Equity Specialist - Instructional Design

About the role

The university is dedicated to expanding access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs. This role plays a crucial part in helping students graduate and shaping a better future.

Responsibilities

• Coaches instructional designers in APD on course/content development using equitable, accessible design practices.
• Leads the integration of new instructional design features and approaches; evaluates impact on diverse learner populations.
• Safeguards the timely rollout of new strategies and tools, monitoring effectiveness and learner impact.
• Mentors and develops instructional designers and contractors, through training, guidance, and scalable resources.
• Explores and implements emerging technologies (including generative AI); document best practices and innovation standards.
• Develops and maintains AI-enabled guidance to ensure consistent design practices across instructional design roles.
• Promotes and integrates equity strategies into course materials, assessments, and learning experiences.
• Works laterally across APD teams to lead the integration of equity strategies into course materials, learning resources, and assessments.
• Represents APD and serves as a cross-department spokesperson for equity, diversity, and accessibility practices in Program Development.
• Evaluates AI tools and instructional technologies through an equity lens; identify opportunities and risks for diverse learner populations.
• Conducts needs analyses; provide training, consultation, and guidance on accessible design, assistive technologies, and data-informed equity gap reduction.
• Applies Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to proactively support diverse learner needs.

Requirements

This role requires a Master's degree in Education, Instructional Design, User Experience Design, or a related field, with 7 years of relevant experience. Advanced experience in instructional design and content development for competency-based education is preferred.

Qualifications

• Expertise in instructional design, curriculum development, and learner experience (UX).
• Advanced knowledge of emerging instructional technologies, including Generative AI applications in education.
• Ability to integrate innovative instructional strategies into course and program design.
• Strong mentoring, coaching, and training skills to develop instructional designers.
• Strong organizational and self-management skills; able to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Expertise in equity-centered and inclusive instructional design (UDL, accessible design, culturally responsive pedagogy).
• Working knowledge of ADA, Section 504, Section 508, WCAG, and related accessibility standards for digital learning.
• Ability to translate equity principles into scalable, practical design solutions across a large instructional design team.

Skills

• Advanced technical writing and documentation skills to codify and scale best practices.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills to assess instructional effectiveness and recommend improvements.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated innovation in instructional design, course/program development, and process enhancement.
• Doctorate (PhD or EdD) in a related field is preferred.
• Advanced experience with systems and procedures for course and program development.
• Certification or demonstrated expertise in accessibility (e.g., IAAP CPACC, WAS, or equivalent).
• Experience conducting accessibility audits of digital learning content.

Benefits

Full-time regular positions at WGU are 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.