Senior Instructional Designer

Senior Instructional Designer

Department: Academic Affairs
Reports to: Director of Lifelong Learning
Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Position Type: Staff

Join Linfield University!

Linfield University is seeking an innovative, collaborative, and experienced Senior Instructional Designer to help shape the future of online and hybrid learning. This is an exciting opportunity for an instructional design professional who is passionate about creating engaging, accessible, and meaningful learning experiences while supporting faculty in the effective use of instructional technologies and emerging teaching practices.

As a key member of Academic Affairs, the Senior Instructional Designer will play a leadership role in expanding Linfield's online learning opportunities, strengthening instructional quality, and supporting innovative academic programs that prepare students for success in a changing world.

Position Summary

The Senior Instructional Designer provides leadership in online pedagogy, instructional design, and educational technology by partnering with faculty, academic programs, and university colleagues to design, develop, evaluate, and continuously improve high-quality online and hybrid learning experiences.

This position promotes effective, accessible, and learner-centered instruction by ensuring alignment among program and course learning outcomes, instructional activities, assessments, AI literacy, and evidence of student learning. The Senior Instructional Designer supports faculty development, advances best practices in online education, and promotes regular and substantive interaction (RSI) to enhance student engagement and success.

The position supervises an Instructional Designer and provides leadership in integrating accessibility standards, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), instructional quality assurance, and emerging educational technologies into course development.

A significant focus of this role will be supporting academic programs and courses associated with Linfield's 2026 Strengthening Institutions Program grant, including the development of a fully online Master of Education program with English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Special Education tracks, as well as additional workforce-aligned programs identified throughout the grant period.

Key Responsibilities

Instructional Design and Course Development

• Partner with faculty and subject-matter experts to design, develop, revise, and evaluate high-quality online and hybrid courses using established instructional design principles, including backward design and constructive alignment.

• Ensure alignment among program and course learning outcomes, instructional activities, assessments, and evidence of student learning.

• Develop and configure course components within Blackboard, including learning modules, assignments, rubrics, multimedia resources, and instructional materials.

• Create and maintain course templates, design blueprints, instructional guides, and other resources that promote consistency, accessibility, and learner-centered learning experiences.

• Evaluate courses and digital learning materials for instructional effectiveness, usability, accessibility, student engagement, and regular and substantive interaction (RSI).

• Apply Quality Matters or equivalent quality review standards, learning analytics, student feedback, and assessment data to identify opportunities for continuous course improvement.

• Integrate AI literacy, innovative instructional practices, and appropriate educational technologies into course design and quality review processes.

Faculty Development and Instructional Leadership

• Collaborate with faculty and academic departments to transition traditional face-to-face courses and programs into effective online and hybrid learning environments.

• Design and facilitate faculty workshops, individual consultations, and self-paced professional development resources focused on instructional design, online pedagogy, assessment, AI literacy, and emerging educational technologies.

• Provide guidance and support to faculty in evaluating and improving existing courses to enhance student learning and engagement.

• Assist faculty in developing authentic assessments, effective rubrics, and meaningful measures of student achievement.

• Partner with Academic Affairs and other university support units to coordinate faculty development initiatives and promote instructional excellence.

• Serve as a trusted instructional design consultant, building collaborative relationships with faculty across varying levels of experience and comfort with educational technology.

• Supervise, mentor, and support the professional development of an Instructional Designer, fostering collaboration, accountability, and high-quality instructional design practices.

Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning

• Provide leadership and oversight to ensure online and hybrid courses and instructional materials meet applicable accessibility requirements, including WCAG 2.2 AA, Section 508, and university ADA compliance policies.

• Collaborate with and supervise the Instructional Designer responsible for specialized accessibility expertise, reviews, and implementation.

• Promote the integration of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, including multiple means of engagement, representation, and action and expression.

• Support the development and review of accessible instructional materials, including documents, presentations, captioned videos, transcripts, audio descriptions, and interactive media.

• Oversee accessibility evaluation and remediation processes using tools such as Blackboard Ally, WAVE, axe, screen readers, and keyboard navigation testing.

