Instructional Designer

Western Governors University; United States; Remote; USD 74,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Medical/dental/vision/telehealth

Wellbeing program

Discounted WGU tuition

Job summary

Western Governors University is seeking an experienced Instructional Designer to develop high-quality online courses aligned with program outcomes and instructional best practices. You will collaborate with faculty and stakeholders to guide the course development process and ensure quality across projects.

This role requires a Master’s degree in a related field and at least three years designing materials for higher education or corporate training.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in related field or equivalent experience.
• 3 years of professional instructional design experience in higher education, corporate training, or similar.
• Experience designing curricula and collaborating with SMEs and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage the course design and development process for new and existing courses, ensuring alignment with outcomes and learning objectives.
• Design engaging, contextually rich learning experiences reflecting real-world application.
• Apply evidence-based instructional strategies, UX principles, and accessibility standards.
• Collaborate with faculty, internal teams, and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and feasibility.
• Evaluate materials and assessments to ensure program objectives and learner competencies.
• Conduct quality assurance and continuous improvement to maintain instructional quality.
• Ensure timely completion of projects within timelines and budgets.
• Mentor peers in design principles and problem-solving.
• Stay current with learning science and emergent technologies to enhance design practices.

Skills

Instructional design

Curriculum development

Adult learning theory

UX/UI basics

Project management

Technical writing

Collaboration

Communication skills

Learning science

Education

Master’s degree in Instructional Design

Tools

Learning Management Systems

Digital Authoring Tools

Job description

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

A reasonable estimate of the current range is: Grade: Faculty 506 Pay Range: $73,500.00 - $110,200.00

Job Description

The Instructional Designer is a skilled learning design professional who develops high-quality, engaging educational experiences that align with program outcomes, instructional best practices, and each course’s intended scope and sequence. In conjunction with key stakeholders, this role manages the course development process and evaluates curricular materials, providing expertise in instructional design and learning science. Incorporates proven and emerging learning strategies into curriculum design and consistently applies quality standards across projects. Passionate about learner success, this role collaborates across teams to research, design, and refine impactful learning experiences. Manages multiple concurrent projects, assesses risk, tracks progress, and communicates effectively with stakeholders to promote accountability and continuous improvement.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Manages the course design and development process for new and existing courses, ensuring alignment with instructional best practices, scope and sequence, and defined learning outcomes.
• Designs and develops engaging, contextually rich, and objective-driven learning experiences that reflect real-world application and support diverse learner needs.
• Applies evidence-based instructional and learning experience design strategies, including best practices in UX/UI and accessibility, to create high-quality educational experiences.
• Collaborates with faculty, internal teams, and external stakeholders to ensure instructional alignment, technical feasibility, and consistency in course design.
• Evaluates, develops, and revises curricular materials, learning resources, and assessments to ensure alignment with program objectives and learner competencies.
• Conducts quality assurance reviews and implement continuous improvement processes to maintain high standards of academic and instructional quality.
• Ensures timely completion of course development projects within established timelines and budget parameters.
• Acts as a collaborative partner and mentor, sharing expertise and supporting peers in applying best-practice design principles and solving complex learning design challenges.
• Stays current with trends in learning science, instructional design, digital learning technologies, and learner behavior to inform and enhance design practices.
• Leverages system capabilities and emerging tools to enhance the overall learning experience and contribute to innovation in design and delivery.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

This job description includes a general representation of job requirements rather than a comprehensive inventory of all required responsibilities or work activities. The contents of this document or related job requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of instructional design principles, curriculum development, and adult learning theory, emphasizing scope and sequence, real-world application, and measurable learning outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to design and develop engaging, inclusive, and objective-aligned learning experiences for diverse adult learners.
• Experience applying evidence-based design strategies informed by learning science and behavioral research.
• Working knowledge of assessment design, learning resource integration, and alignment to program and course competencies.
• Skilled in project management, risk assessment, and meeting deadlines across multiple concurrent projects.
• Excellent technical writing, editing, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, actionable content.
• Adept at working both independently and collaboratively in fast-paced environments with minimal supervision.
• Advanced skills in critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, and problem-solving with a learner-first mindset.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrates adaptability, resilience, and sound judgment in navigating ambiguity and change.
• Comfortable leveraging technology and digital tools to enhance instructional design and learning delivery.
• Committed to continuous learning and applying innovations that enhance instructional quality and student experience.
• Strong interest in exploring human-centered uses of emerging technologies, including AI, to improve learning experiences.

Education

Master’s degree in Instructional Design, Learning Sciences, Educational Technology, Curriculum and Instruction, or a related field; related experience may substitute in lieu of education.

Experience

3 years of professional experience designing and developing instructional materials or learning experiences in higher education, corporate training, or a similar environment. Experience should include curriculum development, course design, and collaboration with subject matter experts and cross-functional teams.

Experience in lieu of education

Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing for adult learners, online learning environments, or competency-based education models.
• Familiarity with learning management systems, digital authoring tools, or UX principles in learning environments.
• Experience working in agile or iterative development processes.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

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Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail].

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.