Director, Office of Teaching and Learning

**Department**: Office of Teaching and Learning
This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph

**General Purpose**

The Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) is an integral part of the University of Guelph's learner-centred and research-intensive mission.

The Director of the Office of Teaching and Learning provides strategic vision, leadership, and oversight to guide the vision for teaching and learning at the University of Guelph. The Director, reporting to the AVPA, is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the OTL, fostering institutional and external partnerships, and promoting teaching effectiveness and pedagogical innovation across the institution. The Director will work with individuals across campus to ensure that OTL services and programs advance our collective commitment to teaching excellence, align with quality standards, and support U of G’s strategic goals.

**Duties and Responsibilities**

The Director is responsible for leading and managing a unit that promotes and supports the enhancement of educational approaches and practices at the University of Guelph. The position has the following main areas of responsibility: Providing strategic leadership, vision, and institutional planning; Promoting and supporting teaching effectiveness and effective use of educational technologies; Developing and maintaining collaborations and partnerships; Overseeing the OTL team, including human resource and team management, financial management, and administrative management.

Additionally, the Director OTL will be responsible for:

- Developing and implementing a strategic plan for OTL, outlining OTL’s mission, vision, mandate, and goals, as well as key services, programs, and supports to enhance teaching effectiveness and student learning.
- Collaborating with senior leadership, deans, associate deans, directors, and staff in other UofG support units to develop cross-institutional projects that enhance teaching and learning and pedagogical innovation.
- Collaborating with external institutions, educational organizations, and community stakeholders to enhance institutional teaching initiatives.
- Representing the university on provincial, national, and international research and projects related to teaching, learning, or educational development.
- Staying informed about emerging technologies and pedagogical approaches in various educational contexts and analyze, interpret, and report on the implications for pedagogy at UofG.
- Leading the development and implementation of assessment and evaluation strategies for OTL programs to measure effectiveness and impact, and using data-driven insights to inform decision-making, identifying areas for improvement, and driving continuous enhancement of OTL programs and services.
- Promoting evidence-based, learner-centered, and inclusive teaching practices, including advocating for and implementing initiatives that promote equity, diversity, inclusion, Indigenization, Decolonization, and accessibility in teaching practices and educational development.
- Designing, facilitating, delivering, and evaluating programs and workshops on pedagogy, teaching, learning, assessment, and curriculum.
- Supervising all OTL communication outreach and marketing activities, including newsletters and social media.

**Requirements**:

- Master’s degree in education (PhD preferred)
- 8-10 years of experience in educational development, preferably in the University sector, developing and delivering educational development programs and initiatives.
- Experience supervising or mentoring educational development staff.
- Experience with educational leadership, including working collaboratively to carry initiatives forward from conception to implementation to bring about change, developing vision, advocating for the unit and institutional change; finances and budgets; and developing capacity in others.
- Teaching experience at the post-secondary level.
- A deep understanding of higher education teaching and learning literature, theories, and context, including curriculum, pedagogy, and technology-enhanced learning.
- Experience with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, qualitative and quantitative research designs and methods, and the assessment of educational development programs and services, and using evidence to make data-informed decisions.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work productively as part of a team with people in diverse roles, disciplines, and backgrounds, and on multiple committees and teams.
- Demonstrated job-related experience with and/or commitment to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the work/academic environment.
- Continuous learning of current and emerging trends in technology, pedagogy, curriculum development, and inclusive and accessible learning.
- Demonstrated proficiency in developing and providing programs and initiatives aligned to strateg