Content Specialist (Instructional Designer)

Western Governors University; Salt Lake City (UT); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Healthcare benefits

Tuition discount

Flexible PTO

Parental leave

Job summary

Western Governors University is seeking a Content Specialist to design and build the orientation experience for Traditional and Career Accelerator programs. You will craft learning journeys, translate program goals into engaging modules, and maintain a library of assets used across populations.

You’ll collaborate with Communications, EdTech, and Program Development to ensure content stays current, accessible, and on-brand, while leading the creation of just-in-time supports that help students

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience designing learning experiences for adult learners.
• Familiarity with instructional design models (e.g., ADDIE, SAM).
• Experience with creating multimedia assets and digital content.

Responsibilities

• Designs and maintains end-to-end orientation experiences for Traditional and Career Accelerator programs.
• Translates program goals into structured learning experiences with clear outcomes.
• Creates and maintains digital assets: videos, scripts, slides, copy, graphics, and interactive elements.
• Leads just-in-time (JIT) supports design and deployment based on data and feedback.
• Collaborates with Communications, EdTech, and Program Development to ensure on-brand content.

Skills

Learning experience design

Content creation

Adult learners

Instructional design

Project management

Collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Canva

Adobe Suite

Video editing

Job description

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:Grade: Faculty 506Pay Range: $73,500.00 - $110,200.00Job DescriptionThis role is the design and build engine behind WGU’s Orientation experience — the role that turns program strategy into the actual modules, assets, and just-in-time supports that students see, click, watch, and learn from. Across both Traditional Orientation and the Career Accelerator program, the this role owns the ongoing maintenance, evolution, and creation of every orientation touchpoint.This is a hybrid role at the intersection of learning experience design, content creation, and digital asset development. Working closely with partners in Communications, EdTech, and Program Development, ensures the orientation experience stays current, on-brand, and pedagogically sound — while leading the design and development of just-in-time supports that help students get the right resource at the right moment of need. If the Engagement Specialist brings the student experience to life and the Operations Specialist makes it run on time, the Content Specialist designs and builds the experience itself.Primary ResponsibilitiesLearning Experience DesignDesigns and maintains the end-to-end orientation experience for both Traditional and Career Accelerator students, ensuring the journey is coherent, paced well, and grounded in adult learning principlesTranslates program goals and student needs into structured learning experiences with clear outcomes and meaningful checkpointsLeads the iteration of existing modules and the creation of new ones in response to data, student feedback, and program changesPartners with Program Development on changes that need to flow through the orientation experience, ensuring content stays accurate and aligned with program intentContent Creation & Digital AssetsCreates and maintains a wide range of digital assets across the orientation experience — videos, scripts, slides, written copy, graphics, interactive elements, and supporting materialsMaintains a library of reusable content, templates, and components that keep the experience consistent across populations and easy to update over timeEnsures every asset is on-brand, accessible, and aligned with WGU’s voice and valuesPartners with multimedia and design teams when more complex production is needed; manage external contributors and vendors as requiredJust-in-Time Support DesignLeads the design and development of just-in-time supports — in-the-moment resources triggered by student behavior, needs, or moments of frictionIdentifies gaps where students need contextual help, then design, build, and ship solutions that meet them where they areTests and iterates on JIT content based on usage data, student feedback, and Engagement Specialist inputMaintains and grows the JIT library as new student needs emerge and the program evolvesCross-Functional CollaborationPartners with Communications on messaging, brand consistency, and tone across all orientation contentPartners with EdTech on platform capabilities, content delivery, and learning system integrationsCoordinates with Engagement Specialists on content needs surfaced through student conversations and community activityCoordinates with the Operations Specialist on engagement and content-performance data that informs design decisionsRepresents the orientation experience in cross-departmental working groups as neededKnowledge, Skills & AbilitiesLearning Experience DesignDemonstrated experience designing learning experiences for adult learnersFamiliarity with instructional design models (e.g., ADDIE, SAM) and adult learning principlesAbility to translate complex content into clear, structured, learner-friendly experiencesStrong sense for pacing, scaffolding, and the moments where students need extra supportContent Creation & MultimediaStrong writing skills with the ability to adapt voice and tone for different audiences and channelsHands-on experience with content creation tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Suite, video editing software, design platforms)Comfort with multimedia production — video scripting, basic editing, screen recordings, narrationVisual design sensibility and attention to detailProject & Program ManagementStrong project management instincts — able to balance ongoing maintenance, new content creation, and JIT development on parallel timelinesHighly organized with the ability to track multiple modules, stakeholders, and deadlines simultaneouslySelf-directed and reliable; comfortable holding accountability across multiple workstreamsCollaboration & CommunicationOutstanding collaboration skills — comfortable working across creative, technical, program, and student-facing teamsExcellent written and verbal communication skills for translating across disciplines and audiencesDiplomatic and trustworthy in cross-team work; earns confidence with internal partnersData & IterationComfort using engagement metrics, completion data, and JIT usage patterns to inform content decisionsOpen to iteration and feedback; sees content as something that improves over time, not something shipped onceCultural Competence & EquityCultural competence and demonstrated experience designing for diverse student populationsCommitment to equity, accessibility, and inclusive design in everything createdGrowth mindset with commitment to continuous professional developmentMinimum QualificationsBachelor’s degree in instructional design, education, communications, multimedia, or related field3+ years of demonstrated experience in content creation, instructional design, learning experience design, or a closely related rolePortfolio demonstrating learning design and digital content creation workHands-on experience with content creation tools (Canva, Adobe Suite, or equivalent) and basic multimedia productionExperience working with adult learners or in higher educationPreferred QualificationsMaster’s Degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Adult Learning, or related disciplineExperience designing just-in-time supports, microlearning, or contextual help systemsExperience working across multiple stakeholder groups (Communications, EdTech, Program teams)Familiarity with learning management systems and digital content delivery platformsFamiliarity with WGU’s academic model, programs, or student success systemsWorking ConditionsThis is an on-site role based at WGU’s Salt Lake City officeStandard business hours with occasional flexibility required to support production timelines or program needsOccasional travel of up to 20%, including attendance at company summits (typically 1–2 per year), commencement, conferences, and other business-related eventsA Day in the LifeYour day as a Content Specialist might begin with a review of last week’s JIT support usage data — flagging two help articles that aren’t getting clicks and brainstorming what’s missing. From there, you’re in a working session with Communications to align on tone for an upcoming Orientation refresh, then in your design tool building out the next set of slides for the Career Accelerator welcome module. Mid-morning, you connect with EdTech on a platform update that affects how a key video is delivered. After lunch, you’re writing the script for a new JIT video on financial aid options, recording a voiceover draft, and queuing edits for a contractor on the final cut. By afternoon, you’re walking the Engagement Specialists through new content additions so they know what students will see next week, and updating the content backlog for the next sprint. You end the day having shaped what every new WGU student will experience in their first week — and the supports they can reach for when they need them most.WGU’s CommitmentAt Western Governors University, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed. The Content Specialist plays a foundational role in our student-centered model — designing and building the orientation experience that welcomes every new student to WGU and the just-in-time supports that help them succeed throughout their journey. This position directly contributes to WGU’s mission of expanding access to quality higher education through innovative, student-focused approaches.This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.Disclaimer: This job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It is not all-inclusive.Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail] Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.Position & Application DetailsFull-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is 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.How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.Additional InformationDisclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail] Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.