Instructional Designer

Please Note: Internal Employees, please access the Career app on the Workday Dashboard homepage to apply for the position.

The University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global) is a private, nonprofit affiliate of the University of Massachusetts. Accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), the university offers undergraduate, graduate, credential, and certificate programs designed to be relevant to more than 90 career paths. UMass Global has ranked consistently among the best in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

At the University of Massachusetts Global, we value the personal health and financial well-being of our employees. With our affordable and flexible benefit packages we aim to provide peace of mind to allow employees to focus on important aspects of their lives. Our benefits include:

Healthcare

Medical, dental, and vision plans – including health and flexible spending accounts – that cover you and your family.

Work-Life Balance

We encourage a healthy work-life balance, that’s why we offer flexible schedules and remote work opportunities. In addition, we provide generous vacation and sick time and 13 paid holidays which includes a winter break.

Financial Protection

For life’s unexpected surprises – we provide life and disability insurance, prepaid legal, identity theft, critical illness, accident, and travel assistance. We also have programs to help you manage student debt offered through SAVI. Employees are also eligible for Public Student Loan Forgiveness.

Tuition Remission

We support the educational goals of you and your family by providing tuition discounts at UMass Global and Chapman University.

Wellbeing

24/7 counseling support, through our Employee Assistance Program, and free premium subscription to Calm for you and your dependents! In addition, our Wellness program provides year-round events that bring together our community and promotes employee well-being.

Retirement

Pre-tax and Roth options with a generous match of 6% and additional employer contribution of 3% – totaling 9%!

Assist with the development of high quality, engaging and innovative course. Provide instructional design and instructional technology support to faculty. Assist faculty in the development of ADA compliant, learner-centered materials . Provide instructional design and instructional technology support to faculty.  Provide training and support in the use of educational technology and instructional design best practices..  Evaluate the accessibility, quality, and effectiveness of course design and create a process for continuous improvement of course delivery.  

Remote work from any of the following states – Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin.

Recruiting in California and Massachusetts only if position job responsibilities warrant it.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, work hours are based on Pacific Time.

The hiring range for this position is $60,000 – $82,000 annually. Offers are determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to: geographical location, knowledge, skills, years & depth of experience, and equity with internal team members.

Essential Functions: 

Course Design and Development, Quality Assurance, and ADA Compliance

• Collaborate with faculty and subject matter experts to design, develop, and revise online courses and instructional materials that align with learning objectives, pedagogical best practices, and accessibility standards.
• Collaborate with faculty to identify instructional needs, develop learning objectives, and select appropriate instructional materials and assessment strategies.
• Apply instructional design principles, learning theories, and technology-enhanced learning strategies to create engaging, interactive, and learner-centered course content.
• Create design templates to ensure consistent program design and adherence to university, school and program guidelines.
• Consult with faculty on best practices for utilizing learning management systems (LMS), multimedia tools, and instructional technologies to facilitate course delivery, enhance student engagement, and promote active learning in online and blended learning environments.
• Evaluate course materials and learning experiences to ensure they are accessible to all learners, including those with disabilities. 
• Remediate instructional materials to ensure they adhere to accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).
•  Advise faculty on strategies for applying universal design principles to create inclusive learning experiences.
• Build courses within the Learning Management System (LMS).

Original Content Creation Support

• Leverage media development tools such as but not limited to, Articulate Rise, Storyline, Vyond Go, Colossyan, G-Suite, MS Office, etc, to collaborate with Subject Matter Experts to create original instructional content to be used in course delivery.

Faculty Support and Training

• Provide technical support and training to faculty and students on the use of LMS features, course tools, and multimedia resources.
• Provide professional development and consultation to faculty members on instructional design strategies, technology integration, and effective teaching practices in online learning environments.
• Facilitate completion of UMass Global Developer Certification Course (DCC) for faculty developers.
• Work with school leadership (as assigned) to ensure that what is developed and delivered in the way of training and workshops is meaningful for instructors and students.

Systematic Reviews

• Conduct systematic quality assurance reviews of courses using a set standard of requirements to evaluate the relevance and effectiveness of course content, learning activities, and assessments, etc.

Special Projects

• Assist the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Instructional Design and/or Associate Vice Chancellor of Instructional Innovation to complete university-wide initiatives as assigned.

Education, Experience, Certification And/Or Licenses:

• Master’s degree required in instructional design or related field.
• 2+ years experience in instructional design, course development, e-learning, or related roles in higher education or instructional design consulting.
• Online teaching and/or training experience strongly preferred. 
• Brightspace experience strongly preferred.
• Bilingual Mandarin/English strongly preferred.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities:

• Strong project management skills to oversee multiple projects simultaneously, set timelines, allocate resources effectively, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality instructional materials.
• Proficiency in instructional design theories, models, and methodologies, with a strong understanding of adult learning principles and pedagogical best practices.
• Experience designing and developing online courses using authoring tools, multimedia software, and learning management systems (LMS) such as Brightspace, Strut, Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with instructional design software/tools such as Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, Camtasia, or similar e-learning authoring tools.
• Knowledge of multimedia production techniques, graphic design principles, and web development technologies to create engaging and interactive learning experiences.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with faculty, subject matter experts, instructional designers, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously and adapting to changing priorities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify instructional needs, diagnose learning challenges, and propose innovative solutions that enhance learning outcomes.
• Adaptability to embrace new technologies, methodologies, and instructional strategies, staying current with emerging trends and best practices in instructional design and educational technology.
• Demonstrated understanding of accessibility standards, including Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Section 508, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
• Experience applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to instructional design, ensuring that course materials and learning experiences are accessible to diverse learners with varying abilities, learning styles, and preferences.
• Ability to conduct quality assurance and accessibility audits, evaluate course content for accessibility barriers, and implement strategies to create inclusive and accessible learning environments that accommodate learners with disabilities.

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Electronic Devices, Software, Other:

• Microsoft Office Suite or Google Workspace for document creation, communication, and collaboration.
• Building and managing courses in Learning Management Systems such as  Brightspace, Blackboard, Canvas STRUT.
• Web conferencing software for virtual meetings and training sessions, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet.
• Experience using authoring tools for e-learning content development, such as Articulate Rise and/or Storyline, Adobe Captivate, or Camtasia.
• Collaboration and communication tools for team collaboration and project management, such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, Asana, or Trello.
• Graphic design software for creating visual elements, such as Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) highly desired.
• Video editing software for multimedia production, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or similar tools highly desired.

Contact with Students: Occasional

Contact with Faculty and/or Staff: Occasional

Contact with Community and Vendors: Occasional

Please Note: Internal Employees, please access the Career app on the Workday Dashboard homepage to apply for the position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UMass Global is committed to providing an educational and work environment free of unlawful discrimination and harassment in any form. UMass Global prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment on the basis of age, ancestry, color, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), disability (mental and physical), marital status, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, national origin (including language use restrictions), race, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and/ related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.

Reasonable Accommodation

UMass Global provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the recruitment department at recruiting@umassglobal.edu.