Instructional Design and Course Development Specialist

The University of Iowa is seeking a creative and motivated Instructional Design and Course Development Specialist to join our Organizational Effectiveness team with University Human Resources. At Iowa, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment where employees are empowered and engaged – bringing their best and full set to the work they do. In this position, you will play a pivotal role in designing and enhancing the online learning experience for faculty and staff and supporting strategic initiatives at the University of Iowa. You will collaborate with HR stakeholders and subject matter experts to design, develop, and implement engaging and effective online courses covering topics such as leadership, supervision, policy and procedure, business processes, and compliance. 

We are looking for someone who is creative, great with people, a positive problem solver, and with a record of delivering exceptional results.

This position is eligible for a combination of on-campus and remote work. Work arrangement options will be discussed during the hiring process.  Remote work must be performed at a location within the state of Iowa and will require a work arrangement form to be completed upon the start of your employment. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually, and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location.

Specific Job  Duties and Tasks 

• Recommend and implement practices, procedures, and workflow modifications to use available technology most effectively to enhance the online learning experience and scale deployment of content.
• Play a key role in collaborating with members of the HR Community, Organizational Effectiveness team members, and other subject matter experts to develop, design, create, and implement engaging and effective online compliance and professional development courses and documents.
• Deploy online compliance coursework in ICON (the University of Iowa’s online course management system powered by Canvas).
• Produce and/or edit content (HTML, animation, scripts) to support strategic university and HR initiatives, including employee engagement, performance management, and leadership development.
• Look for ways to continuously improve blended learning strategies for existing programming and ensure content aligns with university, HR, and educational objectives and standards. Curate/integrate content from various sources/modalities to facilitate seamless, scalable learning experiences.
• Develop instructional design knowledge and best practices within OE team, providing guidance and sharing subject matter expertise.
• Monitor emerging trends in instructional design and determine appropriate use cases in our environment.
• Provide expert technical support on hardware and software applications used in the implementation of internally developed courseware (ICON, Employee Self Service, My Training (learning management system)).
• Consult and support University HR units in the development of their own courses for deployment and tracking, using ICON and Employee Self Service (e.g., course import and setup, quiz questions uploads, gradebook configuration, course instructions, troubleshooting, etc.)
• Respond to requests from campus partners requiring assistance developing online courses; provide referrals to external resources for custom out of scope requests.
• Develop and deploy assessments/questionnaires to measure effectiveness of trainings and courses and to guide learning enhancements.
• Define project timelines and regularly manage multiple projects at the same time from start to finish.

To obtain the full job description including key areas of responsibility, technical competencies, and desirable qualifications, please contact Jade Rogers at jade-o-rogers@uiowa.edu. 

Position Qualifications

Education Required:  

A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education, expertise, and experience, in one of the following areas: computer science, education/instructional design, business, applied arts, or a related discipline.  

Experience Required:  

• Typically, 1 to 3 years of experience in, using online instructional tools for teaching and learning, IT support services, or training. 
• At least 1 year of relevant experience working in the design and production of media-based instructional solutions. 
• Experience providing technical support or consultation in areas of instructional development and/or content delivery. 
• Experience with web development tools such as WebCT, Blackboard, LinkedIn Learning, Desire2Learn, HTML editors, and digital audio/video applications. 
• Experience planning, identifying, coordinating, and tracking critical activities, milestones, and deliverables. 

Minimum Qualifications Required: 

Demonstrates a working knowledge of or possesses: 

• Proficiency in applying technology in two or more of the following areas: graphics design/production, animation  design/production, audio design/production, teaching/instructional design, instructional software design/production, and website design/production. 
• Excellent consulting and customer service skills 
• Ability to clearly and effectively convey information through both oral and written forms, and to work with internal and external stakeholders. 
• Strong diagnostic and problem-solving skills for identifying sources of issues and offering prompt and effective solutions. 

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Training in instructional design or related fields, with an understanding of technology trends in higher education. 
• Experience with HTML and/or and web authoring tools. 
• Experience delivering educational content and curricular strategies, particularly in higher education settings. 
• Ability to gather, interpret, and use both qualitative and quantitative data to make informed decisions, improve educational practices, and assess the effectiveness of instructional initiatives. 
• Experience using course management systems (e.g., WebCT, Blackboard, Desire2Learn, Canvas). 
• Ability to design courseware in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, Level AA. 
• Experience using Vyond animation software or similar tools.  

Application Details

In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.  For questions, contact Jade Rogers at jade-o-rogers@uiowa.edu. 

Benefits Highlights

Specified term (one year) salaried position. Located in Iowa City, Iowa.
Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans.
For more information about Why Iowa? Click here.

Additional Information

• Classification Title: Instructional Serv Specialist
• Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
• Schedule: Full-time
• Work Modality Options: Hybrid within Iowa

Compensation

• Pay Level: 4A

Contact Information

• Organization: University Human Resources
• Contact Name: Jade Rogers
• Contact Email: jade-o-rogers@uiowa.edu

About Organization

From the health sciences to the arts, our aim is to provide a diverse and technologically advanced community where all can work together to achieve excellence. On our beautiful campus spanning the Iowa River, our faculty and staff enjoy access to an array of cultural, educational, and recreational activities. With more than 30,000 students, more than 14,000 employees, and a budget of $3 billion, the University of Iowa is one of the nation's top public research universities.