Application Requirements: Please include a cover letter.

Basic Job Functions

The Associate Director of Digital Learning provides direction, supervision, and training as part of a Shared Services department supporting NYBG Education, with a particular focus on supporting Continuing Education and the School of Professional Horticulture. NYBG’s Continuing Education program is the largest of any botanical garden in the world, offering over 700 lectures, courses, and workshops each year in 8 certificate disciplines. In Spring 2024, NYBG launched a new asynchronous online program called Plant Studio, which this position will directly support.    

This position supports, through actions and conduct, NYBG’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility initiatives and helps to build and maintain an inclusive organization culture throughout the institution.   

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:   

• Provides clear direction and vision in the field of educational technology to shape and support a world-class online learning program for NYBG, as well as enhance the in-person experience for adult learners.
• Collaborates with the VP for Education, the Director of Continuing Education, as well as other Education team leaders and Garden stakeholders to implement new educational technology for online and hybrid courses.
• Oversees the rollout of the Canvas Learning Management System for in-person courses for Continuing Education and the School of Professional Horticulture.
• Works closely with NYBG instructors on course/program planning and content/curriculum design, to include communication, assessments, grading, and other tasks needed to conduct a complete online learning program, and to ensure that instructors feel supported at all phases of development. This includes but is not limited to: course materials, instructional strategies, assessment techniques, best practices for online learning, as well as the appropriate integration of instructional technologies and troubleshooting problems as they arise and in concert with IT.
• Works with other members of the Digital Learning and Continuing Education teams to provide training as needed for NYBG instructors so that they can implement best practices in online education.
• Collaborates with IT, HR, Marketing, Finance, the Library, the Herbarium, and other areas of NYBG to coordinate planning and goal setting, consistent with the Garden’s mission.
• Recruits, trains, mentors, and supervises a small Digital Learning team – both FT staff and contractors -- exercising management excellence to guide team in the efficient execution of tasks.
• Implements and documents effective processes, protocols, and procedures that are consistent with Garden practice and that streamline work.
• Helps monitor online courses for quality assurance and participates as a key player in post-program evaluations to identify areas for revision and growth.
• Works with the VP for Education on budget management, projection, and analysis. This includes ensuring that all budget charges are accurate and that the scope of work and related schedules for development contracts are actionable.
• Establishes and meets milestones for all major projects.
• Identifies emerging design and technology trends that would benefit NYBG Education programs.
• Embraces diplomacy and professionalism in all communications.
• Other tasks may be assigned to fulfill the role, as needed, and as programs develop over time.

Requirements:   

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred.
• 2 – 4 years’ experience with instructional design.
• Demonstrated background of management excellence, with an emphasis on staff recruitment and development. Must have had at least 1 direct report.
• Demonstrated expertise with media technology and instructional design theory; experience and competency with media development tools and course/learning management systems such as Canvas, Zoom, Kaltura, Accredible. Expertise with Canvas strongly preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of best practices in online education, including delivery models, technology tools, infrastructure, quality control, and metrics. Quality Matters certification a plus.
• Demonstrated project management skills; PMP certification a plus.
• Experience working with content developers at all levels: faculty, instructional designers, video producers.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively, collegially, and effectively with teams of diverse constituents, including those with varying skill levels and comfort with educational technology.
• Expertise with electronic program evaluation tools (such as SurveyMonkey) and assessing KPIs.
• Experience working with Microsoft Office suite.
• Strong communication skills: verbally, visually, and in writing.
• Creative, future-focused thinker.
• Diplomatic and empathetic.
• Demonstrated commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in Education.
• Available weekends and evenings, as needed, for special events or to support evening courses.

Benefits:   

•        15 Vacation Days
•        13 Paid Holidays
•        12 Sick Days
•        Health and Dental Insurance Coverage
•        401K
•        Pension Plan

If you require an accommodation for any part of the application process, please notify the Human Resources department at [email protected].   

If you are interested in applying for a position at the New York Botanical Garden, please go to http://www.nybg.org/employment to submit your application.