Instructional Designer

$47,278 - $78,000/Yr

University of Kentucky - Lexington, KY

Full-time - Mid Level

Lexington, KY

Educational Services

About the position

The University of Kentucky is seeking an Instructional Designer to join the College of Social Work (CoSW) team. This position plays a crucial role in enhancing the educational experience through the design, development, and delivery of engaging learning experiences. The Instructional Designer will coordinate with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to create innovative learning solutions that align with the college's mission of improving the human condition through rigorous research and excellence in instruction. The successful candidate will work independently and collaboratively to produce high-quality learning experiences using a variety of tools, including Learning Management Systems (LMS), authoring software, and other educational technologies. In this role, the Instructional Designer will support faculty in developing course objectives, assessments, and learning activities, ensuring that all resources meet accessibility standards. The position requires a strong understanding of instructional design principles, including ADDIE and TILT, as well as universal design principles to create inclusive learning environments for all students, including those with disabilities. The Instructional Designer will also be responsible for conducting evaluations of instructional methods and technologies, contributing to quality assurance processes, and implementing best practices in online education. Additionally, the Instructional Designer will manage multiple projects, coordinating with colleagues, faculty, and external collaborators to ensure timely delivery and adherence to project milestones. This includes maintaining project management tools, communicating updates to stakeholders, and engaging with the campus community to support the university's overall mission. The role also emphasizes professional development, requiring the designer to stay current with educational software trends and instructional design methodologies, serving as a campus expert in these areas.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with Subject Matter Experts regarding the design, development, and delivery of engaging learning experiences.
• Produce learning experiences using a variety of tools including the Learning Management System and Authoring Software.
• Support faculty in developing course and module level objectives, assessments, course content, and learning activities.
• Update and develop resources to support distance learning faculty.
• Contribute to the improvement of quality assurance processes and implement processes to ensure accessibility standards are met.
• Conduct periodic evaluations of instructional methods and technologies used to design, develop, and deliver online courses.
• Design courses following ADDIE, TILT, and universal design principles to ensure accessibility for all learners.
• Collaborate with the college of Social Work Media team to support the creation of relevant media content.
• Design and develop eLearning content to align with program and course level learning outcomes.
• Ensure the end-to-end process of building robust, user-friendly courses in Canvas LMS that align with quality standards.
• Implement advanced Canvas features to create personalized learning experiences.
• Develop and maintain course templates for consistency across online offerings.
• Execute comprehensive quality assurance processes to ensure all course elements function correctly before deployment.
• Manage multiple projects by coordinating meetings, activities, and reporting with colleagues and external collaborators.
• Communicate project status updates to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Engage with the campus community to contribute to the University's overall success and mission.
• Maintain current knowledge of educational software and design tools and trends.

Requirements

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of related experience in instructional design or a similar role.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse groups.

Nice-to-haves

• Demonstrated expertise with Canvas LMS and a wide range of educational technologies.
• Proven track record of implementing innovative learning solutions in higher education.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Paid holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Flexible scheduling options
• Employee discount programs