Instructional Designer

Excelsior; City of Albany (NY); On-site; USD 68,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Excelsior University is seeking an Instructional Designer to design and develop online courses that meet academic standards and adult learning best practices. You will work with SMEs, instructional technologists, media developers, and the IDD team to ensure pedagogical soundness and accessibility.

The ideal candidate has higher education course development experience, expertise in instructional design models, LMS experience (Canvas), and strong communication and project-management skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Instructional Design or Educational Technology (or related field).
• 3+ years’ experience designing and developing online courses for higher education.
• Strong knowledge of instructional design models (Backward Design, Bloom’s Taxonomy).
• Experience with learning management systems, preferably Canvas.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with SMEs to design and develop engaging online courses.
• Apply instructional design principles to structure content and learning experiences.
• Guide SMEs in analyzing and applying effective instructional strategies and assessments.
• Ensure course content aligns with design standards and accessibility guidelines.
• Partner with media developers to create high-quality course materials.
• Review and refine course content to align with learning objectives.
• Collaborate with other instructional designers to enhance development methodologies.

Skills

Instructional design

Educational Technology

Backward Design

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Relationship building

Online learning

Communication

Multi-project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design or Educational Technology

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Canvas LMS

Job description

The Instructional Designer is responsible for designing and developing online courses that align with Excelsior University’s academic standards and best practices for adult learning. Working closely with SMEs, instructional technologists, media developers, and other members of the Instructional Design and Development team (IDD), the Instructional Designer ensures that course content is pedagogically sound, accessible, and aligns with Excelsior’s course design standards. The ideal candidate has experience in higher education course development and expertise in instructional design principles, online learning technologies, and assessment strategies. This role plays a key part in maintaining course quality and supporting Excelsior’s commitment to delivering an exceptional learning experience for students.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with SMEs to design and develop engaging online courses.
• Apply instructional design principles to structure content and create relevant, engaging learning experiences.
• Guide SMEs in analyzing and assessing the application of appropriate and effective instructional strategies, tools, and assessments to achieve identified learning outcomes.
• Ensure course content aligns with Excelsior’s course design standards, accessibility guidelines, and online learning best practices.
• Partner with media developers to create high-quality course materials, including videos, simulations, and interactive elements.
• Review and refine course content to ensure clarity, coherence, and alignment with learning objectives.
• Collaborate with other instructional designers to enhance Excelsior’s course development methodologies and resources.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor’s degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, or a related field.
• 3+ years’ experience designing and developing online courses for higher education.
• Strong knowledge of instructional design models (e.g., Backward Design, Bloom’s Taxonomy).
• Strong relationship‑building skills.
• Familiarity with best practices for online learning and adult education.
• Ability to guide SMEs in structuring content for effective online delivery.
• Experience with learning management systems (LMS), preferably Canvas.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, or a related field.
• Experience developing courses for non‑traditional, adult learners.
• Prior experience working in a centralized course development model.
• Proficiency in accessibility standards and universal design for learning (UDL).
• Experience using data and learner analytics to inform course improvements.

The hiring salary range for this position is $68,000.00 - $74,000.00. The hiring salary range above represents the University’s good faith estimate at the time of posting.