About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
Job Summary
The Senior Instructional Designer provides functional supervision for the work produced by the Instructional Design, Engagement and Support (IDEAS) group in collaborative design, development, and construction of online, hybrid, and face-to-face courses. They perform quality assurance to ensure the best use of technological and pedagogical tools to deliver high-quality online instruction. The Senior Instructional Designer leads instructional design projects and initiatives and may support other UMass initiatives by partnering with campus departments to help faculty redesign and develop online courses for student-centered learning.
Essential Functions
- Leads the development of offline/online upskilling educational and research projects/policies for faculty on emerging trends in instructional design and learning technologies.
- Leads and collaborates on the development of professional development workshops related to course design and online teaching.
- Consults and collaborates regularly with University faculty to plan for and design courses (online, hybrid and face-to-face) including, but not limited to, finalizing course goals and learning objectives, course alignment and outline, and plans for the use of media and technology in the course utilizing a multimodal course design strategy.
- Works with Instructional Designers and course design teams on course design, strategic initiatives, project timelines and documentation; supports design needs of new programs, including those with unique pedagogical approaches.
- Provides quality assurance for all developed courses to ensure the highest delivery of standards in learning design, accessibility, and course consistency; manages projects in the assessment and improvement of current online, hybrid and face-to-face courses; and program development and innovative course design and delivery.
- Participates in the development, implementation, and ongoing review and revision of policies, standards, documentation, and processes to ensure online courses meet standards of excellence and consistency.
- Mentors and trains other instructional design staff members. Develops a welcoming, collaborative, and productive environment across the IDEAS team.
Other Functions
- Performs other related duties as assigned or required to meet IDEAS and university goals and objectives.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Bachelor’s degree plus four (4) years of related professional experience.
- Demonstrated supervisory and/or mentorship skills.
- Comprehensive knowledge of instructional design theories and methodologies.
- Knowledge of trending approaches/technologies/standards and software products used in higher education (e.g., Gamification, Project-based learning, AI services, Canvas, Kahoot!, Google Suite) or similar systems. Experience developing course materials in an LMS.
- Ability to analyze and process large volumes of informational materials and to structure information.
- Strong Project Management skills. Able to manage time and multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, accomplish goals, and meet deadlines.
- Experience implementing instructional design practices and course improvements models.
- Demonstrated ability to work with instructors and administrators in a higher education environment and provide strategic and operational guidance.
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and soft skills with the ability to communicate instructional design concepts to a non-instructional design audience (in writing and in person), speak or make presentations before groups, and conduct effective training.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Experience with:
- Multimedia technologies used for audio, video, screen capture and web conferencing.
- Online Learning Management Systems (LMS) used in higher education.
- Public speaking, delivering faculty workshops, and giving professional presentations.
Work Schedule
- Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., minimum three days per week on campus.
- Some night and weekend work may be required.
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This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
- Typical office environment.
Salary Information
Salary Level 28
Exempt Hiring Ranges
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.