Instructional-designer Opportunity Near You ∙ Page 1

Brown University is launching new online master’s programs in Management, Organizational Leadership, and Business Analytics designed to serve early to mid-career and working professionals seeking to enhance their professional skills and competencies, and leadership capabilities in an online format. These programs align with Brown’s commitment to academic excellence and its mission to develop transformational leaders and highly skilled professionals.

The (Assistant/ Associate) Professor of Practice will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering these programs, bringing real-world expertise and academic rigor to help train a diverse cohort of students. We seek faculty members with academic and professional background in the broad domain of organizational management, and also with experience in online graduate instruction. More specifically, we are looking for a colleague with background and expertise in one of the following areas:

• Organizational planning and directing (e.g., strategic planning, project management, change management, risk management, etc.)

• Data analytics (e.g., text mining, data mining, data visualization, etc.)

This incumbent will work closely with the Academic Directors for all three master’s programs, the Director of Academic Innovation, and the Deputy Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, and will be expected to develop and periodically refresh a series of online courses, working closely with the Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning Online Team. They will be responsible for design and development of at least two courses, with the development period approximately six to eight months in advance of the course launch date. The Sheridan Center’s Online team is made up of an instructional designer, educational media producer, and learning technologist who will meet weekly with the faculty member to help develop the course(s).

Faculty will teach five courses or the equivalent per year in addition to other duties as assigned. Courses run year round (this is a twelve-month position). Instruction also involves running weekly synchronous online sessions with students to discuss asynchronous content, grading, student advising and office hours, and, in some cases, supervising graduate assistants and or adjunct instructors. 

Additional duties may include participation in curricular planning, university committee work, executive education, academic direction, student advising, application review, participation in student recruitment, and participation in a regular cycle of revision to each course. Professors of the Practice in the School of Professional Studies are considered full-time employees and may be asked to take on additional duties, such as corporate or non-credit education or governance roles. Faculty will be appointed to an initial one-year contract with the potential for multi-year reappointments. This is not a tenurable position.

While Professors of the Practice are primarily assessed based on their teaching, they must be highly knowledgeable about the subject matter that they develop and teach and must maintain their expertise by staying up to date on relevant academic literature. The ideal candidate will hold a terminal degree in their field of specialty, have experience in private or public sector applications of their scholarly expertise, and have significant experience with online teaching. 

These positions are contingent upon final approval and the availability of funding. Faculty are  expected to be present on the Brown Providence, Rhode Island campus at least three days during the week. For full consideration, applications must be received by October 15th. 

• Significant industry experience (minimally in conjunction with a master’s degree) and/or terminal degree in a relevant field

• Some teaching experience required, teaching experience in an online setting and/or at the graduate level is preferred

• A strong background in and demonstrated understanding of one or more of the fields listed above is required

• Experience working in a university setting is desired

To apply please upload a cover letter including a section in which candidates should address how they would contribute to the research and/or teaching missions of our diverse and inclusive living-learning community, CV, a statement of teaching philosophy that includes a discussion of your experience designing online courses, 1-2 sample syllabi, and the names and contact information for three references (please do not submit letters at this time).