What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Director, Online Program Operations position at Vanderbilt University?
The Assistant Director, Online Program Operations will play a key part in shaping and implementing the Office of Learning Innovation’s (OLI) project management strategy. This role will support the Executive Director in scaling the university's online and lifelong learning portfolio and facilitate strategic initiatives for the university. The Assistant Director will also manage a team of Project Managers and set the standard for operational excellence across the department.
It is an exciting time at Vanderbilt as the University officially welcomed C. Cybele Raver as its new Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs on July 1, 2021. Under the leadership of Provost Raver, the Office of the Deputy Provost is leading bold new initiatives and strengthening existing programs. This role reports directly to the Executive Director, Office of Learning Innovation in the Office of the Deputy Provost.
The Office of the Deputy Provost was established by Provost C. Cybele Raver in 2025 to strengthen Vanderbilt's ability to implement strategic academic initiatives and foster cross-institutional alignment. Led by Deputy Provost Tracey George, the office is charged with advancing enterprise-wide priorities across schools and colleges, leading important special initiatives, and supporting the Provost in executing Vanderbilt's academic vision.
Created by the University Provost, the Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education (AdvancED) exists to promote cutting-edge innovations in higher education pedagogy and student experience in order to maximize the impact of new ideas on society. The Institute provides university faculty development and training, optimizes student learning in all environments, drives technological and pedagogical innovation, and charts the course for a best-in-class future. The Institute includes the Office of Education Design and Development and the Office of Learning Innovation.
The Office of Learning Innovation is dedicated to advancing new, uniquely Vanderbilt ways of delivering education to meet the evolving needs of learners and maximize the university’s global impact. The team focuses on supporting the growth of the university’s digital and lifelong learning portfolio, providing expertise in educational technologies, and elevating Vanderbilt as a leader in cutting-edge learning innovation.
- Establish a coordinated project management workstream function through the development of a clear strategic plan, including short- and long-term objectives.
- Lead project scoping and capacity planning for the project management team and broader OLI initiatives.
- Identify and lead continuous improvement efforts to strengthen the project management function, developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for program launches and maintenance.
- Manage project timelines and resource allocation to ensure the successful completion of initiatives across marketing, enrollment, and design teams.
Program Development & Oversight
- Oversee the onboarding framework for new academic units, ensuring seamless scoping, service definition, and handoffs between academic units and OLI workstreams.
- Serve as the primary escalation point for the project management team regarding cross functional workflows between instructional design, production, and marketing.
- Ensure the delivery of exceptional service and solutions to faculty and key stakeholders regarding program operations.
- Review and refine monthly and quarterly program reports to ensure data accuracy and strategic alignment before presentation to leadership.
People Management
- Manage a team of Project Managers, providing day-to-day guidance, mentorship, and performance feedback to the project management team.
- Lead the hiring, onboarding, and professional development of project management staff to build a high-performing team.
- Assign projects and balance workloads across the team.
Strategic Initiatives
- Lead the coordination and execution of high-priority strategic initiatives for the Office of Learning Innovation and the university.
Support OLI leadership in forecasting and long-range planning for portfolio growth.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required.
- Master’s degree or PMP (Project Management Professional) certification is strongly preferred.
- At least 5-7 years of project management experience with a proven track record of leading complex projects is required.
- Experience managing and developing high-performing teams is required.
- Experience in higher education and online learning program development is preferred.
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines is required.
- Experience working in cross-functional teams is required.
- A proven track record of working in a complex institution with competing stakeholders is required.
- Superior verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate strategies to diverse audiences is required.