Job Details

Director, Digital Innovation Institute & Studio

Position Number: 9880947
Location: Mahwah, United States
Position Type: Other Administrative Positions

Director, Digital Innovation Institute & Studio

Location: Ramapo College, Main Campus - Mahwah NJ

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 202300456

Core: Teaching & Learning Core

Department: Digital Innovation Institute

Opening Date:

Closing Date

FLSA: Exempt

Bargaining Unit: MN

Description

About Ramapo College of New Jersey

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state's premier public liberal arts college, where students build the confidence, skills, and perspective to thrive in a changing world. Located on a breathtaking 300-acre campus in the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains and just a short trip from New York City, Ramapo blends the best of both worlds: natural beauty, state-of-the-art facilities, and access to one of the world's most dynamic job markets.

With approximately 6,000 students, Ramapo offers a personalized, student-centered experience defined by a 16:1 student-faculty ratio, small classes, and faculty who mentor, challenge, and inspire. Students can explore over 40 undergraduate majors and a growing portfolio of graduate programs in fields such as Business Administration, Data Science, Nursing, Educational Leadership, Social Work, Special Education, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice. Across every discipline, Ramapo emphasizes hands-on learning through internships, co-ops, study abroad, faculty research, service projects, and real-world experiences that prepare students for meaningful careers.

Our campus is home to cutting-edge academic spaces, including the Anisfield School of Business, the Adler Center for Nursing Excellence, the Sharp Sustainability Education Center, the Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts, the Les Paul Music Studio, and the Peter P. Mercer Learning Commons. Ramapo's award-winning residence halls are consistently ranked among the best in New Jersey.

Nationally recognized for excellence and value, Ramapo is ranked #1 among New Jersey public colleges by College Choice, named a Best Regional University North by U.S. News & World Report, and celebrated by Kiplinger's, Money Magazine, Colleges of Distinction, and Victory Media's Military Friendly rankings.

At Ramapo, students don't just earn degrees; they discover their strengths, explore new possibilities, and build the foundation for bold futures.

Working at Ramapo

Ramapo College of New Jersey has been recognized as a "Great College to Work For," where our employees are at the heart of everything we do. We foster an equitable and fair workplace where ideas are welcomed, contributions are valued, and individuals are encouraged to grow both professionally and personally. Employees benefit from meaningful work, opportunities for development, and the chance to make a lasting impact on students' lives every day.

At Ramapo College, we believe excellence is achieved through teamwork, respect, accountability, innovation, and a shared commitment to learning. Our all-hands-on deck culture requires leadership at all levels to ensure we achieve our mission, implement our goals, and invest in our future one student at a time. We are proud to offer a supportive environment that values well-being and continuous improvement. We believe in being bold, being kind, and being good teammates, making Ramapo not just a place to work, but a great place to belong.

Ramapo College offers outstanding benefits through the New Jersey State Benefits system, generous PTO, professional development opportunities, wellness programs, tuition discounts for employees and their dependents, and much more.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time, managerial position, and the days of work and hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Note: This position is in the "NL" category of employment (non-fixed work week) and individuals in this role have no claim or entitlement to time off or cash compensation for hours worked beyond their normal schedule. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. It is the policy of the College to grant hour-for-hour compensatory time off, with advance approval, only when employees are required to work on a holiday. Time earned must be used within one fiscal year from the time it is earned.

Compensation:
Manager - D30
$130,000 - $150,000

Job Summary:

Ramapo College of New Jersey invites applications and nominations for an entrepreneurial, visionary academic leader to serve as the inaugural Director of the Digital Innovation Institute (DII). Holding a 12-month administrative position with a faculty appointment with tenure or eligibility for tenure in a discipline represented in the college, the Director will serve as a key administrative leader reporting directly to the Office of the Provost.

The Director will champion the ethical and educational integration of emerging digital technologies and artificial intelligence into a liberal arts curriculum. Operating with the strategic acumen, the Director will oversee the physical Studio for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation, manage the Instructional Design Center (IDC), and drive the corporate, philanthropic, and community partnerships necessary to achieve institutional self-sustainability within five years.

Examples of Duties

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Executive Leadership: Define and execute the strategic vision for the DII and its physical Studio space; align digital innovation goals with Ramapo's core student-centered, liberal arts mission.

Operational & Personnel Management: Directly supervise the Instructional Design Center (IDC) staff, student assistants, and technical personnel. Oversee the operational workflow, scheduling, and technology infrastructure of the physical Studio.

Revenue Generation & Philanthropy: Partner aggressively with Institutional Advancement to secure federal/state grants, private foundation funding, and philanthropic gifts. Develop and execute the Year 3-5 revenue-generation models, including corporate partnership tiers and digital consulting services.

Academic & Pedagogical Collaboration: Co-design faculty training frameworks alongside the Faculty Director of the Faculty Resource Center (FRC) to ensure pedagogical intentionality precedes technology adoption. Oversee the administration of the Summer Faculty Fellows program and DII course-redesign seed grants.

Public Scholarship & Community Innovation: Act as the primary external liaison to scale community-engaged projects (e.g., text-mining, digital archiving, and data science collaborations with local non-profits and civic entities).

Teaching & Research: Maintain a modified scholarly presence. The Director will teach a reduced load of one course per academic year to prioritize executive administration and fundraising.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Terminal Degree: Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in a field relevant to digital humanities, data science, educational technology, communications, or any discipline represented at the College leveraging digital methods.

Academic Credentialing: A record of distinguished teaching and scholarly achievement sufficient to merit a tenured faculty appointment at Ramapo College.

Administrative & Financial Acumen: Minimum of 3-5 years of progressive leadership experience (e.g., Center Director, Department Chair, or Associate Dean) with proven experience managing complex budgets and personnel.

Demonstrated Fundraising Success: A proven track record of securing major external funding via competitive grants (NSF, NEH, etc.), corporate sponsorships, or private donations.

Technological Literacy: Sophisticated, high-level understanding of digital innovation trends, including AI ethics, data literacy, digital tools, and pedagogy, with the ability to translate these concepts across diverse liberal arts disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience launching a new academic center, incubator, or campus-wide innovation hub.

Background in corporate relations, executive education, or business development within an academic setting.

Supplemental Information

EEO Statement

Ramapo College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Ramapo has a long history of advocating, advising, and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusiveness. Examples can be found in its mission statement, strategic plans, degree and course offerings, community outreach programs and other diversity programs. Ramapo's commitment to diversity and inclusion is infused across all facets of the College; where the environment is welcoming, dedicated to social justice, respectful of freedom of expression, focused on educating and having an ongoing conversation regarding cultural competence and the benefits and importance of diversity.

Organizational Security Responsibilities

This position requires adherence to the organization's information security policies and procedures. All employees share responsibility for protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the organization's mission essential IT assets, regardless of role. Individuals in this role are expected to apply appropriate safeguards, participate in required security awareness training, and promptly report potential security incidents in accordance with institutional policies.

To apply, please visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/ramapo/jobs/5506392/director-digital-innovation-institute-studio

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