Senior Director of Digital Learning Innovation

Job Description

The Senior Director of Digital Learning Innovation leads research and analytics initiatives within Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) at Virginia Tech, driving innovation and data-informed decision-making across the university’s digital learning ecosystem. Reporting to the Assistant Vice Provost, this position plays a pivotal role in shaping the university’s approach to educational technology evaluation, implementation, and continuous improvement in alignment with TLOS’s four foundational pillars: Instructional Tools and Environments, Faculty Digital Fluency, Course and Program Design, and Universal Design for Learning.

Supervising a dynamic team of professionals—including learning data analysts, a solutions architect, and a coordinator of service design and evaluation—the senior director provides vision and direction for applied research, learning data analytics, and user-centered service development, overseeing new initiatives from initial research through successful implementation. This position shapes TLOS’s research agenda, guides strategic academic technology decisions, ensures compliance with data governance standards, and advances evidence-based technology adoption throughout Virginia Tech’s learning environment.

Required Qualifications

- Master’s degree in educational technology, data science, information technology, computer science, or a related field
- Significant experience in educational technology research or analytics, including progressive leadership roles
- Demonstrated success managing technical teams and coordinating complex cross-functional projects
- Strong record of effective stakeholder engagement and partnership development within academic settings
- Substantial experience with research design methodologies and data-driven decision making in educational contexts
- Demonstrated expertise in data governance, compliance, and ethical use of educational data
- Demonstrated ability to translate research findings into practical, impactful implementations
- Strong understanding of learning analytics and educational data mining practices

Preferred Qualifications

- Ph.D. in a relevant field
- Senior leadership experience in educational technology research
- Published research in educational technology or learning analytics
- Experience implementing learning analytics programs at scale
- Experience with AI tools and methodologies in educational contexts
- Project management certification (PMP or similar)
- Familiarity with Universal Design for Learning and accessibility standards
- Experience with agile development methodologies
- Experience with AWS infrastructure

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Salary Information

$100,000 - $130,000

Hours per week

40

Hybrid Position: Minimum of three days per week in the office.

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Unable to sponsor work Visas

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance .  These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Judy Alford at judy.alford@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.