Instructional Designer

Research Foundation Cuny; United States; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) seeks an Instructional Designer to develop technical education and workforce training courses. You will collaborate with SMEs, instructors, and partners to design content, storyboard, prototype, and ensure quality across blended, hybrid, and online formats.

You will manage the TALENT LMS, configure course shells, train staff, and ensure accessibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Curriculum Development, or related field preferred.
• Proven experience collaborating with SMEs to design and develop instructional materials, particularly in technical or workforce training contexts.
• Strong proficiency in LMS management (preferably TALENT LMS or comparable platforms).
• Demonstrated ability to design curriculum for technical education, adult learners, or workforce development programs.
• Excellent project management, organizational, and communication skills.
• Experience in training or supervising staff and/or interns.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with SMEs, instructors, and workforce partners to design, develop, and refine technical education and workforce training courses.
• Lead the end-to-end course development process, including needs assessment, storyboarding, prototyping, content design, and quality assurance.
• Translate complex technical and scientific concepts into accessible learning experiences for diverse audiences.
• Integrate effective instructional strategies, media, and assessments for blended, hybrid, and online learning environments.
• Develop instructor guides, learner manuals, and other course materials to ensure consistency in instructional quality.
• Manage and optimize TALENT LMS to support course delivery, student engagement, and program reporting.
• Configure and maintain course shells, templates, and assessments across multiple campuses and program partners.
• Train and supervise junior staff and interns in LMS administration and course management.
• Ensure accessibility and usability standards are met across all course materials.
• Work closely with SMEs and program leads to develop curricula for workforce development programs, ensuring alignment with industry standards and certifications.
• Develop and implement course evaluation tools and assessment methods to track learner outcomes and support program reporting.
• Use learner feedback and performance data to inform ongoing curriculum improvement.
• Maintain consistency in instructional design standards and support the expansion of courses to new partner campuses.
• Conduct instructor orientations and professional development sessions focused on pedagogy, technical training methods, and LMS tools.
• Provide design consultation to instructors and help adapt instructional materials for hybrid and online delivery.
• Support staff development in instructional design methodologies and educational technology.

Skills

SME Collaboration

Instructional Design

LMS Management

Curriculum Development

Project Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

TALENT LMS

Job description

Thank you for considering a career with the Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY)! We are thrilled that you are interested in exploring opportunities to join our team. Primary Location: OFFICE OF SR. UNIV DEAN FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Bargaining Unit: No CUNY Building Performance Lab (CUNY BPL) advances high-performance building operations and practices in existing commercial, public, and multi-family residential buildings. We focus on improving efficiency and optimizing building operations through training, coaching, energy data analytics (monthly and real-time meter data), building energy modeling (EnergyPlus and others), measurement and verification (IPMVP and ASHRAE protocols), HVAC systems, building controls, data acquisition (via BAS or field equipment), and operational improvements via Pacific Northwest National Lab's Building Re‑tuning protocol. The CUNY BPL Training Department provides continuing education programs for facility managers, building operators, and energy professionals, and it supports building operations research and development. Under this umbrella, the Training Department recently added workforce development training for newcomers to the building performance industries. CUNY BPL also runs an extensive internship program for CUNY students that provides real-world experience and hands‑on work in each of the organization's program areas. CUNY BPL staff have expertise in a wide range of areas related to building systems, operations, and data, and the design process. CUNY BPL Training engages both private and public sector clients, including city, state, and federal agencies. The Instructional Designer will play a pivotal role in designing and developing high‑quality instructional materials that support workforce development and technical training programs. This position collaborates closely with subject matter experts (SMEs), instructors, and program staff to create engaging, industry‑relevant learning experiences from concept to delivery. The role also includes managing and customizing the Learning Management System (TALENT LMS), ensuring alignment between course content and program outcomes, and training staff and interns in instructional design and LMS best practices. This is a hybrid position located at The City College of New York, requiring three days in‑person and two days remote per week.

Instructional Design Development

• Collaborate with SMEs, instructors, and workforce partners to design, develop, and refine technical education and workforce training courses.
• Lead the end‑to‑end course development process, including needs assessment, storyboarding, prototyping, content design, and quality assurance.
• Translate complex technical and scientific concepts (e.g., energy systems, building operations, HVAC, sustainability) into accessible and engaging learning experiences for diverse audiences.
• Integrate effective instructional strategies, media, and assessments for blended, hybrid, and online learning environments.
• Develop instructor guides, learner manuals, and other course materials to ensure consistency in instructional quality.

Learning Management System (LMS) Administration

• Manage and optimize TALENT LMS to support course delivery, student engagement, and program reporting.
• Configure and maintain course shells, templates, and assessments across multiple campuses and program partners.
• Train and supervise junior staff and interns in LMS administration and course management.
• Ensure accessibility and usability standards are met across all course materials.

Curriculum and Program Enhancement

• Work closely with SMEs and program leads to develop curricula for workforce development programs, ensuring alignment with industry standards and certifications.
• Develop and implement course evaluation tools and assessment methods to track learner outcomes and support program reporting.
• Use learner feedback and performance data to inform ongoing curriculum improvement.
• Maintain consistency in instructional design standards and support the expansion of courses to new partner campuses.

Instructor and Staff Support

• Conduct instructor orientations and professional development sessions focused on pedagogy, technical training methods, and LMS tools.
• Provide design consultation to instructors and help adapt instructional materials for hybrid and online delivery.
• Support staff development in instructional design methodologies and educational technology.

Other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will bring the following education, skills, and experience to this position:

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Curriculum Development, or related field preferred.
• Proven experience collaborating with SMEs to design and develop instructional materials, particularly in technical or workforce training contexts.
• Strong proficiency in LMS management (preferably TALENT LMS or comparable platforms).
• Demonstrated ability to design curriculum for technical education, adult learners, or workforce development programs.
• Excellent project management, organizational, and communication skills.
• Experience in training or supervising staff and/or interns.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing content in STEM, sustainability, building science, or energy systems disciplines.
• Familiarity with industry‑recognized credentials or competency‑based education models in workforce development.
• Understanding of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and accessibility standards.
• Knowledge of media production or basic e‑learning authoring tools.

Pay Range: $70,000 - $90,000

RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post‑award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges. RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post‑award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub‑awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub‑awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.