Instructional Designer

SUNY Cortland; City of Cortland (NY); On-site; USD 64,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

SUNY Cortland’s Center for Teaching and Learning seeks an Instructional Designer to collaborate with faculty across online, hybrid, and on-site courses. You will design engaging, accessible learning materials and support faculty in aligning outcomes, content, and assessments with best practices in instructional technology.

The role emphasizes evidence-based design, learning analytics, and the use of Brightspace or similar LMS to enhance teaching and student success.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required.
• One year of professional experience supporting instructional technologies, learning management systems, and/or distance education initiatives.
• One year of professional experience in instructional design, educational technology, faculty development, online learning, or closely related field.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with faculty to design learner-centered course materials using evidence-based design principles.
• Provide one-on-one consultations and ongoing instructional design support to faculty.
• Serve as primary instructional design liaison for assigned academic departments.
• Develop presentations and advise on pedagogy of technology-enhanced course design and LMS use.
• Assist faculty in designing materials and digital resources that meet accessibility standards.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal communication

Education

Master’s degree

Job description

Position Details

• Budget Title: Assistant for Instructional Resources
• Campus Title: Instructional Designer
• School/Division: Academic Affairs, Division of
• Department: Center for Teaching and Learning
• Staff Sub-Type: Staff & Administration
• Salary Level: SL3
• Salary Range: $64,000 + depending on experience (DOE)
• Salary Determination: Starting salary rates are based on multiples factors which may include the position’s major responsibilities, the applicant’s background including education, work experience, and key competences, the university’s strategic priorities, internal peer equity and external market analyses, applicable federal, state, and local laws and negotiated labor contracts.
• Position Effort: Full-Time

The Instructional Designer in the Center for Teaching and Learningsupports faculty and academic departments in the design,development, and continuous improvement of engaging, accessible,and learner-centered educational experiences across online, hybrid,and face-to-face learning environments. Applying evidence-basedinstructional design principles, this position consults withfaculty one-on-one and in groups to support instructionalalignment, while promoting accessibility, innovation and continuousinstructional improvement. The Instructional Designer promotes theeffective use of learning technologies by informing faculty of newor existing tools, troubleshooting technical and instructionaldesign challenges, and leveraging learning analytics to supportdata-informed and instructional decision making.

Salary Range: $64,000 + depending on experience ( DOE )

What makes SUNY Cortland a great place to work?

• Our positions provide predictable salary progressions, and manyoffer permanency.
• Generous benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance,various retirement program options, paid family leave and/orparental leaves, flexible spending and dependent care accounts,long term disability and tuition reimbursement.
• SUNY Cortland prioritizes work-life balance and well-being in allforms. The university’s state-of-the-art Student Life Center isfree for employees to use, with membership options for families.Alternate work schedules are available with a supervisor’sapproval.
• Professional development opportunities exist through training,continuing education programs, tuition reimbursement and conferencetravel, based on funding.
• Cortland County and surrounding areas offer easy access to arts, entertainment, outdoor recreation and much more. ExperienceCortland dives deep into the region’s offerings

Major Responsibilities

Collaborative Instructional Design and Learning Technology Support

• Collaborate with faculty to design and evaluate effective,learner-centered course materials using evidence-basedinstructional design principles that ensure alignment betweenlearning outcomes, content, assessments, and instructionalactivities.
• Provide one-on-one consultations and ongoing instructionaldesign support to faculty in the design, implementation, andassessment of learning activities and instructional materials.
• Serve as the primary instructional design liaison for assignedacademic departments, establishing collaborative relationships withfaculty, department leaders, and academic support units.
• Develop presentations and advise faculty and departments on thepedagogy of technology-enhanced course design, such as effectiveuse of our learning management system, development of materials foronline courses, and thoughtful responses to emergingtechnologies.
• Assist faculty in designing course materials and digitallearning resources that meet accessibility standards and universityquality expectations.
• Support the effective use of existing learning technologies,multimedia tools, and learning management systems.
• Evaluate, recommend, and support the responsible adoption ofemerging educational technologies.

