Demonstrated expertise in course design and instructional design models, including experience with learning management systems (Canvas or comparable platform).
- Experience and skills in adopting and applying emerging educational technologies, multimedia, and generative AI to course development.
- Proven project management experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects to successful, on-time completion.
- Candidates must supply a cover letter in addition to their resume (please upload both as one document).

Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Doctoral degree (Ed.D. or Ph.D.) preferred.
- Experience leading professional development or adult learning program design in higher education or K-12 settings.
- Strong track record of fostering staff development and building cohesive, collaborative teams.
- Experience with learning analytics, assessment methodologies, and using data to inform program improvement.
- Experience working with faculty, school leaders, and subject matter experts.
- Ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple competing projects in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment.
- Strong commitment to accessibility, inclusivity, and universal design for learning.
- Familiarity with the changing landscape of professional and online education.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

COMPENSATION & DETAILS

Salary: $90,000 - $105,000 commensurate with experience
Job Function: General Administration
School/Unit: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Work Format: Hybrid
Job Type: Full-time
Location: Cambridge, MA