About this opportunity
Gemological Institute of America lists this Director, Online School opportunity in carlsbad, New Mexico. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Position Summary
The Director, Online School provides strategic and operational leadership for GIA's online education business, ensuring high‑quality, scalable, and compliant programs that support student success and institutional growth. This role is accountable for Online School performance, including enrollment, retention, graduation outcomes, student experience, financial performance, academic technology, and regulatory compliance. The Director leads cross‑functional teams, develops organizational capability, and drives continuous improvement initiatives that advance GIA's mission, reputation, and impact in online education.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership (30%) – Lead the strategic direction and operational management of GIA's Online School, align priorities, systems, and governance with institutional goals and business objectives; partner with Education leadership to improve enrollment, retention, persistence, and graduation outcomes; establish, monitor, and drive performance against key operational, academic, enrollment, and financial metrics; oversee student lifecycle performance, including inquiry‑to‑enrollment conversion, start rates, retention, persistence, and graduation outcomes; manage the Online School budget; evaluate emerging technologies, industry trends, and regulatory developments; lead risk management, business continuity, operational resilience, and reputation management initiatives; develop organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, performance management, workforce planning, and leadership coaching.
Online Learning Quality & Faculty Support (30%) – Provide leadership for the design, delivery, assessment, and continuous improvement of online and hybrid learning experiences; partner with faculty and academic leadership to establish and maintain standards for instructional quality, accessibility, learner engagement, and technology integration; provide strategic oversight of the Learning Management System (D2L Brightspace) and related academic technologies; champion best practices in online pedagogy, learner‑centered instructional design, accessibility, and course consistency; establish quality assurance processes and evaluate course effectiveness; ensure compliance with accreditation standards, distance education regulations, institutional policies, and applicable educational requirements; foster a culture of safety and operational excellence across online and on‑campus instructional environments.
Student Experience & Operational Excellence (40%) – Lead cross‑functional initiatives that enhance the online student experience, improving engagement, responsiveness, satisfaction, retention, and student success; ensure reliable delivery, scalability, and effectiveness of online learning technologies and student support services; analyze operational, academic, enrollment, financial, and student experience data to identify trends and drive continuous improvement; develop and implement reporting frameworks, dashboards, and performance analytics; ensure compliance with FERPA, ADA accessibility standards, and all applicable regulations; partner across departments to streamline processes, improve service delivery, and optimize the student journey; drive operational effectiveness through process improvement initiatives, technology enhancements, and scalable business practices.
Job Competencies
Strategic Leadership – Establish vision, set priorities, and align resources to achieve long‑term objectives.
Leadership & Talent Development – Build high‑performing teams through coaching, mentorship, succession planning, and accountability.
Results Orientation – Consistently deliver enrollment, retention, student success, operational, and financial outcomes.
Analytical & Data‑Driven Decision Making – Interpret complex operational, academic, and financial data to support sound decisions.
Decision Quality & Problem Solving – Evaluate risks, opportunities, and competing priorities to solve complex challenges.
Communication & Influence – Communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders and build commitment through credibility and influence.
Collaboration & Relationship Management – Develop strong partnerships across departments and external stakeholders.
Change Leadership – Lead transformational initiatives, drive adoption of new processes and technologies, and foster continuous improvement.
Customer & Student Focus – Prioritize the needs of students, faculty, and stakeholders while balancing compliance, quality, and business objectives.
Technology & Distance Education Expertise – Demonstrate advanced knowledge of learning technologies, online learning operations, accessibility standards, and distance education best practices.
Minimum Qualifications
Required: Bachelor’s degree in education, business administration, organizational leadership, educational technology, or a related field; minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in education, online learning, academic operations, or a related field; minimum 7 years of experience leading and developing teams, including performance management and organizational development; demonstrated success leading operational and strategic initiatives that improve student, business, and organizational outcomes; experience managing budgets, resource planning, operational performance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives; working knowledge of distance education operations, accreditation standards, regulatory requirements, student success practices, and learning management systems.
Preferred: Master’s degree in a related field; additional industry credentials (e.g., Accredited Jewelry Professional, Graduate Jeweler Gemologist, Jewelry Manufacturing Arts); experience in higher education, adult learning, vocational education, or online learning environments; experience with D2L Brightspace or comparable LMS; Graduate Gemologist (GG) diploma preferred.
Additional Requirements
Hybrid work arrangement with regular on‑site presence as business needs require.
Ability to travel domestically up to 15‑20% for meetings, educational events, conferences, and campus support.
Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support operational or educational activities.
Compensation
Pay Range: $130,000 – $165,000
Benefits
Competitive medical, dental, vision, and matching 401(k) plans.
Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
Tuition assistance and commuter benefits.
On‑site cafeteria, affordable meals, and free coffee.
Electric vehicle charging stations and ergonomic assessments.
Equal Opportunity Employer
All employment decisions are made without regard to unlawful considerations of race, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request.
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Worksite address
carlsbad, NM, 88221, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.