Instructional Design Consultant

About the Opportunity

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. 

Job Summary

As an Instructional Design Consultant, your primary objective will be to support and enhance the teaching and learning enterprise through direct interaction with faculty and students around the course design and learning experience. A key function will be to assist faculty in course design strategies for them to build, maintain, and enhance their courses. Guidance on the appropriate use of course design principles and educational technology tools to improve student outcomes will be provided to NU faculty across all colleges at the university.  You will collaborate with other areas of the NU teaching and learning community (CATLR, EDGE, and the Colleges) to provide a holistic approach to teaching and learning both in-person and online across the global Northeastern community. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of instruction design, technologies, and common educational technology tools (Canvas, Microsoft Office 365, Panopto, LTI standards, Open on Demand, etc.).
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and writing/documentation skills.
• Ability to clearly identify the teaching and learning goals of faculty members and provide relevant, practical solutions using the available technology solutions.
• Ability to troubleshoot issues, perform root cause analysis, work with Instructional Technologist and Integrated Learning Systems team, and collaborate directly with the ITS Customer Experience organization to resolve faculty and student support requests.
• Ability and willingness to learn new technologies and remain current in developing trends in the teaching and learning community.
• Ability to independently create curriculum, training opportunities, and training materials in support of the adoption of educational technology.
• Desired characteristics include:
  • Desire for continuous self-improvement and maintenance of skills through training and demonstrated commitment to professional growth; curious by nature and unafraid of asking questions; self-starter, with a proven track record for creativity and initiative; and ability to prioritize multiple projects and work streams in a fast-paced environment.
  • Knowledge and skills are normally acquired through a bachelor’s degree in instructional technology, or bachelor’s degree plus a certificate in instructional design/technology (master’s degree strongly preferred) and at least 3 years of related 3-5 years of experience with instructional design, including substantial responsibilities in using instructional technologies, preferably with 1 – 2 years teaching experience in a higher education environment.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Faculty Engagement

• Work actively with the NU faculty to select and integrate appropriate educational technologies into their curriculum.
• Provide consultations on best practices in the utilization of educational technology tools to improve student outcomes.
• Work directly with faculty and staff on course design and strategies for the utilization of educational technology tools through drop-in hours, training, ServiceNow, and consultations.  

Instructional Design Solutions Development

• Provide Tier 2/3 support for educational technology tools, creating templated solutions, and working with AT staff to escalate issues to vendor support.  
• Attend educational technology centric conferences relevant to the mission of AT at NU. Support the testing, planning, development, and implementation of academic technologies into the NU learning environment. 
• Contribute knowledge to the Academic Technologies team of technology, practices and trends from the field that influence teaching and learning with technology.
• Represent end-user needs in the administration of educational technology tools.

Partnership/ Collaboration

• Participate as an individual contributor in cross-department projects to represent Academic Technologies and end user needs.
• Interact with staff to seek and validate best practices for technology use in teaching and learning.
• Participate as an individual contributor with other areas of the NU teaching and learning community (CATLR, EDGE, the Colleges) to provide a holistic approach to teaching and learning both in-person and online across the global NU community.

Documentation/Training

• Create and maintain Service-Now knowledgebase documentation according to ITS standards.  
• Create and disseminate curriculum for faculty training on supported technology solutions.
• Support group and custom training in collaboration with senior staff.

Team Operations

• Mentor student staff and mentor junior staff.
• Actively contribute to team meetings providing insight into issues and service improvements that should be considered.
• Contribute to internal team operations documentation
  

Position Type

Human Resources

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.  

Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff.  Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion. 

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other  characteristic protected by applicable law.

To learn more about Northeastern University’s commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.

About Organization

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university with a distinctive, experience-driven approach to education and discovery. The university is a leader in experiential learning, powered by the world’s most far-reaching cooperative education program. We integrate classroom study with opportunities for professional work, research, service, and global learning in more than 100 countries. The same spirit of collaboration guides a use-inspired research enterprise focused on solving global challenges in health, security, and sustainability. Northeastern offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools, and select graduate programs at campuses in Boston, Charlotte, N.C., San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Toronto. Campuses in Burlington, MA, and Nahant, MA, are home to research institutes for homeland security and coastal sustainability, respectively.