Application Specialist - Learning

· Lead end-to-end LMS initiatives (upgrades, migrations, SaaS/on-prem transitions, Ultra adoption, new module rollouts) from requirements through cutover and hypercare.

· Build project plans, budgets, resource allocations, and risk/issue logs; manage vendors and cross-functional teams (IT, academic affairs, libraries, QA).

· Maintain platform roadmaps and release calendars; ensure timely patching, testing, and change communication.

· Integrate LMS with SIS (e.g., Banner, PeopleSoft, ..), IAM/SSO (SAML2/Shibboleth, OAuth2), content and assessment tools (Turnitin, Respondus, Proctoring), video platforms (Panopto/Kaltura), collaboration tools (MS Teams/Zoom), and analytics/reporting stacks.

· Design and maintain secure data flows and APIs (REST, webhooks) for Enrollment automation, grade passback, and course provisioning; implement data governance, cataloguing, and retention policies.

· Manage data pipelines for operational and learning analytics (Blackboard Data, Moodle Analytics) and publish dashboards (e.g., Power BI/Tableau) for academic and executive stakeholders.

· Own start‑of‑term readiness: course shells, enrollments, role mapping, templates, rubrics, and quality checks.

· Define and optimize processes for course copy, archiving, and content lifecycle; automate routine tasks where feasible.

· Provide second‑/third‑line functional support for complex assessment setups (gradebook, outcomes, question banks, exams).

· Define KPI/OKR frameworks (engagement, submission, progression, early alerts) and deliver role‑based dashboards for faculty, program leaders, and student success teams.

· Translate academic needs into intuitive, accessible course designs and navigation; collaborate with instructional designers and UX to improve consistency and usability.

· Promote continuous improvement through usability testing, feedback loops, and A/B pilots.

· Evaluate, implement, and govern LTI tools and plugins (Moodle plug-ins, Blackboard Building Blocks/REST apps) for authoring, quizzing, e-portfolios, and academic integrity.

· Oversee media management, captioning/ASR pipelines, and content accessibility (e.g., Ally) at scale.

· Support hybrid/online delivery models, virtual classrooms, and mobile learning experiences.

·

Stand up micro‑learning authoring and delivery

(e.g., H5P interactive objects, short video nuggets, adaptive release), mobile notifications, and lightweight refreshers integrated into courses and faculty development.

· Enforce platform security standards, roles/permissions, and privacy controls aligned to FERPA/GDPR and institutional policies.

· Ensure business continuity (backup/restore, DR, monitoring, incident response) and maintain audit readiness.

· Collaborate with cybersecurity on vulnerability management, penetration testing, remediations, and vendor risk reviews.

· Mentor junior LMS administrators/analysts and student assistants.

· Facilitate cross‑functional collaboration with IT, academic departments, libraries, QA/assessment, and student success teams.

· Promote adherence to IT service management and cybersecurity governance across learning systems.

· Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Education Technology, or related field (Master’s preferred).

· Project management certification (PMP/PRINCE2/Agile) strongly preferred.

· Relevant platform certifications a plus (Blackboard Certified, Moodle Educator/Administrator/Developer, ITIL, accessibility certification such as CPACC).

· Advanced administration of

and

, including course/role models, gradebook/assessments, and content standards (SCORM 1.2/2004, xAPI, IMS CC).

· Integration expertise with SIS, SSO (SAML2, OAuth2), directories (LDAP/AD), messaging/webhooks, and REST APIs; experience with grade passback and automated provisioning.

· Hands‑on with LTI 1.3/Advantage tool configurations and governance; experience enabling tools such as Turnitin, Respondus, proctoring suites, Panopto/Kaltura, and collaboration platforms.

· Data management and reporting: SQL, data pipelines, learning analytics (Blackboard Data, Moodle Analytics), dashboarding (Power BI/Tableau).

· Platform engineering for Moodle (PHP, plugin/theme management, caching, job schedulers, performance tuning) and operational management of Blackboard SaaS releases.

· Scripting/automation (Python, Bash, PHP/CLI), CI/CD for configuration as code where applicable, and environment management (Linux/AWS/Azure).