Coordinator of Distance Learning

SUNY Niagara is seeking an innovative, forward-thinking, and collaborative professional to serve as our Coordinator of Distance Learning. This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate educational technology leader to help drive the future of online learning, instructional innovation, and artificial intelligence integration.

As higher education continues to evolve through emerging technologies, digital learning environments, and AI-powered tools, SUNY Niagara is committed to providing exceptional learning experiences that prepare students for success in a rapidly changing world. The Coordinator of Distance Learning will play a critical role in advancing this vision by partnering with faculty, administrators, and technology professionals to transform teaching and learning across the institution.

The Coordinator of Distance Learning serves as a catalyst for innovation, helping faculty leverage emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, instructional design strategies, and digital learning tools to enhance student engagement, accessibility, retention, and academic success. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence institutional strategy, champion innovative teaching practices, and help shape how students learn in an increasingly technology-driven environment. This is a college-funded Administrator position reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Who We’re Looking For:

We seek a candidate who:

• Is energized by innovation and continuous learning.
• Stays current on trends in educational technology, online learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Understands both the opportunities and ethical considerations associated with AI in higher education.
• Enjoys collaborating with faculty and helping others succeed.
• Possesses strong project management, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Brings expertise in instructional design, online pedagogy, accessibility, and faculty development.

SUNY Niagara provides phenomenal benefits to our employees. Please visit to view our benefits https://sunyniagara.edu/hr/benefits/ offerings. SUNY Niagara’s exceptional work environment fosters growth and personal fulfillment. As an employee, you can expect:
 

Work-Life Balance: When employees can balance their work and personal lives, they are happier, more productive, and better positioned to support our students. At SUNY Niagara, generous paid time off, holiday, and leave policies make this possible. Our college closes for winter break from late December through early January and a week in mid-March for spring recess. In the summer, employees observe a four-day workweek, allowing them to enjoy all that Western New York offers.
 

Professional Growth: SUNY Niagara cares about employees’ professional advancement and development. You will have access to ongoing training, programs, and workshops. We support career growth and encourage employees to pursue further education.
 

Welcoming Culture: SUNY Niagara values the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice as they create a sense of belonging for our students and employees. We foster a collaborative culture that respects and appreciates different perspectives, ideas, and backgrounds which contribute to the richness of our institution. We believe that our diverse, inclusive community enriches the experiences of students and employees alike.
 

Meaningful Work: At SUNY Niagara, your work will directly impact the lives of our students and the region we serve. Our college is for all who are passionate about teaching and focused on supporting students. Our small class sizes facilitate engagement. You will shape students’ futures, prepare them for successful careers, and empower them to contribute to society. Your dedication and expertise will propel students to achieve their educational goals.

Become part of an institution that values employees, positively impacts students’ lives, and invests in its community.

Typical Work Activities:

• Provide leadership and coordination for the College’s distance learning, online education, and instructional technology initiatives.
• Administer and support the College’s Learning Management System (LMS), including course shell creation, user support, troubleshooting, integrations, and system updates.
• Provide leadership in the exploration, implementation, and support of emerging instructional technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to enhance teaching, learning, accessibility, student engagement, and academic success.
• Lead faculty development initiatives related to the effective and ethical use of AI in education and collaborate with campus stakeholders to advance institutional goals related to digital learning, workforce readiness, and student AI literacy
• Tracks course development progress, monitors ongoing courses, and troubleshoots problems in technology and course delivery for SUNY Learning Network Courses.
• Collaborate with faculty and academic departments to design, develop, review, and improve online, hybrid, and technology-enhanced courses using current instructional design principles and best practices.
• Develop and deliver professional development opportunities, workshops, training sessions, and individualized support for faculty and staff related to online teaching, instructional technology, accessibility, student engagement, and emerging educational technologies.
• Support faculty in the effective integration of multimedia, video conferencing, learning analytics, artificial intelligence tools, and other instructional technologies into teaching and learning environments.
• Assist faculty with online course quality assurance processes and compliance with applicable accreditation, accessibility (ADA), copyright, and SUNY online learning standards.
• Coordinate and support initiatives related to online student success, retention, engagement, and equitable access to learning technologies.
• Serve as a liaison with SUNY Online and other external partners regarding distance learning initiatives, training opportunities, compliance requirements, and technology-related projects.
• Maintain and update documentation, instructional guides, online resources, and faculty support materials related to instructional technologies and online teaching practices.
• Monitor trends, innovations, and emerging technologies in higher education, online learning, instructional design, and digital pedagogy; evaluate and recommend new tools, systems, and practices to support institutional goals.
• Collect, analyze, and report data related to online learning initiatives, faculty participation, student engagement, and instructional technology usage to support assessment and strategic planning.
• Assist in the development and implementation of institutional policies, procedures, and strategic plans related to distance learning and instructional technology.
• Coordinate online course scheduling and support processes as assigned.
• Participate in college committees, SUNY initiatives, and professional organizations related to instructional technology, online learning, and academic innovation.
• Prepare annual budget recommendations related to distance learning and instructional technology needs
• Provide support and guidance to students regarding access to online learning systems and instructional technologies.
• Evaluates faculty teaching distance learning courses as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Education, Education Technology, Instructional Design, Higher Education Administration, or related field.
• Two years’ experience in instructional design, instructional technology, educational technology support, online learning, or directly related field;
• Experience administering or supporting a Learning Management System (e.g., Blackboard, Brightspace, Canvas).
• Experience developing and delivering training or professional development programs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of online pedagogy, instructional design principles, accessibility standards, and educational technologies.