Director, Academic Technology - Information Technology

Position Summary

• **Applications are welcome from all qualified candidates.
• In line with UAE regulations, Emirati candidates are encouraged to apply.** **New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a Academic Appointments Associate reporting to Chief Information Officer.**
• The Director, Academic Technology provides strategic NYUAD IT leadership for the design, delivery, and continuous evolution of instructional technologies and digital learning environments across NYU Abu Dhabi’s full academic portfolio, including undergraduate and graduate programs, continuing education, executive education, and emerging lifelong-learning initiatives. In coordination with NYU IT, the Director develops and executes NYUAD IT’s forward-looking academic technology strategy that supports innovation in teaching, inclusive pedagogy, experiential learning, and student success.
• The Director will be working in close partnership with academic leadership, NYUAD’s Hilary Ballon Center for Teaching & Learning (HBCTL), NYU IT, and Executive Education leadership, the Director ensures that instructional platforms, including Learning Management System (LMS) platforms, classroom and hybrid-learning technologies, academic media services, AI-enabled instructional tools, and extended reality (XR) environments, are reliable, scalable, secure, and accessible. The role also has direct responsibility for the strategic development and operational management of academic media production services and studio environments that support live, hybrid, and recorded teaching and learning experiences.
• The Director leads a multidisciplinary team responsible for instructional platforms, classroom and learning-space technologies, academic and executive education media production, studio operations, immersive learning environments, and emerging educational technologies.
• The role balances innovation with operational sustainability, ensuring that new technologies and production capabilities are thoughtfully evaluated, ethically governed, fiscally responsible, and aligned with institutional academic priorities and policies to support the evolving instructional needs of NYU Abu Dhabi’s academic and professional education communities. **Key Responsibilities:** *Academic Technology Strategy & Alignment** Develop, implement, and continuously evaluate NYUAD IT’s multi-year academic technology strategy that supports the advancement of NYU Abu Dhabi’s teaching and learning mission across undergraduate, graduate, and professional education programs
• Ensure NYUAD IT’s academic technology services align with academic leadership’s pedagogical priorities, inclusive teaching practices, assessment approaches, and experiential learning initiatives. Translate academic goals into scalable, sustainable academic technology and learning-environment services, including classroom, hybrid, and studio-enabled delivery models
• *Academic Technology Enablement & Support** In collaboration with faculty, academic leadership, and the Hilary Ballon Center for Teaching and Learning (HBCTL), provide academic technology consultation, technical guidance, and operational support that enable institutional teaching and learning initiatives.
• Support the effective implementation and use of instructional technologies, digital platforms, media integration, and learning environments in alignment with pedagogical approaches and academic priorities established by academic leadership and HBCTL
• Develop and deliver technology training, support resources, and service models that help faculty effectively use instructional technologies and media production capabilities while supporting accessibility, academic integrity, and reliable digital learning environments
• *Event Support** Act as the main contact for university clients, including faculty, staff, and external partners, to gather AV requirements for Creative Production, Studios & Learning Environments
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team that includes instructional technologists, digital learning specialists, media producers, and immersive media specialists
• Provide strategic direction, creative leadership, and operational oversight for instructional media production services and academic production capabilities. Oversee the design, operation, utilization, and continuous enhancement of physical and digital production environments, including studios, control rooms, recording facilities, and learning-space technologies that support live, hybrid, and recorded academic and executive education experiences
• Establish and manage end-to-end production service models, including intake, prioritization, scheduling, production, and delivery workflows. Define service tiers and engagement models that support faculty, academic programs, and professional education initiatives
• Set professional standards, quality benchmarks, utilization targets, and staffing models that ensure scalable, efficient, and high-quality media production services aligned with institutional teaching and learning needs
• *AI, Extended Reality & Emerging Technology Innovation** Lead exploration, piloting, and responsible adoption of AI-enabled instructional technologies, immersive media tools, virtual production environments, and XR learning experiences
• Evaluate technologies in partnership with academic stakeholders for alignment with pedagogical objectives, accessibility, data privacy, ethical considerations, and sustainability. Transition successful innovations into scalable, supported institutional services with clear operational ownership and lifecycle management
• *Academic Technology Governance, Budget & Vendor Management** Provide strategic and operational oversight of academic technology and media production budgets, vendor relationships, and service portfolios
• Establish governance structures, standards, and decision-making frameworks to ensure fiscal responsibility, sustainability, interoperability, and alignment with NYUAD and NYU enterprise policies. Oversee vendor selection, contract negotiation, performance management, and lifecycle planning for instructional platforms, media systems, and production technologies
• *Accessibility, Compliance & Risk Management** Ensure instructional technologies, media environments, AI-enabled tools, and immersive platforms meet accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG), data-privacy requirements, and institutional policies
• Lead risk assessment and mitigation related to AI in teaching, media capture, XR environments, and emerging technologies. Establish frameworks that ensure ethical, inclusive, secure, and responsible adoption of instructional technologies and media production practices
• *Cross-Functional Collaboration & Change Management** Serve as a strategic liaison between IT, academic divisions, HBCTL, Library, Research Computing, Registrar, and NYU Global IT
• Lead complex initiatives involving instructional technologies, media production services, and immersive environments, ensuring coordinated communication and stakeholder engagement. Guide change management efforts supporting adoption of new platforms, production capabilities, and academic delivery models

Qualifications

**Preferred Education:*** Doctoral degree

• **Required Experience:*** Demonstrated knowledge and implementation of instructional technology standards, accessibility requirements (WCAG/ADA), learning-data privacy considerations, and higher-education compliance expectations
• Familiarity with immersive media technologies, XR/virtual production workflows, and creative media design
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural, international academic environment
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in instructional or educational technology, media design, or related fields within a higher-education environment
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and managing complex instructional technology ecosystems and advanced media production environments
• Proven track record implementing enterprise LMS platforms and immersive technology tools
• Deep understanding of digital media, instructional design, and media-enhanced learning
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG), data privacy, and academic compliance frameworks
• Expertise in instructional platforms, classroom technologies, and media production environments (studios, recording systems, AV technologies)
• Strong strategic planning, analytical, and operational management skills
• Ability to balance innovation with operational sustainability and fiscal responsibility
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to lead organizational change in complex academic environments
• **Preferred Experience:*** Professional certifications in instructional design, immersive media, project management, or related technology domains (e.g., PMP, XR design certificates)
• Knowledge of NYU’s global systems, enterprise tools, and academic processes
• Familiarity with emerging technologies such as VR/AR/XR for learning, AI-driven learning systems, and advanced analytics for teaching and learning

About NYUAD