Reporting to the Senior Associate Provost within the Office of the Provost, the Director of UF Online provides strategic leadership and oversight for delivering fully online undergraduate programs at the University of Florida. The Director oversees functional teams responsible for academic program management, student success and experience initiatives, ensuring UF Online’s continuous innovation in online education.
The Opportunity
The Director works closely with internal stakeholders championing initiatives that promote student success and foster a strong sense of belonging, resulting in efficient and effective service delivery to students, faculty, staff, and university partners. This role provides leadership in setting strategic goals and objectives while developing policies, procedures, and resources necessary to advance the mission of UF Online.
This position requires a visionary leader who can strategize, prioritize, and allocate resources effectively, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.
Areas of focus will include:
The Director of UF Online provides strategic leadership and oversight for delivering fully online undergraduate programs at the University of Florida.
Primary Duties:
- Team Leadership and Management – provides strategic leadership and guidance to the UF Online central staff, driving academic program management, student engagement, and continuous improvement. This role fosters a collaborative and innovative environment, ensuring teams have the necessary resources, support, and professional development opportunities to excel. The Director monitors team performance with clear expectations, promoting accountability and excellence and ensuring strong team communication to achieve UF Online's mission and align it with the University's broader goals.
- Academic Program Management and Maintenance – oversees UF Online programs' launch and ongoing management, working closely with cross-functional teams, including Enrollment Services, Marketing & Communications, and academic advising within the colleges. Identify new majors aligned with strategic priorities, integrate programs into UF Online with financial and institutional support, and ensure program quality. The Director also oversees course offerings, capacity planning, and the introduction of new electives or specializations.
- Student Experience and Engagement – oversees student engagement initiatives and collaborates with campus partners to deliver curated programming and resources. This includes ensuring students can access tutoring, peer mentoring, and other essential services. The Director also drives the development of personal enrichment programs tailored to student needs and actively uses annual feedback surveys to enhance the online learning experience.
- Reporting and Data-Driven Decision Making – leads the creation of comprehensive annual reports on program health, covering key metrics such as headcount, student credit hours, graduation rates, and retention. By leveraging data-driven insights, the Director guides strategic planning, develops the UF Online Annual Report and Business Plan, and implements targeted interventions to improve student outcomes and retention, ensuring UF Online remains competitive and effective in delivering top-tier education.
- Leadership and Reputation Management – serves as a key representative of UF Online, providing expertise and consultation to academic units on best practices, emerging trends, and innovative approaches in online education. This role facilitates professional development opportunities for UF Online staff and advisors, ensuring the team stays current with the latest advancements and collaborating with academic units to develop experiential learning opportunities such as internships and practicums. Director leads UF Online’s presence at conferences, workshops, and webinars while overseeing the dissemination of program assessments and outcomes, enhancing UF Online’s reputation and visibility within the academic community.
The University of Florida
UF is one of the nation’s top-5 universities and a dynamic and rewarding place to work. The University seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of its commitment to serving a diverse global community. UF is in Gainesville, one of Florida’s most livable cities. Known for its natural attractions (wetlands, forests, springs, wildlife) and cultural offerings (music, theater, visual arts, and historic districts), the area also is gaining a reputation as a thriving hub for high-tech start-ups, as well as invention and research collaborations. We are excited about what’s happening here and know you will want to be a part of it.
The City of Gainesville
Gainesville (http://cityofgainesville.org) is home to Florida's largest and oldest university, and so is one of the state's centers of education, medicine, cultural events, and athletics. The University of Florida and UF Health Shands Hospital are the leading employers in Gainesville and provide jobs for many residents of surrounding counties. Explore Gainesville in 60 Seconds.
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