Director, Digital Innovation Institute & Studio

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.

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.