Director of Technology for Curriculum and Research

Full-time, year round position, salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

Amherst College enjoys a rich history and culture developed over nearly two hundred years. We prepare critical thinkers who succeed across a wide range of careers and are well-known for our high academic standards and intellectual rigor. Amherst enjoys a profoundly diverse student body in terms of socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and nationality, among other areas; our community is committed to the support of a diverse workforce and to the creation of an inclusive and welcoming work environment. Our strategic plan, released in 2015, outlines vital incremental changes that reaffirm our commitment to liberal arts education. It sets the stage and charts a clear path well into our bicentennial, with its first priority concentrating on the reinvention of liberal arts education that embraces the challenges of the 21st century.  It is an exciting time to be part of Amherst College!

Amherst College seeks an experienced Director of Technology for Curriculum and Research. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer and collaborating with colleagues in Information Technology, the Library, and a Teaching and Learning Collaborative that draws from numerous academic-support functions at the college, the Director leads a team of information technology professionals who work with faculty and students in support of the teaching mission of the College.

The Director is responsible for supporting teaching, research, and learning at Amherst College through the evaluation, selection, implementation, and support of educational technologies. This person will work closely with members of the college community and is responsible for training faculty, staff and students in the use of educational technologies relevant to the learning environment at a small liberal arts college. The Director leads the effective deployment of academic technology—including software, hardware, and web-based tools—and acts as a liaison to other technology-focused departments and services, including the Five College Consortium, for which Amherst College is a member institution.  The Director shares resources and participates in joint initiatives with Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. The Director also follows current developments in educational technology and partners with faculty to deliver sustainable technological solutions and innovations. As a member of the Teaching and Learning Collaborative, the Director provides integrated support to faculty to help envision and develop new modes and models of instruction and research specifically aimed at bringing innovative and inclusive teaching and learning strategies to engage students from a variety of backgrounds.

We seek a candidate who is firmly grounded in the theory and best practices of inclusive teaching, learning and research in a small liberal arts environment. The successful candidate will possess proven people skills, a track record of successful outreach, a process-driven approach to methods and tools for teaching and research, and a history of strong and abiding relationships across a rich and diverse academic community. They will come with a clear philosophy of how educational technology relates to teaching and learning, strategies for improving research and instruction, and the capacity to listen and adapt to the community’s contexts.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop the Academic Technology Services team so it is well equipped to support the technological environment at a leading liberal arts college
• Provide support and high-level strategy for all instructional technology that improves learning outcomes, facilitates technology-rich teaching, and advances curricular innovation
• Keep abreast of research and encourage exploration of new technologies and developments in the field. Communicate opportunities as they relate to curricular, pedagogical, or research practices
• Contribute to an ongoing effort to assess and enhance the broad suite of tools used in teaching, learning, and research at the College, with an emphasis on user experience, effective support, and sustainability
• Serve as a primary resource for information about teaching environments and education information systems and products. Synthesize pertinent information and identify implications for longer-term planning and development of information services in support of academic programs and educational computing itself. Understand and produce effective forms of communication to the community
• Facilitate the exploration, discussion, and assessment of educational technology and work collaboratively with other College offices to strengthen and broaden support for faculty
• Work with the CIO, the Faculty Computing Committee, the Library, the Teaching and Learning Collaborative, and other campus governing and advisory bodies to set priorities and guidelines
• Develop and manage training programs with effective and well-maintained documentation and supporting materials and resources
• Collaborate with the CIO and the IT Directors on the day-to-day operations and management of the College’s Information Technology department
• Performs other duties/functions as directed

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5 years of relevant experience in a higher education Information Technology role, or a combination of relevant experience
• 3 years of supervisory experience
• Familiarity with broad range of domain-specific software used in teaching and research in the sciences, arts, and humanities
• Demonstrated success developing positive, constructive professional relationships across academic and administrative departments
• Proven experience effectively communicating technology changes to communities with wide variations of technical skills
• Substantial experience using qualitative and quantitative analyses to measure and assess effectiveness of both services being managed and tools being developed/furnished for teaching and research
• Demonstrated success attending to the professional development of staff.
• Familiarity with grant development process
• Superior verbal and written communication and time management abilities
• Strong interpersonal skills
• High competence with effective project management methodologies
• Deep understanding of the principles and best practices of customer service
• Experience deploying, operating, and supporting Learning Management Systems

Preferred

• Master’s or Doctorate Degree
• Knowledge of learning theory
• Knowledge of research methodologies and the technologies required to support them across the breadth of disciplines in a liberal arts college
• Teaching and research experience in a higher education setting
• Expert skills with domain-specific software in at least one area of a liberal arts curriculum
• Experience writing grants in a higher education setting
• Experience developing training programs and developing and managing documentation
• Experience integrating technology in the teaching and learning process
• A track record of relevant professional engagement, which could include publication or conference participation and/or active participation consortial partnerships
• Experience with the Moodle Learning Management System

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information (e-mail and/or telephone number) for three professional references.   Applications will be reviewed until position is filled.

Amherst College is an equal opportunity employer and encourages women, persons of color, and persons with disabilities to apply.  The College is committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration, and staff.

Amherst College, one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the nation, is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, a town of approximately 35,000 residents in the western part of the state. The college’s community is composed of about 1,800 students from 49 states, plus D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and 54 countries around the world, and about 1,000 staff and faculty.  The college’s scenic 1,000-acre campus includes a 500-acre wildlife sanctuary and the Book & Plow Farm; three museums:  Emily Dickinson Museum, Beneski Museum of Natural History and Mead Art Museum; and multiple educational and cultural venues and resources through the Five College Consortium.  The town of Amherst offers an amazing variety of coffee shops, restaurants and entertainment, and a very active outdoor life.   Our vibrant campus, diverse community and beautiful surrounding, makes Amherst College and the Town of Amherst a great place to work, learn and live!