Executive Director of Online Learning and Distance Education

Position Title:  Executive Director of Online Learning and Distance Education

Department:  Office of Online and Distance Education

Reports To:  Associate Provost for Academic Excellence

Appointment: Full-time; 40 hours per week (12-month position)

Status: Exempt

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.

Key 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.

About the Office

The Office of Online and Distance Education partners with faculty and academic units across the University to design, develop, and support high-quality online learning experiences. The office provides expertise in instructional design, educational technology, faculty development, quality standards, project management, and strategic program support while working collaboratively to advance Bradley University's educational mission.

Bradley University offers a growing portfolio of undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, certificate, and professional education programs delivered in online and hybrid formats. As learner expectations and workforce needs continue to evolve, the University is committed to expanding flexible, accessible, and academically rigorous educational opportunities that serve traditional students, adult learners, and working professionals.

Qualifications

Preferred qualifications include:

• Master's degree required; earned doctorate or other terminal degree preferred. 

• 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.

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and complete contact information for a minimum of three professional references with telephone numbers. 

Please submit all materials at the time of initial application. 

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Employment with Bradley University is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Bradley University offers a competitive benefits package including health, dental, vision, life and disability coverages, FSA, HSA, and retirement plan options. Bradley also offers significant higher education cost savings for employees and dependents through the Tuition Remission program. Information regarding our benefits can be found here: https://www.bradley.edu/offices/business/human-resources/benefits/

Bradley University is a top-ranked, private university in Peoria, Illinois, offering nearly 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students’ opportunities, choices, and resources to build their futures. Innovation, action, and collaboration drive Bradley students to generate ideas and create solutions that remake the world around them. Our comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate academic programs includes business, communications, education, engineering, fine arts, health sciences, liberal arts and sciences, and technology.

Bradley University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The administration, faculty and staff are committed to attracting qualified candidates from underrepresented groups.