Executive IT Director, Office of Teaching, Learning, & Technology

About the role

The Executive IT Director for the Office of Teaching, Learning, & Technology (OTLT) at the University of Iowa is responsible for setting vision and strategy for OTLT, guiding enterprise-wide services and investments, and serving as a key advisor to senior university and IT leadership on academic technology, instructional innovation, digital learning, accessibility, and emerging opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Set vision and direction for OTLT’s enterprise portfolio, including instructional technology, learning spaces, digital accessibility, learning analytics, and emerging educational technologies.
• Shape and define a new service area in research technology consultation and outreach, building OTLT’s role as a connector between researchers and the technology, tools, and expertise best suited to advance their work.
• Oversee major academic technology and classroom technology services used across the university.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior academic, administrative, and IT leaders on teaching and learning technology strategy.
• Represent OTLT in university governance, Big Ten Academic Alliance groups, national collaborations, and strategic partnership discussions.
• Lead the OTLT leadership team and provide executive direction for a multi-functional organization.
• Foster a high-performing, engaged, innovative, and welcoming culture.
• Develop leaders, strengthen accountability, and guide organizational change in response to evolving institutional needs.
• Oversee OTLT’s multi-million-dollar budget, vendor relationships, contracts, staffing resources, and technology investments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in education, instructional technology, information technology, business administration, public administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience.
• Substantial senior leadership experience (typically 13 years or more) in higher education IT, academic technology, digital learning, instructional support, or another closely related enterprise environment.
• Demonstrated executive-level experience leading complex, multi-functional organizations or portfolios with significant strategic, operational, financial, and people leadership responsibilities.
• Demonstrated success influencing university-wide or enterprise-wide strategy, leading large initiatives, and working effectively with executive leadership, governance groups, and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational change and building high-performing, service-oriented teams.
• Exceptional written & verbal communication and relationship management skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to accessibility, student success, and innovation in support of teaching and learning.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a welcoming and respectful work environment.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in higher education, instructional technology, educational leadership, or a related field (desirable).
• Significant executive leadership experience in central IT, academic affairs, teaching and learning, or digital education within higher education (desirable).
• Experience leading university-wide governance, advisory, or policy-setting efforts related to academic technology or learning environments (desirable).
• Experience overseeing broad portfolios that include enterprise instructional platforms, classroom technology, learning analytics, accessibility initiatives, and faculty support services (desirable).
• Experience shaping or implementing institutional strategy related to online learning, instructional innovation, AI in education, accessibility, or student success (desirable).
• Experience with national professional engagement, benchmarking, or leadership in higher education technology organizations (desirable).
• Experience managing major vendor partnerships, contract strategy, and enterprise technology investment decisions (desirable).
• Record of advancing innovation while maintaining reliable, customer-centered services in a complex academic environment (desirable).