Accessibility & Assessment

• Ensure compliance with accessibility standards, such as ADA,Section 504/508, WCAG, and promote inclusive design practicesacross learning environments.
• Collaborate with departments and faculty to analyze coursedata, learner feedback, and assessment results to inform continuouscourse improvement and instructional decision-making.
• Advise faculty on continuous course improvement throughapplication of university and SUNY -specific assessment frameworksand evidence-based practices.
• Review instructional materials to identify and addressaccessibility barriers and promote compliance with applicableaccessibility standards and best practices.

Academic Partnerships & Project Management

• Contribute to Center for Teaching & Learning initiatives,strategic projects, working groups, and committees that advanceteaching excellence and student success to ensure instructionaleffectiveness.
• Manage multiple instructional design projects simultaneously.Establish timelines, priorities, deliverables, and stakeholdercommunication plans.

Functional and Supervisory Relationships

• Reports to the Senior Director of the Center for Teaching &Learning
• Works in partnership with Center Staff including directors,instructional designers, and administrative assistant(s)
• Works in partnership with faculty and staff

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• One year professional experience supporting instructionaltechnologies, learning management systems, and/or distanceeducation initiatives.
• One year of professional experience working in instructionaldesign, educational technology, faculty development, onlinelearning, or closely related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in instructional design, learning sciences,curriculum & instruction, educational psychology, highereducation, educational technology, or similar field.
• Three years’ experience designing, developing, and evaluatingonline or technology-enhanced learning environments.
• Three years’ experience working/teaching in highereducation.
• Three years’ experience supporting, training or consulting onthe use of a learning management system, preferablyBrightspace.
• Three years’ experience supporting instructional design inscience, health, or math disciplines.
• Three years’ experience designing authentic, applied, orpractice-based assessments aligned with student learningoutcomes.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonalcommunication skills with the ability to effectively collaboratewith and communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with theability to manage multiple projects, priorities, deadlines, andcompeting demands.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively whilebuilding and maintaining effective relationships with faculty,staff, administrators, and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of instructional design principles, learningtheories, and best practices for technology-based teaching andlearning environments.
• Ability to learn, evaluate, apply, and support the adoption ofnew technologies and effectively train, support, and guide othersin their use.
• Ability to consult with faculty and recommend evidence basedinstructional strategies and educational technologies that supportlearning outcomes, student engagement, and effective teachingpractices.
• Knowledge of asset-based, inclusive, equitable, andlearner-centered pedagogical practices and their application inhigher education learning environments.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards, Universal Design forLearning ( UDL ), and best practices for the development ofaccessible instructional materials and learning experiences.
• Knowledge of learning management systems and educationaltechnologies used to support teaching and learning.
• Skill in designing and developing engaging instructionalmaterials, learning activities, assessments, and educationalresources aligned with learning outcomes.
• Ability to assess instructional needs and recommend effectiveinstructional design solutions that enhance teaching effectivenessand student learning.
• Ability to develop, facilitate, and assess workshops, trainingsessions, and professional development programs.

About the University

A top public university of approximately 6,600 students located inthe geographic center of New York State, SUNY Cortland providesaccessible, affordable education to students from across the U.S.body. One of 13 comprehensive universities in the State Universityof New York system, SUNY Cortland prides itself on its rigorousundergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences, education, and professional studies. For more than 150 years, SUNYCortland has provided unmistakable value for students seeking awell-rounded academic, athletic, and social experience. TheUniversity ranks among the top campuses in the nation on Moneymagazine’s “Best Colleges for Your Money List,” fields a powerhouseDivision III athletics program and boasts an impressive network ofalumni making a difference in education, business, government,fitness, medicine and many other fields.

EEO Statement

SUNY is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants, including individuals with disabilities. Applicantswho require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application, interview, or hiring process may request an accommodation by contacting our HR ADA Coordinator in Miller Room302, 607-753-2302, [e-mail]. Requests for accommodation willbe considered consistent with applicable law. This process isseparate from, and does not require, any voluntaryself-identification of disability status.