The Catholic University of America

The Director of Online Programs provides visionary leadership and operational oversight for the university’s online learning initiatives. This role is responsible for developing and executing strategic plans to grow and enhance online education in alignment with the mission and values of the Catholic intellectual tradition. The director oversees the creation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of online courses and programs, ensuring academic excellence and a high-quality learning experience for all students.

The submission of a cover letter is required for all applications to be considered complete. 

This position will consider applicants who are interested in remote work.

The projected salary or hourly pay range for this position which represents the full range of anticipated compensation is: $130,000.

1. Online Program Oversight
   • Direct the development and delivery of full, academic programs to be delivered by online and hybrid courses.
   • Specifically: research, develop, and champion business cases for academic program development opportunities in collaboration with the Vice Provost of Strategic Initiatives, and then serve as the Product Manager responsible for all aspects of their creation of those programs and their courses.
   • Initial course development will focus on serving as the liaison between CUA faculty SMEs and 3rd party development teams.
2. Strategic Leadership
   • Develop and implement a long-term strategy for online education that supports institutional goals and Catholic identity.
   • Identify emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in online learning to inform future growth.
   • Collaborate with academic leadership to expand program offerings and ensure alignment with academic priorities.
3. Course Creation & Maintenance
   • Oversee the design, development, and revision of online and hybrid courses in partnership with faculty and instructional designers.
   • Ensure all courses meet pedagogical, accessibility, and mission integrity standards.
   • Support faculty in adopting effective instructional technology and teaching practices for the online environment.
   • Oversee the vendors, requiring meeting with the vendor consistently and reviewing their output to ensure it meets CUA’s quality standards. The director will serve as the liaison between the vendors and SMEs.
4. Quality Assurance
   • Lead the implementation of quality standards (e.g., Quality Matters or equivalent) across all online offerings.
   • Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of online courses through data, student feedback, and assessments.
   • Ensure compliance with accreditation, copyright, and accessibility requirements.

• A Master's Degree in Education, Instructional Design, Educational Technology, or a related field. 
• Minimum 5 years of experience in online education leadership, preferably in higher education.
• Demonstrated knowledge of learning management systems (e.g., Brightspace) and instructional design best practices.
• Strong understanding of Catholic higher education and commitment to supporting its mission and values.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and project management skills.
• Given the nature of the Catholic programs under development, the position requires a practicing Catholic committed to the Church with an in-depth understanding of the Catholic Church doctrine and its teachings.