Senior Instructional Designer

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Job Profile Summary:

A senior instructional designer has proven course development and program development skills and experience. This individual will work closely with their manager and other stakeholders to improve the course and program quality, adhere to, and improve the development process at both a program level and course level, and promote collaboration within and across departmental teams. The senior instructional designer works closely with managers to promote training and mentoring for new and existing instructional designers.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• This individual will manage the course development and redevelopment process according to design documentation.
• Ensures academic and quality standards and WGU’s vision and mission are reflected in all aspects of the student experience.
• Consults with program development managers during the program review and development process.
• Assists in the developing of contextually rich, engaging, and objective-driven courses that focus on applicable real-world/workplace skills.
• The Senior Instructional Designer will apply evidence-based curriculum development strategies to the design of degree programs.
• Identifies and maps learning resources to a course or program objectives and competencies in collaboration with university partners.
• Develops and revises curricular materials and other relevant documentation.
• Reviews learning resources and assessments to ensure proper alignment to the intended objectives and facilitate the agreement for necessary changes.
• Ensures course development is completed on time and within budget and meets standards of quality.
• Mentors' new hires in instructional design or other employees seeking to gain instructional design experience.
• Develops and leads training for instructional designers and other closely related roles.
• Leads cross-college task forces or committees and recommends process or development improvements to managers.
• Leads special projects as assigned by manager.
• Determines needs for cross-team participation and collaborates with manager for successful completion of these projects.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

• Thorough understanding of curriculum development, instructional design, and test development at WGU.
• Thorough understanding of project management needs assessment and risk management at WGU.
• Advanced technical writing and editing skills.
• Ability to recommend process improvement and design improvement needs.
• Ability to work closely and collaboratively with managers and other cross-functional teams.
• Advanced critical thinking, analysis, and synthesis skills.
• Advanced skills in planning, organizing, and self-management.
• Proven record of innovation in program or course design or process.
• Proven record of successful start-to-finish design of new courses and new program designs.
• Proven record of on-time project completion/documentation skills.

Competencies: 

Organizational or Student Impact:

• Accountable for decisions that impact their faculty team and the students they serve.
• Creates or facilitates learning experiences that directly affect students’ attainment of knowledge and skills.
• This individual is a go-to person for corresponding teams.
• Actively contributes to initiatives at the program or cluster level.

Problem Solving & Decision Making:

• Works on diverse and moderately complex matters.
• Supports student needs to help them achieve course or program outcomes at the student and team level.
• Supports innovation to improve student outcomes at the individual student or team level.
• Work directly impacts team objectives and contributes collectively with the team or contributes directly to functional objectives.
• With general guidance from senior faculty and program leaders, acts independently in executing teaching practice.
• Can apply organization policies and procedures.

Communication & Influence:

• Communicates with students if/as appropriate to the teaching practice area.
• Communicates and collaborates with fellow faculty members within content area and discipline.
• Individual provides feedback and continuous improvement recommendations to discipline and practice leadership.
• Will provide subject matter expertise for curricular, learning resources, assessment development, and material redevelopment.
• May contribute to scholarly presentations and publications within content area and discipline.

Leadership & Talent Management.

• Considered team or functional leader within applicable discipline or practice.
• A source of advice, mentoring, and counsel within the team.
• Support team learning and quality initiatives and may lead training within the area of specialty.
• Supports initiatives within the area of specialty.
• Displays a positive attitude toward change and supports change management practices.

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in instructional design, educational technology, or comparable degree
• 7 years of experience as an instructional designer
• Advanced experience in instructional design for competency-based education
• Project leadership in multiple areas (e.g., multiple programs, maintenance, QA)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Terminal degree and all applicable licenses or certifications. 

• Advanced experience with systems and procedures for the course and program development
• Experience managing vendor and external resources relationships preferred.
• Experience creating AI generated content using AI prompt Engineering.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Disclaimer: This Job Description has been designed to indicate the general nature, essential duties, and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this classification. It does not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications that are required of the employee to do this job.  Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. This Job Description does not constitute a contract of employment and the University may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.

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The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:
 

How to apply: apply online

Full-time Regular Positions (FT classification, standard working hours = 40)

This is a full-time, regular position that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

The University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.