Program/Project Specialist

Position Overview

University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development, Educational Technology Innovations (ETI) is a dynamic, collaborative team that creates online professional development opportunities with departments and faculty members inside the College of Education and Human Development, as well as clients both across and outside of the University. CEHD recently established the MN Child Welfare Training Academy (TA) in partnership with the MN Department of Human Services (DHS), a new collaborative that focuses on creating impactful, inclusive, and accessible training opportunities to meet the needs of the many MN child welfare workers and agencies.

The Elearner Project Coordinator coordinates with working groups across multiple units, ensuring we are building innovative, inclusive, and innovative professional development learning opportunities within the University of Minnesota's learning management system, Canvas. This position serves as project lead for the partnership between TA and DHS and provides support for non-credit courses and certificate programs being developed; and assists with Destiny One Registration System (DORS) integration and registration. The E-Learner Project Coordinator works with the Director of Professional Development to assist in formulating and defining scope and objectives, research user needs, and partner with multiple stakeholders to move projects through the development stages to guide projects to completion.

A successful candidate for this position is familiar with online learning platforms/resources with the ability to utilize learning management systems for course creation, registration, and report tracking. This candidate has experience with project management and can coordinate projects with a proven track record of success, including examples of how they managed timelines and stakeholders; prioritize work and shared accountability for outcomes across multiple projects; thrive in an organization with a variety of stakeholders; and be motivated to develop and refine processes.

The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and/or work location. All UMN employees are expected to follow applicable public health and safety procedures.

This position is represented by the AFSCME Clerical Union, Local 3800.

Job Responsibilities

60% LMS Coordinator for the Training Academy (TA)

A. E-learner Training System Contributor

• Maintain existing Canvas Training Academy courses. Modify course information (including logistics, cohorts and content), document updates, and ensure trainers are aware of any changes
• Monitor enrollment and participant progress
• Manage Destiny One registration system for current and future TA course offerings
• Pull reports and analytics when needed across multiple Learning Management Systems
• Attend weekly meetings and provide updates to multiple working groups
• Set up new courses utilizing the CANVAS system and following specifications and protocols established by leadership of course design and need
• Manage course request for LMS team, in collaboration with the Curriculum Coordinator team
• Work with curriculum coordinators in gathering all necessary information and content to create an online learning course
• Assist LMS team in creating project timelines, set goals, and provide project updates on a biweekly basis
• Manage Canvas Courses creation
• Manage documentation
• Communicate with LMS team lead on Canvas course template progress and documentation
• Set goals and expectations for course delivery
• Create Canvas courses following direction from the LMS team lead and the curriculum team.
• Create Canvas course templates for future course builds, utilizing branding elements for specific projects

B. CWTA Web Staffer

• Pull reports and respond to customer support tickets via the training academy portal system
• Serve as primary alpha tester to all TA web sites and/or systems, following documentation practices identified by ETI leadership
• Communicate with all appropriate team members to address needed site fixes and assure end-product meets TA needs
• Regularly systems test all technical environments to assure functionality and follow established protocols to raise needed awareness and address issues effectively and efficiently

40% MNCWTA/ETI Systems support/customer support

• Manage MNCWTA Portal customer tickets, in collaboration with ETI development team and MNCWTA administrative staff.
• Manage Continuing Education Unit (CEU)/Clock Hour certificate request applications for the Training Academy
• Identify projects requiring a web presence as part of the scope of work and create a plan to deliver all needed branding and system elements in conjunction with Canvas course
• Liaison with all staff to assure the timely delivery of projects
• Regularly systems test delivered products to assure functionality and follow established protocols to raise needed awareness and address issues effectively and efficiently
  
  

Required Qualifications

• High School diploma/ GED and five (5) years of related professional experience. Coursework in a related field may be a substitute for some of the years of experience.
• Project management experience
• Demonstrated experience in working within learning management systems, such as Canvas.
• Familiar with Google office suite, shared folders, and documents.
• Evidence of ability to provide high-level customer service to people from a variety of communities, backgrounds, and identities

Preferred Qualifications

• A technical background and experience with markup or programming languages; user-centered design including accessibility; experience with the software development life cycle (SLDC); software user experience (project management, statistical analysis, eLearning authoring, data analysis and visualization, technical writing applications, graphic design, multimedia development, etc.)
• Experience defining project scope and objectives through research and fact finding.
• Experience at the University of Minnesota in any of the following systems/units: student services, Curriculum management, Canvas, communications, or business analysis.
• Experience managing projects from proposal through completion.
• Experience in a K-12 school setting, and/or human development setting.
• Understanding and ability to articulate project management phases, tools and techniques.
• Understanding of Agile Development methodologies and processes
  
  

About Education Technology Innovation:
Educational Technology Innovations (ETI) leads the technical development of projects that span collegiate disciplines. Our people have a wide range of experiences that include entrepreneurial efforts in building and selling businesses, leading donor funding relations, and managing complex higher education organizations. ETI functions as a knowledgeable and nimble organization and attracts people that thrive in a fast-paced, cutting-edge environment.

About the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy:
The Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA) is a collaboration between the Child Safety and Permanency Division at the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Our mission is to train, develop, and support the skills, expertise, and well-being of Minnesota's child welfare workforce while nurturing a commitment to equitable child welfare practice.

About the College:
The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the University's third largest college, contributes to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of life. We know diversity is necessary to do our best work and foster our humanity. That's why the CEHD community is collectively dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing and celebrating all identities of our students, staff, and faculty. These values are also a moral imperative requiring continuous proactive measures and a firm stance against prejudice, discrimination, and systemic injustice.

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).