Instructional Technology Specialist

About the role

The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) is seeking a Specialist for Instructional Technologies to provide hands-on, operational support for learning management systems (Canvas and LXP), integrated instructional and AI enhanced academic technologies, and similar platforms.

Responsibilities

• Provides day-to-day operational support for day-to-day operations of instructional technology and AI enhanced services to the HGSE community.
• Ensures that instructional technology outputs (including course sites, documents, media, assessments, and other artifacts) and associated workflows meet Harvard’s digital accessibility standards.
• Responds to requests and assists with Canvas and other learning management system users to determine requirements for course websites and assists with:
• selection and basic configuration of appropriate instructional and AI assisted tools,
• site design and organization, and
• design and formatting of course materials (e.g., documents, multimedia, assessment instruments), ensuring compliance with Harvard’s digital accessibility standards and WCAG 2.1 AA.
• Serves as a subject matter resource on Harvard learning management systems, integrated instructional tools, and related AI supported features and services.
• Delivers standardized training to the HGSE community, including faculty, teaching fellows, faculty assistants, PPE program administrators, and similar end users through regular training programs and consultations, including:
• introductory and intermediate use of the LMS and integrated tools/LTIs,
• basic use of approved AI supported academic tools (e.g., AI assisted content creation, quizzes, feedback or analytics tools) within institutional guidelines,
• appropriate, ethical, and accessible use of AI in teaching and learning, following school and university policies, and
• effective practices for creating and maintaining accessible digital course content and activities that meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
• Ensures that all training sessions (in person and online), training materials, recordings, and handouts are accessible and conform to Harvard’s digital accessibility standards.
• Assists in installing, configuring and maintaining approved instructional and AI supported tools and plug-ins/LTIs within the LMS and related systems, following established procedures and under the direction of the Senior Director, with attention to accessibility features where applicable.
• Promotes awareness of emerging trends in academic and AI driven technologies and researches options for determining suitability within the HGSE service catalog under the advisement and direction of the Senior Director.
• Monitors new trends in academic, instructional, and AI driven technologies and, under the advisement of the Senior Director, documents findings and makes recommendations for proof of concept, prototype, and pilot initiatives, including assessment of accessibility implications and alignment with WCAG 2.1 AA.
• Participates in relevant school and university wide groups, communities of practice, or collaborations across Harvard to share research, experience, and lessons learned with new initiatives and innovative efforts surrounding academic technologies, artificial intelligence, and accessibility.
• Performs other operational duties as assigned that are consistent with the scope of a unionized staff position, including but not limited to:
• routine content and course site management,
• basic data collection and reporting,
• preparation of documentation, and
• first level support for instructional and AI enabled academic tools.

Qualifications

• BA degree
• 1-2 years experience using Canvas in a support or administrator capacity

Skills

• Technical and analytical skills to support routine integration efforts, troubleshooting, incident resolution, and basic coding and configuration tasks to address customization, branding, accessibility, and visual identity requirements of HGSE.
• Ability to monitor new trends in academic, instructional, and AI driven technologies and research options for determining suitability within the HGSE service catalog.
• Knowledge of Harvard’s digital accessibility standards and WCAG 2.1 AA.
• Experience delivering standardized training to faculty and their support staff.
• Ability to perform advanced technical work under the supervision of the Senior Director or a designated project lead.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retail plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

Pay

$75,000 - $77,000 commensurate with experience

Schedule

Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week

Location

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Union

055 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers

Other

Non-exempt, Visa Sponsorship Not Available

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