Teaching and Learning Specialist (Open Rank)

Job Details

NYU Abu Dhabi is pioneering a new model of higher education for a global world, dedicated to excellence in teaching and research and to advancing cooperation and progress on humanity?s shared challenges. Drawing on the strengths of the NYU global network, it offers an outstanding liberal arts and sciences education to students from the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and around the world, with a distinctive focus on intercultural understanding and leadership. It supports innovative research and graduate education programs that push forward the frontiers of knowledge and respond in powerful and interdisciplinary ways to vital global and local challenges.

Description

The Teaching and Learning Specialist advances teaching and learning at NYU Abu Dhabi by partnering with faculty, academic staff, and students to design, pilot, and scale evidence-based instructional and assessment practices. Working collaboratively with faculty as disciplinary experts, the Specialist supports innovation through targeted experimentation, evaluation, and refinement of teaching approaches that enhance student engagement and learning in a diverse, global context.

Grounded in the mission of a global liberal arts institution, the role contributes to educational practices that cultivate critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and social responsibility, preparing students to navigate and address complex, evolving societal and global challenges.

The Teaching and Learning Specialist reports to the Director of the Hilary Ballon Center for Teaching and Learning.

The Hilary Ballon Center for Teaching and Learning (HBCTL) partners with faculty, academic staff, and collaborators across NYU Abu Dhabi to advance inclusive, innovative, and evidence-informed teaching that supports student learning, belonging, and success. Through support for faculty innovation in the classroom, interdisciplinary exchange, teaching communities, and the scholarship of teaching and learning, HBCTL fosters reflective teaching practice and advances pedagogical approaches that respond to evolving educational challenges and emerging technologies within a global liberal arts context.

Key Responsibilities

1. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

• Conduct and apply research on teaching and learning to inform instructional practices and institutional initiatives
• Translate evidence and data (e.g., student and faculty feedback, surveys, learning analytics metrics) into actionable insights and resources
• Contribute to the strategic development and dissemination of research-informed teaching practices within and beyond the institution

2. Faculty Partnership & Development

• Collaborate with faculty and academic staff as disciplinary experts to co-design courses, assignments, and assessments
• Contribute to faculty development initiatives, including New Faculty Orientation, structured discipline-specific program developed in collaboration with area-specific needs and peer observation programs
• Support faculty in adopting inclusive, evidence-based, and innovative teaching practices

3. Innovation in Teaching, Learning & AI

• Co-design and implement pilot projects to explore new approaches to teaching and assessment, including AI-integrated and AI-cognizant practices
• Support the development and implementation of AI-related guidelines, policies, and faculty support resources
• Support programs in developing AI-literacy components through integrated assignments
• Evaluate and scale effective innovations in alignment with institutional priorities

4. Student Partnership & Learning Ecosystem

• Engage students as partners in teaching and learning initiatives through collaboration with AI student liaisons, student government, and other student groups
• Design and support mechanisms for gathering student insight (e.g., surveys, focus groups, faculty-student groups, research) to inform instructional practices and institutional priorities
• Facilitate structured opportunities for faculty to incorporate student perspectives into course design, assessment, and AI-related practices
• Collaborate closely with relevant units (e.g., Center for Writing, Academic Resource Center, Student Success) to align student academic support with course expectations and learning goals

5. Cross-Unit Collaboration & Institutional Alignment

• Coordinate with academic and administrative units (e.g., Academic Technology, Library, Writing Center, Academic Resource Center) to align teaching and learning initiatives
• Support institution-wide priorities related to curriculum, assessment, and student success
• Contribute to coherent, integrated approaches across programs and initiatives

6. Programs, Resources & Engagement

• Support the design and delivery of workshops, events, and teaching-related initiatives
• Develop and disseminate resources, guides, and communications for faculty and students
• Engage external collaborators and speakers to advance dialogue on teaching and learning

Qualifications

Required Qualifications Education: Master?s degree in Education, Learning Sciences, Instructional Design, Educational Technology, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience

Experience & Expertise:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in higher education, teaching and learning centers, or related roles
• Demonstrated expertise in curriculum design, learning outcomes assessment, and evidence-based pedagogical practices
• Strong understanding of foundational skill development, including critical thinking, problem-solving, and disciplinary ways of knowing
• Experience applying the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) to inform practice and institutional initiatives
• Experience collaborating with faculty on course design, assessment, and instructional innovation
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive teaching practices and supporting diverse student populations
• Interest in advancing teaching and learning in a global liberal arts context

AI-related competencies:

• Understanding of how AI technologies, including generative AI, are shaping student learning behaviors, assessment, and skill development
• Ability to critically evaluate AI-facilitated applications and their implications for teaching, learning, and academic integrity
• Experience or demonstrated interest in integrating AI into teaching and learning in pedagogically meaningful ways

Skills & Competencies:

• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including faculty, students, and cross-functional teams
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate research and data into actionable strategies and resources
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience developing instructional materials and resources
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a dynamic environment

Application Instructions

To apply for this position, please submit the following documents:

• CV
• Cover Letter
• List three professional references, including their names and email addresses. They may be contacted at a later stage of the process.

We will begin reviewing applications on June 8th. If you have any questions, please e-mail nyuad.academicrecruitment@nyu.edu.