Senior Director, Education Technology Innovation

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: Chief Education and Global Health Officer

BASIC FUNCTION:

Lead exploration, testing and delivery planning of innovative tools in medical education. Infuse innovative technologies into existing American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) education products and identify a strategy for testing and evaluating future products. Oversee a development team that conducts rapid iterative evaluation of new education technology solutions. Serve as a lead contributor to the overall technical planning, development, and evaluation of AAP education programs, their components, content, and supporting systems.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Identify opportunities for innovative tools and strategies in existing educational products, make recommendations and contribute to development of an implementation plan.
2. Develop a strategy for testing and evaluating new approaches to educational product delivery.
3. Maintain proficiency in existing and emerging trends and cutting-edge technologies (e.g. artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), gamification, adaptive learning, mobile learning, microlearning, etc.) and leverage this knowledge to evaluate their potential impact on current and future AAP educational solutions.
4. Supervise and mentor assigned staff. Encourage a work environment that promotes inclusion and belonging of all staff. Support ongoing staff development, help set objectives, evaluate performance, and promote and enhance staff capacity in skills necessary to achieve goals. Ensure staff operate in a fiscally prudent manner, maintain confidentiality, operate with the highest ethical standards, and provide excellent service to members and volunteers.
5. Develop and implement metrics to assess the effectiveness and business impact of educational technology solutions developed.
6. Provide guidance on and critical evaluation of potential future directions of the learning management system (LMS) and overall education platforms and interfaces.
7. Work in close collaboration with the IT department to maximize institutional technology resources, maintain information security best practices, and AAP technology standards.
8. Direct and manage staff and external partners on the development and enhancement of education technology solutions.
9. Ensure proposed technology solutions are consistent with AAP values of equity, diversity, and inclusion to meet the needs of diverse audiences and provide appropriate access for all learners.
10. Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with key internal and external partners.
11. Develop and oversee assigned budgets, evaluate, and report on variances, and ensure timely submission of required reports for internal and external compliance.
12. Ensure the Education and Global Health Group continues to be a catalyst for AAP-wide adoption of the most innovative education tools, technologies, and business practices.
13. Serve as a member of the Education and Global Health Group leadership team. contributing to the development and implementation of strategies that meet the learning needs of AAP members/customers and advance the pursuit of new business strategies that achieve revenue growth.
14. Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's degree in adult education, instructional design, education technology, computer science, information science, or closely related field required. Master's degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

At least seven years' related experience in the management and implementation of digital education platforms required, preferably including experience with AI and VR/AR applications and their use in medical education as well as practical application of these tools to enhance course content and user experience. Experience with budget development/management, supervising staff, and leading technology-based projects that involve components of databases, web site development, user interface/user experience development, multimedia asset management, and web site support required. Experience working with simulation programs and technologies strongly preferred. Some experience with technology programming languages (e.g., .NET, C#, HTML5, etc.) and project management methodologies preferred.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS:

Excellent written/verbal communication, interpersonal, diplomacy, leadership, project management, budget management, decision making, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills required, as well as strong business acumen and a nimble, iterative, and responsive work style. Must be able to organize, manage, and lead large multi-faceted programs; lead change initiatives to improve systems; respond quickly to evolving needs; collaborate effectively with various internal and external constituents; manage multiple priorities simultaneously; take independent proactive steps to solve problems, and promote and maintain a positive and cooperative team-oriented work environment with a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Advanced technical acumen essential with proficiency in MS Office; LMS; familiarity with various technologies to support education activities; and the ability to learn and apply new technologies to advance work initiatives essential. Experience with virtual meeting platforms (e.g., Webex, Teams) preferred. Travel and some evening/weekend work required.

Hybrid working arrangement of 40% on-site at our Chicago suburb headquarters in Itasca, IL.

To learn more about the organization, see a full job description, and/or apply for the position, please visit https://www.aap.org/employment.

The AAP offers an excellent work environment, competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package. As a reaffirmation to our employee-focused culture, since 2005 the AAP has been named one of the 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Chicagoland area. Additionally, we are an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Individuals with Disabilities, and Veterans that values the strength diversity brings to our workplace.

Reasonable Accommodation: Individuals with a disability in need of a reasonable accommodation regarding the job application process may call 630-626-6297. Please note, only those inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will receive a response.