Instructional Designer

Daemen University; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan (8% employer)

Life insurance

Tuition waiver

Paid time off

Job summary

Daemen University is seeking an Instructional Designer to enhance courses for online, hybrid, and HyFlex delivery on campus. You will collaborate with faculty, SMEs, and QA teams to design accessible, technology-enhanced learning using Backward Design and QM guidelines.

Ideal candidates hold a bachelor's in instructional design or related field, with strong communication, teamwork, and LMS experience (Blackboard).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, or related disciplines.
• Experience designing online courses and engaging adult learners.
• Familiarity with ADDIE or Backwards Design; formative feedback.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Blackboard or similar LMS.
• Ability to work on project teams and meet milestones.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with faculty to develop online, hybrid, and HyFlex courses.
• Work with SMEs to design and develop course materials and assets.
• Review existing courses and propose improvements using best practices.
• Develop online lessons using content, tools, and the LMS (Blackboard).
• Support faculty with instructional technology and accessibility needs.
• Assist in preparing courses for QM Higher Ed Rubric quality review.
• Provide constructive feedback to enhance learning experiences.
• Lead instructional design workshops and share best practices.
• Create user guides and tutorials for faculty and staff.
• Manage project timelines and stay informed on technologies.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Collaboration

Instructional design

Adult learning principles

Education

Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design or Educational Technology

Masters degree preferred

Tools

Blackboard

Anthology Blackboard Ultra

MS Office

Google Drive

Job description

Daemen University is a dynamic, independent, liberal arts institution committed to excellence in student-centered learning. The University places special emphasis on preparing students for excellence in professional life, and civic engagement, and on instilling and understanding that learning is an exciting lifelong journey. Students are encouraged to be creative, innovative, ethically minded leaders for an ever-changing, diverse, and interconnected world.

The Mission of Daemen University is to prepare students for life and leadership in an increasingly diverse and complex world through the integration of education and professional preparation. Daemen University is going beyond instrumental needs to foster the development of individuals who are dedicated to the health and well-being of local and global communities.

Purpose of Role

An Instructional Designer at Daemen University plays a crucial role in enhancing the educational experience for both students and faculty. An Instructional Designer is essential for creating a dynamic and effective learning environment. They support our faculty as they create courses and programs that are well-designed, technology-enhanced, and accessible.

This is an on-campus position.

About This Opportunity

Joining our Instructional Design team within the Office of the Vice Provost; Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Systems, an Instructional Designer will be responsible for the following:

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with faculty members in the development or conversion of courses for online, hybrid, and HyFlex learning modalities including the selection of appropriate technological, instructional, and assessment strategies while meeting the objectives of the course and honoring the academic goals of the institution
• Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to identify, design, and develop course materials and assets using the Backward Design model while managing course development projects.
• Actively review existing courses and offer recommendations for continued refinement based on best practices in synchronous and asynchronous learning.
• Develop online lesson materials using faculty content, other instructional content, software applications (e.g. Articulate 360, Camtasia, etc), and our Learning Management System (Blackboard).
• Support faculty as needed in the use of instructional technology in developing courses.
• Aid faculty in preparing proposed and existing online courses for quality review using the Quality Matters (QM) Higher Ed Rubric.
• Provide timely formative feedback and assistance to faculty to enhance face-to-face, HyFlex, hybrid, and online courses.
• Recommend innovative design, format, and/or technological changes to further engage learners.
• Effectively lead instructional workshops and presentations on innovative strategies to enhance teaching and learning.
• Collaborate with faculty on developing engaging content (e.g., video, audio, and/or interactive).
• Manage project timelines for instructional design projects.
• Stay informed about instructional technologies and curricular best practices.
• Assist with accessibility needs in keeping with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Support and stay informed in the area of Universal Design for Learning.
• Serve on the Quality in Online Education Committee (QOnEc).
• Take initiative to create user guides, tutorials, and other resources as "on-demand" references for faculty and staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, or related disciplines.
• Experience with course design aimed at actively engaging students and meeting the needs of adult learners preferred.
• Experience with conducting online course reviews and communicating results and recommendations.
• Familiarity with common instructional design principles and best practices (e.g., ADDIE, Integrated or Backwards Design, formative feedback, etc.)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively and independently as needed.
• Proficiency with Content or Learning Management Systems (e.g. Blackboard)
• Expertise in MS Office and Google Drive.
• Experience working on project teams to accomplish tasks and milestones as delineated and expected.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technologies, or related disciplines.
• Experience in higher education with a fluency in pedagogical modalities.
• Experience teaching in an online, hybrid, or HyFlex experience.
• Experience as a functional administrator for an LMS system including proficiency in their administration, customization, and support preferably Anthology Blackboard Ultra.
• Experience with the Quality Matters (QM) Higher Education Rubric.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The University does not provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Total Compensation

• Health insurance with an option of two plans: an HSA plan with the deductible partially funded by employer HSA contributions, or a copay plan.
• Dental insurance through the Guardian network.
• Vision insurance through the Guardian network, and an option between the VSP or Davis plans.
• An 8% employer contribution to the retirement savings account when employees contribute just 5%.
• Fully paid long term disability insurance, guaranteed-issue life insurance for new hires up to a volume of $150,000.
• Tuition waiver for full-time employees and their qualified dependents. Entrance in Tuition Exchange scholarship opportunities to pursue education at other institutions.
• Generous time off for administrative and staff employees.