Senior Associate Manager of Academic Innovation -- Gies College of Business

Senior Associate Manager of Academic Innovation -- Gies College of Business

Innovation & Transformation

About Gies Innovation & Transformation

The Innovation & Transformation unit at the University of Illinois' Gies College of Business accelerates and amplifies innovations that enhance experiences for learners, faculty, staff, and alumni through strategic pilots, experiments, and professional development opportunities. Aligned with Gies' mission to shape purposeful leaders, we advance the college's priorities of expanding access, fostering excellence, and fueling innovation. We collaborate to design and scale evidence-based solutions using emerging technologies such as generative AI, guided by our commitment to purposeful innovation.

For more information about Gies Business, visit https://inside.giesbusiness.illinois.edu/work-at-gies.

Job Summary

The Senior Associate Manager of Academic Innovation will play a key role in the success of innovations that enhance teaching and learning experiences, as well as business and operational processes within the Gies College of Business. The role manages research, coordination, and execution of pilots and experiments, emphasizing research-based strategies for integrating emerging educational technologies and conducting scholarly evaluation of their effectiveness in collaboration with faculty and staff across the College.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Educational Research and Innovation Development
  •Research emerging educational trends including generative AI, learning analytics, adaptive learning systems, and scalable instructional solutions to inform pedagogical advancement and curriculum development.
  •Design evidence-based educational solutions with faculty and instructional teams to enhance teaching effectiveness and learning outcomes.
  •Present research findings and pilot outcomes through case studies, academic papers, and reports at conferences to advance institutional thought leadership.
  
  
• Faculty Collaboration and Pedagogical Support
  •Lead educational pilot projects and experiments with faculty to design research protocols for pedagogical innovation and learning outcome evaluation.
  •Collaborate with faculty to test, refine, and scale innovative teaching methods and learning solutions into curriculum frameworks.
  •Serve as liaison between faculty and administration, translating needs and research insights into actionable improvements.
  •Provide scholarly consultation to faculty by recommending evidence-based teaching innovations and mentoring adoption of new methodologies.
  •Support faculty professional development by facilitating knowledge sharing of best practices in educational innovation and technology-enhanced teaching.
  
  
• Innovation Implementation and Technology Integration
  •Develop pilot project proposals and research plans that align with academic priorities.
  •Coordinate with external partners and vendors to evaluate, pilot, and implement educational technologies.
  •Supervise project teams executing educational research and innovation initiatives.
  •Participate in strategic planning to identify and integrate new educational tools and best practices to support faculty, learners, and staff.
  •Collaborate with instructional teams to implement educational technologies while ensuring alignment with academic policies and learning outcomes.
  •Partner with college units to optimize processes by analyzing workflows and designing evidence-based solutions.
  •Serve as internal consultant by recommending solutions that improve effectiveness and by mentoring staff in adopting new practices.
  
  
• Academic Assessment and Learning Analytics
  •Establish assessment frameworks and KPIs to measure educational innovation impact on teaching and learning outcomes.
  •Research and analyze student learning data to assess pedagogical interventions and identify improvement opportunities.
  •Document research findings, innovation outcomes, and best practices to support strategic planning.
  •Monitor analytics and feedback to assess teaching effectiveness and student engagement with innovations.

Minimum Qualifications

•Master's degree
•5 years of professional experience researching and implementing innovations and technological solutions.
•Experience working in higher education in academic innovation.
•Experience implementing AI solutions.
•Experience designing scalable business processes.

Preferred Qualifications

•Master’s degree in Business Administration, Curriculum & Instruction, Instructional Technology, Technology Management, or related
•3 years or more of professional experience specifically implementing technology in an academic environment and managing mid- to large-scale projects.
•Experience implementing AI solutions in an academic context.
•Experience working with IRB processes and conducting research in higher ed settings.
•Knowledge of infrastructure and support in online academic programs.
•Experience using learning management systems (e.g., Canvas), AI-driven educational tools (e.g., ChatGPT), and collaboration/project management tools (e.g., Asana).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

•Excellent communication skills.
•Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team-based environment.
•Knowledge of emerging educational technologies.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the search close date. Salary is competitive and commensurate withqualifications and experience while also considering internal equity. Thebudgeted salary range for this position is $80,000 to $86,000.

Sponsorship for work authorization is not availablefor this position.

Remote work options may be available for thisposition; however, must be available to be onsite at the University of IllinoisUrbana campus based on operational needs.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on August 25, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting,and upload your cover letter, resume (months and years of employment must beincluded), and names/contact information for three professional references.Please remember to include specific information on how you meet thequalifications of the position in your resume, including all relevantexperience. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact rgoben@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID: 1031520
Job Category: Research
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu