Senior Instructional Technologist- Salt Lake… at Western… · Salt…

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Grade: Faculty 507

Pay Range: $80,700.00 - $121,000.00

Job Description

A senior instructional technologist has proven course development and leadership skills and experience. Working closely with a team of assessment developers and instructional designers, the Sr Instructional Technologist ensures that the development of online learning supports the vision and design of WGU courses and learning experiences. The Sr. Instructional Technologist responsible for setting up and building online learning experiences according to the design and specifications the assigned project. This role focuses on troubleshooting, solving technical problems related to delivery of learning and assessment material, and is responsible for creating a consistent, beautiful learning experience in the selected platform. The Sr. Instructional Technologist also ensure all aspects of the coursework properly (hyperlinks, videos, 3rd party integrations) and collaborates with the accessibility team to ensure requirements are met. The person in this role is responsible for the success of a number of simultaneous projects, assessing risk, reporting progress, and communicating effectively with stakeholders in an effort to promote collaboration and accountability. Additionally, a senior instructional designer trains and mentors team members, works to improve processes, promotes collaboration across departmental teams, and may be asked to lead special projects.

What You'll Do:

• Manages the build process for new courses and learning experience and attends to continuous improvement of assigned projects.
• Ensures that quality standards are reflected in all aspects of the student experience
• Is a leader on the online learning development team to build superior online courses that are supported by research-based best practices in online learning.
• Drive the team to ensure alignment of learning outcomes, content, and assessment during the build of courses in the selected platform.
• Work with Project Managers and other team members to ensure all deadline dates are met throughout the design and development process.
• Conducts quality assurance reviews on courses and implements revisions
• Identifies and resolves challenges related to technology, online delivery of content and assessments, and learning experience.
• Mentors and enables others to do the same.
• Stays informed and informs others about updates, changes, innovations, and opportunities related to WGU’s selected platforms and delivery tools and processes
• Creates examples, models and templates which can be used by others to improve quality, process, or efficiency
• Trains and mentors team members on assigned WGU technologies.
• Leads cross-college task forces or committees and recommends process or design improvements to development team leadership
• Leads college-specific special projects as assigned

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities You'll Need to Be Successful:

• Current, solid knowledge of instructional design and learning theory
• A drive to build "near perfect" online courses according to project requirements and style guide
• Strong interpersonal skills and history of positive results achieved collaboratively
• Advanced ability to lead through influence across complex organizational structures
• Experience with ADA and copyright compliance
• Experience with existing quality standards for course design
• Advanced ability to learn new technologies, solve emergent technical problems, and share learnings and suggestions with a team to come to a quick, value-driven solution.
• Commitment to adding value to the team through efficiency and lean, iterative development
• Portfolio of proven experience building beautiful, friction-free learning experiences.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects at different stages while meeting deadlines and quality standards
• Ability to work independently, under minimal supervision
• Advanced skills in planning, organizing, and self-management
• Problem Solving Skills: Investigates appropriate resources and involves partners when appropriate; future-oriented; assesses what will help/hinder achieving goals; focuses on what is important.
• Interpersonal Skills: Deals with others in a considerate, respectful, and unbiased manner; approaches conflict proactively; solicits and shares feedback openly; listens with empathy and maintains composure.
• Accuracy: Draws on factual information garnered from careful cultivation of a broad knowledge of WGU’s goals and processes; investigates beyond assumptions.
• Adaptability: Course corrects behaviors and communication style to meet the needs of a wide range of situations; tackles obstacles appropriately; is comfortable with ambiguity.
• Reliability: Accountable to others; does what it takes to get the job done; actions are consistent with words; follows through on commitments; exhibits exceptional integrity.
• Attitude: Displays commitment to the organization and to personal growth; self-motivated and able to motivate and inspire others; asserts self appropriately to champion ideas; tells the truth in a direct and constructive manner.
• Initiative: Self-directs with a strong bias for action; leads the way in improvement of performance or processes; displays keen interest in students and organization.

Work Location: This is a full-time, in-office position requiring five days per week in our Salt Lake City, Utah office, designed to foster the collaboration and connection that fuel our best work.

What You'll Bring (Minimum Qualifications):

• Portfolio Requirement: A portfolio or samples of relevant work must be submitted at the time of application to be considered for this position.
• Bachelor’s degree
• Three or more years of online university course design or curriculum development experience
• Experience in online learning technologies and pedagogies
• HTML coding skills with additional skills in HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and Azure
• Background in learner experience design
• Comfortable using AI tools
• Experience with UDL, ADA, and copyright compliance
• Experience with existing quality standards for course design
• Experience with Agile development or rapid prototyping
• Competency in LMS systems and assessment delivery systems such as Blackboard, Canvas, Smart Author, Brightspace, Moodle, etc.
• Competency with educational technology and assessment/testing tools

Bonus Points For (Preferred Qualifications):

• Expertise in competency-based learning
• Experience working with Open edX
• Quality assurance training and certification (CBEN, OSCQR, other)
• Proven leadership in developing courses characterized by innovation in instructional design

Visa Sponsorship:

While we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, WGU is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this role.

Travel: This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

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Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.