Job Description

Senior Manager, Academic Program Production & Improvement - Salt Lake City, UT Join to apply for the Senior Manager, Academic Program Production & Improvement - Salt Lake City, UT role at Western Governors University . Overview This position leads the design, development, and continuous improvement of the various academic programs offered to students. It directs a cross-functional team of managers in new program development, program redevelopment, existing program maintenance/improvement, and portfolio project management. The team includes experts in instructional design, assessment design, learning engineering, instructional media, authoring, and AI-enabled design/development processes. The role aligns with department OKRs for quality, delivery, innovation, timelines, instructional outcomes, stakeholder relationships, and delivery-at-scale. It also plans capacity and optimizes the use of internal and vendor resources. Location: This position is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and requires a hybrid schedule in the office 4 days a week with one day remote. Primary Responsibilities Operationalizes department strategy by leading a management team to implement existing processes and change initiatives to deliver outcomes for production and student success. Functions as a player-coach who contributes hands-on and maintains close proximity to programs at every stage of production and improvement. Manages the portfolio of work across the management team in terms of high-level objectives, project plans, budgets, resource allocation, vendor engagement, instructional quality, and technology use. Leads in solving complex issues requiring significant analysis, troubleshooting, and negotiation, with the possibility of modifying established processes as needed. Maintains an authoritative coaching relationship with the management team, production teams, and contractors (approximately 25+ resources). Develops cross-disciplinary fluency by building on domain expertise in assessment, instructional design, educational psychology, AI, or learning project/program management to provide expert insight across essential skills for program production. Ensures vendors and contractors deliver agreed-upon quality within established timeframes and with detailed upfront requirements. Works laterally with other leaders on process engineering, innovation, quality, team culture, and shared objectives. Represents and curates the best work of managers and teams for advocacy, credibility, and cross-departmental education. Fosters positive relationships with program stakeholders and provides consultation to anticipate concerns, troubleshoot issues, and negotiate solutions. Performs other job-related duties as assigned. Qualifications Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Experience in leading and developing first-level leaders Expertise in instructional psychology and technology, with specialization in online program development Consultative rather than transactional stakeholder communications Leadership of digital transformation with high complexity and personal accountability Effective change management and readiness enablement skills on management teams Fluency in production, learning analytics, and reporting Strong aptitude for learning new technology and implementing it on teams Financial acumen and experience managing fixed budgets across a diverse program portfolio Education Master’s degree in educational psychology, instructional design, or related discipline (alternative credentials plus relevant work experience will be considered) Evidence of successful learning program leadership demonstrating cross-disciplinary knowledge and specialist domain expertise Hands-on experience with project management applications, course authoring tools, and related technologies Background in online higher education preferred, but relevant or overlapping experience in corporate, government, or non-profit contexts may be considered Experience 7 years of demonstrated experience in learning program leadership or equivalent Evidence of successful leadership that demonstrates cross-disciplinary knowledge and specialist domain expertise Hands-on experience with project management applications, course authoring tools, and related technologies Preferred Education Doctorate in a relevant discipline, with demonstrable expertise in program development and student outcomes Preferred Experience 10 years of leadership experience in higher education program development 3 years of leading other managers to achieve outcomes Online higher education experience preferred; relevant corporate/government/non-profit experience may be considered Experience leading AI transformation of program development and student learning experience Combination of online higher education and corporate learning experience to support a workforce-relevant approach Physical Requirements Onsite collocation is required in Salt Lake City, UT Travel up to 15-20% may be required on an ad hoc basis Position & Application Details Full-Time Regular Position: 40 hours per week. This role is eligible for benefits including health, retirement, paid time off, and other programs described by the employer. How to Apply If interested, submit an online application. Internal WGU employees should apply through the internal job board in Workday. Additional Information Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements; it is not all-inclusive. Accommodations for applicants with disabilities can be requested via the Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu. Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr Western Governors University

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