About the Role

The Educational Technology Specialist plays a critical role in enhancing digital learning environments by supporting faculty, staff, and students in the integration and effective use of technology in education. This position is responsible for researching, implementing, and maintaining instructional technology solutions that align with institutional goals and promote innovative teaching and learning strategies.

Operating at the intersection of pedagogy and technology, the Educational Technology Specialist is both a practitioner and a consultant — someone who understands how people learn, knows which tools actually support that learning, and can translate both for faculty who are time-pressed and skeptical of change. This is a collaborative, service-oriented role with genuine influence over how a Tier 1 university delivers education in an increasingly digital environment.

Key Responsibilities

Technology Integration

• Assist faculty and staff in selecting, piloting, and implementing educational technology tools designed to enhance student engagement, participation, and measurable learning outcomes.
• Evaluate new and emerging technology platforms for instructional fit, usability, accessibility, and alignment with institutional goals before recommending adoption.

Faculty Training and Support

• Develop and deliver workshops, group training sessions, and individualized coaching to help educators effectively incorporate technology into their curriculum and course delivery.
• Create training resources, how-to guides, and self-service documentation that faculty can reference independently between supported sessions.
• Build relationships with faculty across departments to understand discipline-specific instructional challenges and tailor technology recommendations accordingly.

Learning Management System Administration

• Provide day-to-day support and troubleshooting for the institution’s LMS, ensuring seamless course delivery, system reliability, and an optimized user experience for both faculty and students.
• Manage LMS configurations, course templates, integration with third-party tools, and term setup processes in coordination with IT and academic affairs staff.
• Monitor system performance, generate usage reports, and provide data-informed recommendations for platform improvements.

Digital Content Development

• Assist faculty in the creation of digital learning materials including interactive media, online course modules, instructional videos, and multimedia presentations.
• Apply instructional design principles to ensure digital content is pedagogically sound, visually clear, and aligned with learning objectives.

Emerging Technology Research

• Stay current on trends in educational technology, AI-powered learning tools, and digital pedagogy through ongoing professional development, literature review, and participation in relevant professional communities.
• Translate emerging technology research into practical institutional recommendations, piloting new tools where appropriate and documenting outcomes for broader adoption decisions.

Collaboration and Consultation

• Work closely with faculty, IT staff, instructional designers, and academic administrators to assess technology needs, implement solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness over time.
• Serve as a liaison between academic departments and central IT to ensure technology decisions reflect pedagogical priorities and not just technical preferences.

Accessibility and Compliance

• Ensure all digital learning materials and technology implementations meet applicable accessibility standards including WCAG guidelines and institutional ADA compliance policies.
• Audit existing digital course content for accessibility gaps and work with faculty to remediate materials as needed.

Technical Support

• Provide responsive troubleshooting assistance for instructional technology tools and platforms, ensuring faculty and student success in accessing and using digital resources.
• Escalate unresolved technical issues to the appropriate IT teams and follow through to ensure timely resolution and communication back to affected users.

Required and Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AI-driven educational tools, adaptive learning platforms, or emerging applications of machine learning in academic settings.
• Background in virtual reality, augmented reality, or immersive technology applications in higher education learning environments.
• Experience designing or managing online or hybrid course development projects from initial consultation through final launch.
• Certifications in instructional design, LMS administration, or accessible technology (e.g., Quality Matters, CPACC, or equivalent).

Why This Role Matters

Digital learning technology has moved from a supplemental resource to a core component of how universities deliver education. The Educational Technology Specialist is the person who makes that transition work for faculty — translating institutional technology investments into actual classroom impact by supporting adoption, building capability, and solving the problems that otherwise quietly undermine digital learning quality.

At a Tier 1 research university, this role operates in a complex environment. Faculty range from highly tech-savvy early adopters to experienced educators who have taught the same way for decades and see little reason to change. The most effective Educational Technology Specialists meet faculty where they are, earn trust through demonstrated helpfulness, and create change through relationships rather than mandates.

Retained Search by Excelon Associates

Excelon Associates is a retained executive search firm headquartered in Asheville, NC, with additional offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, FL. Since 2007 we have placed instructional designers, educational technology specialists, directors of digital learning, and senior academic technology leaders at universities and higher education institutions across the United States.

For institutions committed to innovation and digital transformation in teaching and learning, Excelon Associates is a trusted recruitment partner. We connect universities with technology professionals who understand pedagogy, earn faculty trust, and drive meaningful adoption of instructional tools. Reach out today to start a confidential conversation.