Instructional Designer

The Pennsylvania State University; Ferguson Township (PA); Remote; USD 54,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% tuition discount

Robust retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural Sciences is seeking an Instructional Designer to join the Digital Education Non-Credit team to develop online courses, trainings, and educational videos for Penn State Extension’s programs.

The designer collaborates with instructional designers, multimedia specialists, and subject matter experts to design, develop, evaluate, and revise learning experiences in the LMS.

Qualifications

• Formal instructional design experience.
• Knowledge of online learning theory and pedagogical principles.
• Experience with learning management systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and strong copy-editing abilities.
• Digital file organization skills.
• Interpersonal, project management, and time management abilities.
• Ability to work on multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to collaborate with writers, designers, faculty, staff, and other professionals.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, evaluate and revise online courses, trainings, and educational videos.
• Apply instructional design principles and standards to create engaging content and assessments.
• Input course materials into the LMS, adjust settings, and troubleshoot LMS issues.
• Conduct course checkups and copyedit multimedia assets for accuracy and consistency.
• Support daily digital education team operations and process improvements.

Skills

Instructional design experience

Online learning theory

LMS experience

Written and verbal communication

Digital file organization

Interpersonal/project management/time‑

Deadline-driven multitasking

Detail-oriented and collaborative

Education

Master's Degree

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

The College of Agricultural Sciences Digital Education Non-Credit team is seeking an Instructional Designer to work with an innovative team of instructional designers, multimedia specialists, and subject matter experts to develop online learning components—primarily online course content and educational videos, for Penn State Extension’s education programs. The Instructional Designer works collaboratively to design, develop, evaluate, and revise online courses, workforce trainings, and educational videos. They apply instructional design principles, quality standards, and team SOPs to create engaging content, assessments, and multimedia-supported learning experiences within the learning management system (LMS). This includes: determining learning outcomes; outlining and developing written materials; and designing multimedia. The instructional designer inputs course materials to the LMS, edits LMS settings, and troubleshoots LMS issues. The Instructional Designer also conducts course checkups and copyedits courses and multimedia assets to ensure accuracy, consistency, accessibility, and adherence to style guidelines. They contribute to daily digital education team operations and support continuous improvement of team processes.

Required Qualifications

• Instructional design experience.
• Knowledge of online learning theory and pedagogical principles.
• Experience with learning management systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, and strong word-smithing skills to enhance comprehension of written material.
• Digital file organization skills.
• Interpersonal, project management, and time management abilities.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and finish projects in a deadline-driven environment.
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to collaborate closely with a diverse group of people, including writers, designers, faculty, staff, and other professionals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with technical writing, copyediting, and/or multimedia asset design is preferred.

Location

This position is available to work remotely in a remote-eligible state in the U.S. Occasional on-site work may be required as determined by business need. Standard working hours are in the Eastern Time Zone.

Minimum education, work experience

• Master's Degree
• 1+ years of relevant experience

Required Certifications

None

Salary & benefits

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $54,060.00 - $78,444.00. Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure: Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.

• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage,
• employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

Background checks / clearances

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Campus security crime statistics

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473. Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.

Our values are as follows; Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community. We Are Penn State. One Community. Impacting Many.