Senior Director, UOnline Programs

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Utah invites applications for Senior Director, UOnline Programs to lead content production operations and program portfolio strategy for online offerings. You will supervise cross‑functional teams, oversee budgets, and ensure timely development of web, video, and multimedia content.

This senior role partners with academic colleges, Enrollment Management, marketing, IT, and faculty to expand online programs, establish governance, and drive continuous improvement through data

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent with substantial related work experience.
• 14 years' related experience for the bachelor's path or 12 years with a master's degree.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and management of the online program portfolio, prioritization, sequencing and long-term growth.
• Design and implement formal intake for new online program proposals and collaborate with colleges to define scope and timelines.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (instructional design, marketing, IT, academic units) to move programs through milestones.
• Establish standardized processes for program design, development and launch and ensure governance throughout development.
• Build relationships with faculty, department leadership and deans; align efforts across Enrollment Management and other partners.
• Develop dashboards and reporting tools to track portfolio progress and support continuous improvement.

Skills

Strategic planning

Organizational skills

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Senior Director, UOnline Programs

Job Summary

Content Production Management

Direct/Manage/Supervise the operations of creative and/or digital content production. Communicate the direction of production teams to creative and technical teams, acting as liaison for both functional areas. Establish a deep level of knowledge about various aspects of traditional and non-traditional production, including, but not limited to, web, video, television, radio, and other multi-media. Supervise sketches, layouts, storyboarding, and design of message. Oversee complete project plans and budget. Manage and coordinate all aspects of editing and production.

Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu

The department may choose to hire at any of the below job levels and associated pay rates based on their business need and budget.

Responsibilities

Senior Director, Content Production Management – Key Responsibilities

Program Portfolio Strategy & Leadership

• Lead the development and management of the UOnline program portfolio, including prioritization, sequencing, and long-term growth strategy
• Identify opportunities to expand online offerings in alignment with institutional priorities and market demand
• Establish a scalable framework for portfolio planning and decision-making

Program Intake, Evaluation, and Onboarding

• Design and lead a formal intake process for new online program proposals
• Partner with UAIR to conduct market research and competitive analysis to assess program viability
• Partner with colleges to define scope, timelines, and requirements for program development
• Ensure clear decision-making criteria and governance throughout the intake process

Program Development & Operational Execution

• Establish and implement standardized processes for program design, development, and launch
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including instructional design, marketing, IT, and academic units
• Ensure programs move through development milestones on time and within scope
• Identify and resolve operational bottlenecks

Cross-Unit Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary liaison between UOnline and academic colleges for program development
• Build strong relationships with faculty, department leadership, and deans
• Align efforts across Enrollment Management, marketing, IT, and other key partners
• Facilitate collaboration across units to support program development and execution

Performance Tracking & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting tools to track program development and portfolio progress
• Monitor program pipeline, launch timelines, and operational effectiveness
• Use data and insights to inform continuous improvement and strategic adjustments

Governance, Compliance, and Process Alignment

• Coordinate academic and administrative processes related to program approval and delivery
• Ensure alignment with institutional, state, and accreditation requirements
• Support consistency in policies and procedures related to online program development

This is a Senior Director-Level position in the Management track.

Minimum Qualifications

Equivalency Statement: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

Senior Director, Content Production Management: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 14 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 12 years of directly related work experience.

Preferences

• Master's degree
• 12 or more years of progressively responsible experience in program management, higher education administration, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives
• Strong strategic planning and organizational skills
• Proven ability to work effectively with academic leadership and faculty