Assistant Director, Teaching and Learning

uchicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Chicago seeks an Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning to lead course production and delivery operations on Canvas, oversee new program execution, and customize existing offerings for in-person, online, and hybrid formats. The role focuses on applying adult learning principles to design engaging experiences and ensuring a seamless LMS experience from access to completion.

The ideal candidate will collaborate with learning designers, instructors, and partners, envision

Qualifications

• Requires college or university degree in related field.
• 2-5 years of work experience in a related discipline.
• Masters degree preferred in learning design or instructional services.

Responsibilities

• Designs and develops engaging online, hybrid, and in-person learning experiences grounded in adult learning theory and accessibility standards.
• Partners with faculty and subject matter experts to design learning activities, assessments, and instructional materials that support defined outcomes.
• Consults with instructors to implement course revisions and continuous improvements based on learner feedback and program goals.
• Designs, administers, and analyzes course evaluations to assess learner satisfaction and improve course design and outcomes.
• Ensures course materials meet accessibility standards (WCAG) and QA expectations.
• Coordinates the lifecycle of certificate programs and courses in Canvas and resolves delivery issues before releases.
• Performs quality assurance reviews in Canvas to ensure accuracy, functionality, accessibility, and alignment with standards.
• Develops, documents, and maintains standards, policies, procedures, templates, and QC checklists for consistent delivery.
• Identifies opportunities to streamline workflows and improve production processes across course development and delivery.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to align LMS functionality with evolving instructional needs.
• Evaluates Canvas features and ed-tech integrations to enhance instructional quality and learner engagement.

Skills

Adult learning theory

Instructional design

Project management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Department

UCP Teaching & Learning

About the Department

Innovative, career-driven learning experiences define University of Chicago Professional. In our commitment to spread the University's knowledge as broadly as possible, we offer impactful and flexible programs and courses that introduce individual and corporate audiences to up-to-the-minute research, the latest standards in their field, a new professional network, and the University of Chicago's rich intellectual community. Our instructors, seasoned professionals all, deliver unparalleled expertise drawn from years of industry experience. We give our students the tools to succeed in our fast-moving, interconnected world and achieve a competitive edge at any stage of their careers.

Job Summary

We are seeking an Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning to join our Program Strategy and Innovation team. Responsibilities will include overseeing course production and delivery operations on the learning management system (LMS), Canvas; executing new programs; and customizing existing ones for different formats. This role will also involve collaborating with learning designers, instructors, and partners to design engaging in-person and hybrid courses guided by adult learning principles.

Reporting to the Director of Teaching and Learning, the Assistant Director will ensure that learning content is accurately configured, tracked, and continuously improved on Canvas. They will also work closely with partners to ensure that the LMS runs smoothly and provides a seamless user experience from course access to completion. This position requires a passion for learning design for professional, adult audiences. The ideal candidate will be able to think creatively about course delivery across a variety of modalities, audiences, and formats, and bring an energetic, solution-focused mindset to the team.

Responsibilities

• Designs and develops engaging online, hybrid, and in-person learning experiences grounded in adult learning theory, instructional design best practices, and accessibility standards.
• Partners with faculty, instructors, and subject matter experts to design innovative learning activities, assessments, and instructional materials that support defined learning outcomes for online, hybrid, and in-person learning experiences.
• Consults with instructors and program teams to implement course revisions and continuous improvements based on learner feedback and program goals.
• Designs, administers, and analyzes course evaluations and learner surveys to assess learner satisfaction and provides recommendations that enhance course design, delivery, and learner outcomes.
• Ensures course materials meet accessibility standards, such as WCAG, institutional guidelines, and quality assurance expectations.
• Coordinates the planning, publishing, maintenance, and lifecycle of certificate programs and courses in Canvas and resolve delivery issues prior to course releases.
• Conducts quality assurance (QA) reviews in Canvas to ensure course content is accurate, functional, accessible, and aligned with established quality standards.
• Develops, documents, and maintains standards, policies, procedures, templates, and quality control checklists that support consistent, high-quality course delivery.
• Identifies opportunities to streamline workflows, improve production processes, and increase operational efficiency across course development and delivery.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to align LMS functionality with evolving instructional, operational, and learner experience needs.
• Evaluates new Canvas features, integrations, and educational technologies, recommending enhancements that improve instructional quality, learner engagement, and operational effectiveness.
• Maintains accurate documentation and tracking systems to support course production, revisions, and ongoing program maintenance.
• Monitors and analyzes trends, identifies opportunities, and explores innovative approaches to teaching and learning problems. Works with other units across campus to aggregate services in an academic context.
• Identifies existing content and converts it into an e-learning environment, then creates user support materials.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Certifications: ---

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree.
• Post-graduate education in learning design or instructional services.
• Experience: Background in creating learning materials and/or teaching in higher education institutions.
• At least three years of related work experience in learning design and delivery.
• At least three years of related work experience in a relevant setting for a company, university, or a complex organization.
• Highly skilled project manager comfortabl