Job Description

The Office of Digital Learning ( ODL ) within Notre Dame Learning is seeking an experienced and visionary leader to serve as the Director of Learning Design. Reporting to the Director of the ODL , this role provides both strategic direction and operational oversight for the learning design team. The ideal candidate will bring 5+ years of experience in learning design and 3+ years leading and mentoring high-performing design teams. They should demonstrate a strong track record of applying evidence-based practices to develop impactful and engaging educational experiences.

As the Director of Learning Design, you will work closely with the ODL’s Director of Academic Media and XR and colleagues across ND Learning, to explore and implement emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR)—to enhance teaching and learning at Notre Dame and beyond. This role requires a commitment to inclusive excellence, collaborative leadership, strategic initiative drive, and fostering a creative, innovative, and continuously improving environment.

Who We Are

The Office of Digital Learning ( ODL ) within Notre Dame Learning is the University’s core provider of online and digital learning initiatives. Our interdisciplinary team brings together creative learning design with world-class media production to create transformational digital learning experiences that improve learning at Notre Dame and extend the University’s mission to the world. We partner with faculty to envision, design, produce, and maintain experiences that create successful learning for all students across modalities. ODL projects showcase Notre Dame’s commitment to emerging pedagogies and innovative learning experiences and are informed by Notre Dame’s commitment to transformational liberal education.

Who You Are

You are an experienced learning designer whose work has incorporated evidence-based practice applied to online, hybrid, and in-person courses, professional expertise informed by the science of learning, and a passion for finding effective solutions to complex learning challenges. You have leadership experience, contagious enthusiasm, and a record of successful collaboration with instructors and academic partners across the disciplines. Clear communication, energy, and a spirit of inclusion are at the heart of our office and the ND Learning organization; we are looking for a colleague who shares these values professionally and personally.

What You’ll Do

Management and Campus Leadership (50%)

• Oversee the learning design team in the ODL , providing mentorship and fostering a collaborative work environment;
• Ensure that course design, activities, and resources comply with accessibility standards and requirements (e.g., WCAG 2.0, the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ), state, and federal regulations.)
• Serve as a key leader within the ODL , helping to set the agenda for the office and originating new programs, ideas, and strategies to advance our goal of providing the most effective and engaging Notre Dame education possible;
• Provide visible campus leadership based on your professional expertise in evidence-based practices for online and blended course design, teaching online, learning efficacy, digitally-enhanced education, learning technology affordances, and other learning experience interventions appropriate to Notre Dame;
• Represent the ODL and the University through external professional activity and scholarly engagement;

Learning Design and Consultations (40%)

• Lead the design and development of high-quality online courses and programs with best practices in instructional design, ensuring courses are engaging, effective, and meeting the needs of diverse learners;
• Work closely and collaboratively with the Media and Project Management teams in the ODL , from project intake through delivery, to produce innovative educational experiences;
• Design and offer workshops and faculty-development programs to inspire and advance effective online teaching, digital pedagogy, learning experience design, and other attributes of teaching excellence in the digital age;
• Consult with instructors on the effective use of emerging technologies to enhance the educational offerings at Notre Dame;
• Assess course efficacy and redesign existing courses, including Summer Online and short-format online courses;
• Collaborate with colleagues across the ND Learning organization and campus partners to support the creation of the best possible learning experiences;

Teaching and Research (10%)

• When plausible, teach one course per year on a topic related to your expertise and the work of the ODL ;
• When plausible, conduct research in your discipline.

Please note: This position is a three-year, limited-term position with the potential for renewal.

Minimum Qualifications

• A master’s degree in a relevant field such as Instructional Design, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Psychology, or a related discipline;
• 5+ years of professional experience in learning design or a related field, with demonstrated success in applying evidence-based practices to create effective and impactful educational experiences;
• 3+ years of experience managing and mentoring teams;
• Experience building courses in one or more learning management system;
• Knowledge of digital accessibility requirements and their application in course design;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Legal authorization to work in the US.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in a relevant field (e.g., Learning Design, Education, Sociology, Anthropology);
• Experience building courses on Canvas and Coursera;
• Experience teaching at the postsecondary level;
• Evidence of professional recognition, such as certifications, publications, presentations, or awards;
• Interest or experience in developing and/or incorporating AI tools and methodologies into learning design and pedagogy.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Department Office of Digital Learning (28601)

Department Website https://learning.nd.edu/

Family / Sub-Family IT / Educational Tech

Career Stream/Level M 1 Supervisor

FLSA Status S1 – FT Exempt

About Organization

The University of Notre Dame is the premiere Catholic research university in the United States.

It offers an outstanding undergraduate and graduate education guided by a Catholic mission.