Instructional Designer Job

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Learning Innovation Designer is responsible for the creation and delivery of university-level course content for all graduate-level degree programs. The Learning Innovation Designer models leadership, collegiality, professionalism and works within a highly collaborative digital learning and design team. S/he is involved in all aspects of teaching and learning innovation, including instructional design for blended and online environments, media production, simulation design, interprofessional educational experiences and integration of innovative health science technologies across all programs. The position has an overarching responsibility of ensuring both the integrity and excellence of the final product. The position partners and collaborates closely with Faculty, providing thought leadership, mentoring, and support. The Learning Innovation Designer ensures that quality standards, brand promise, and the USAHS’s vision and mission are reflected in all aspects of the student experience.

The position is based at one of the USAHS campuses (San Marcos, Austin, Dallas, Miami, or St. Augustine), with preference to the Dallas, TX or Miami, FL campuses. 

• Provides exemplary customer service to faculty and stakeholders, to support the efficient use of teaching and learning technology tools.
• Leads faculty, collaborating with academic leadership to develop course level outcomes, objectives and curriculum for all course modalities, and assists faculty to generate an understanding of program level objectives, instructional models, and positioning for target audience/market.
• Collaborates with subject matter experts and other stakeholders in editing, writing, and designing instructional content for courses, in voice and style suited to the target audience, and in accordance with institutionally determined learning models and best practices.
• Manages the creation of course blueprints, course scope & sequence, and media planner documents that outline the overall objectives of courses, and allows for the development of digital content.
• Builds and maintains master courses, ensuring that learning materials, activities and assessments are all consistent with the learning outcomes and commensurate with the learning needs of diverse students for which the course is designed.
• Plans, designs and develops a variety of instructional media elements. Coordinates media production: obtains necessary approvals; plans budget; sets schedule and production timelines; arranges vendor relationships; assembles final elements of media; integrates media into online courses to ensure all accessibility and quality standards are met.
• Creates/builds all course components in LMS and assures courses meet or exceed QA standards, including navigation, technical functionality, meticulous proofreading and editing.
• Facilitates decision making with budget, time, and resources in mind and is proactive in identifying potential problems and solutions to ensure course development is completed on time and within budget and QA standards.
• Provides oversight of the quality of work performed by external vendors, including Contract Instructional Designers.
• Helps develop standard processes across the domain team of course developers.
• Oversees special projects as assigned.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• May perform other duties and responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.
• May require periodic travel.

POSITION IN ORGANIZATION

Reports to: Director, Digital Learning & Design.

Positions Supervised: None

TECHNICAL, MANAGERIAL & PEOPLE SKILLS REQUIRED

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Incumbents will be evaluated, in part, based on performance of each essential function. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of 5 years (7 or more years strongly preferred) of online course design experience, curriculum development, or related experience within a higher education environment.
• A Master’s Degree in field of expertise is required, with a terminal degree strongly preferred in the area of instructional design, education, curriculum development, or teaching and learning.
• A minimum of 3 years (5 or more preferred) using a learning management system such as Blackboard (strongly preferred), Brightspace, Moodle, Canvas.
• Fluency using eLearning content development tools (such as Articulate 360, Adobe Creative Cloud, Kaltura, Panopto, Camtasia) for creating instructional media (such as interactive presentations, video, multimedia) required. Work samples or a portfolio will be reviewed during interview process.
• Knowledge of ADA accessibility (504 and 508) and digital copyright laws, and implementation standards such as WCAG 2.1 preferred.
• Experience with Quality Matters (QM); peer or master reviewer certification preferred.
• Experience in training, mentoring, or teaching others strongly preferred.

BUSINESS COMPETENCIES

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Collaboration – Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Resilience – Rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.

Instill Trust – Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

Result Driven – Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances, utilizing critical thinking, analysis and synthesis skills.

Innovation – Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.

Customer Focus – Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.

Communication – Articulating information using excellent written and oral communication skills.

Time and Project Management – Managing time efficiently through the use of thorough planning, organization and self-management. Must be able to manage multiple projects at different stages, while meeting deadlines and quality standards.

Detail Oriented – Producing quality products using systematic instructional design, precision and attention to detail.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment but may involve exposure to moderate noise levels. Work involves operation of personal computer equipment for six to eight hours daily and includes physical demands associated with a traditional office setting, e.g., walking, standing, communicating, and other physical functions as necessary.