• Collaborate with faculty and university partners to identify accessibility barriers, develop practical solutions, and support continuous improvement.

Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence

• Research, evaluate, and recommend emerging educational technologies that enhance teaching effectiveness, student engagement, and learning outcomes.

• Support faculty in exploring and implementing appropriate applications of artificial intelligence in teaching, learning, and assessment.

• Provide guidance on responsible, ethical, and effective uses of generative AI in higher education.

• Assist faculty in developing instructional strategies that respond to evolving academic expectations, workforce needs, and technological advancements.

• Explore and recommend innovative learning tools, including interactive media, virtual simulations, digital collaboration platforms, and multimedia applications.

• Promote AI literacy and thoughtful technology integration across online and hybrid academic programs.

Educational Technology Evaluation and Strategic Implementation

• Lead the identification, research, and evaluation of instructional technologies that support university priorities, academic program goals, and faculty needs.

• Collaborate with instructional designers, faculty, and university partners to assess the effectiveness, usability, and accessibility of educational technologies.

• Gather and analyze faculty and student feedback to inform instructional technology recommendations and improvements.

• Develop recommendations regarding technology adoption, instructional effectiveness, resource utilization, and sustainable implementation.

• Support strategic initiatives that strengthen Linfield's online learning infrastructure and expand access to high-quality educational experiences.

Grant-Funded Program Development and Collaboration

• Provide instructional design leadership for courses and programs supported by Linfield's 2026 Strengthening Institutions Program grant.

• Collaborate with academic leadership, faculty, and university partners to develop and launch the fully online Master of Education program, including ESOL and Special Education tracks.

• Support the design and implementation of additional online and workforce-aligned academic programs identified during the grant period.

• Coordinate instructional design projects, establish priorities, monitor progress, and support timely completion of grant-related deliverables.

• Contribute to the evaluation and continuous improvement of grant-supported courses and programs through quality review, student learning data, and faculty feedback.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in instructional design, instructional technology, curriculum and instruction, educational psychology, learning sciences, or a closely related field.

• Minimum of five years of professional experience in instructional design, course design, faculty development, educational technology, curriculum development, or a closely related area.

• Strong knowledge of learning theories, effective teaching and learning practices, and established instructional design models.

• Demonstrated proficiency with learning management systems (LMS) and multimedia authoring tools.

• Working knowledge of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.x), Section 508, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), with demonstrated experience applying accessibility principles to instructional materials.

• Strong project management, organizational, and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and deadlines.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, consultation, and relationship-building skills.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with faculty and colleagues who have varying levels of experience and comfort with instructional technologies.

• Ability to ask thoughtful questions, provide constructive guidance, build consensus, and influence outcomes through collaboration.

• Commitment to accessible, inclusive, and high-quality learning experiences that support student success.

Preferred Qualifications

• Relevant certifications or professional development in Quality Matters, instructional design, online learning, or related areas.

• Experience teaching or providing instructional design support in a higher education environment.

• Experience with HTML/CSS, video production, or data-informed course improvement.

• Experience with Blackboard Ultra and Blackboard Ally.

• Experience with Kaltura Media.

• Experience supporting online academic program development, faculty training, or institutional instructional technology initiatives.

Grant Funding and Position Duration

This position is funded through an external grant and is contingent upon the continued availability of grant funding, including any required grant renewals.

The current grant funding period is scheduled to end on September 30, 2031. Continued employment is dependent upon funding availability. Linfield University reserves the right to modify or eliminate the position if funding is reduced or ends for any reason.

Why Join Linfield University?

As Senior Instructional Designer, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the future of teaching and learning at Linfield. Through collaboration with faculty and academic leaders, you will help expand access to innovative online programs, strengthen the quality of the student learning experience, and support educational opportunities that meet the evolving needs of today's learners.

Join a university community that values creativity, collaboration, lifelong learning, and the success of every student.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit an application through Linfield University's employment opportunities website. Application materials and additional instructions will be provided through the online application process.

Linfield University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from qualified candidates who bring a variety of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds to our university community.