Instructional Designer - College of Business and Economics

This position serves as a strategic partner and expert pedagogical consultant to faculty and academic units within the College of Business and Economics (CoBE). The Instructional Designer applies advanced instructional design principles, learning theories, and user-experience standards to support the design, development, delivery, and continuous improvement of high-quality learning experiences across face-to-face, hyflex, and online modalities. Operating within the CoBE Tech team, this role acts as a primary pedagogical and educational technology resource, collaborating with instructional staff to implement effective assessment strategies, select appropriate instructional technologies, and ensure compliance with digital accessibility standards. This is a full-time, 12-month Academic Staff position reporting directly to the Assistant Dean of Online Education & Technology.

Responsibilities

• Instructional Design & Pedagogical Consultation
  • Consult with faculty on the application of learning theories, instructional design models, and evidence-based teaching strategies to develop engaging, learner-centered business education courses.
  • Guide instructors in aligning measurable learning outcomes with course activities, structural sequencing, and robust, authentic assessment methodologies.
  • Consult with faculty on the ethical integration of Generative, Agentic, and other relevant AI tools (e.g., LLMs, specialized business simulators) into coursework, assisting them in developing clear classroom AI policies and innovative, "AI-active" or "AI-resistant" assessment models.
  • Use AI-assisted workflows to accelerate course mapping, draft creative case-study scripts, and generate diverse practice question pools aligned with professional accreditation standards.
  • Conduct systematic quality reviews of new and existing courses using recognized quality assurance rubrics (e.g., Quality Matters).
  • Ensure all instructional materials, course layouts, and digital media adhere strictly to federal, state, and institutional accessibility guidelines (ADA, Section 508, and Universal Design for Learning principles).
• Multimedia Production & Technology Integration
  • Collaborate directly with the CoBE Tech media production team to coordinate the design and seamless integration of high-quality visual graphics, animations, podcast setups, and broadcast-quality video/audio components into course environments.
  • Utilize course authoring tools and the institutional Learning Management System (LMS) to build interactive, visually engaging learning modules.
  • Evaluate emerging instructional innovations, educational applications, and AI-driven workflow solutions, recommending strategic equipment or software implementation to the Assistant Dean.
  • Provide advanced troubleshooting and technical consultation for instructional technology platforms utilized within the college.
• Faculty Training & Support
  • Develop, coordinate, and deliver comprehensive training programs, workshops, and documentation for faculty and staff regarding instructional design best practices and LMS functionality.
  • Provide supportive, client-focused technical assistance to educators across a wide spectrum of technical comfort and experience levels.
  • As operationally feasible and approved by leadership, this position may include opportunities to teach courses within the college.
• Strategic Alignment & Administrative Support
  • Represent CoBE Tech on campus-wide committees and cross-functional initiatives related to institutional teaching, learning, and digital learning strategies.
  • Assist the Assistant Dean with regular technology needs assessments to inform future resource and equipment planning.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Education, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience designing and developing courses within an education environment across multiple modalities (online, hyflex, face-to-face).
• Demonstrated proficiency with enterprise-level Learning Management Systems (such as Canvas).

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior teaching or instructional facilitation experience in a Higher Education setting, with eligibility/desire to teach business-related courses.
• Quality Matters (QM) Peer Reviewer certification.

Skills

• Autonomy & Initiative: Strong ability to self-motivate, take initiative, prioritize projects, and work highly independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Consultative Communication: Exceptional active listening, written, and oral communication skills, with a proven passion for assisting users of varying technical skill and comfort levels.
• AI Literacy & Tool Fluency: Practical understanding of Generative AI platforms and prompt-engineering frameworks (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot) and how to apply them responsibly to course creation, writing assistance, and workflow automation.
• Design Frameworks: Deep knowledge of adult learning principles, modern assessment strategies, and quality assurance frameworks.
• Accessibility & Compliance: Thorough understanding of digital accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1, ADA, Section 508) and student data privacy regulations (FERPA).
• Collaborative Mindset: Strong ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, media production specialists, and campus IT partners to achieve unified project goals.
• Ability to interact respectfully with people with diverse socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Willingness and ability to be an active participant in following applicable safety rules and regulations including necessary training and drills.

Pay

Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary within a range of $65,000 – $75,000.

Benefits

UW System employees receive an excellent benefit package. To learn more about the UW System’s comprehensive benefit package, review the UW System Employee Benefits Brochure.