Instructional Designer I

University of New England; Biddeford (ME); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental plans

Retirement plan match

Generous leave & holidays

Tuition/educational benefits

Job summary

The University of New England in Portland, Maine, invites applications for an Instructional Designer I (ID1). This on-site role focuses on planning, developing, and delivering engaging online learning experiences using instructional design theories and LMS tools.

You will collaborate with faculty, manage course content, update syllabi and policies, and ensure alignment with adult learning principles for effective online delivery.

Qualifications

• Strong strategic, analytical, and creative thinking skills, including curricular assessment, planning, and process improvement.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to persuade, lead, motivate, instruct, and collaborate effectively as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, strategize, and deliver major instructional design initiatives, prioritize projects, assess workloads, and recommend adjustments to assignments.
• Experience with online teaching and learning in higher education or corporate settings, including familiarity with common Learning Management Systems (LMS), particularly Blackboard.
• Knowledge of instructional design principles, electronic learning best practices, course materials development, assessment techniques, and adult learning theory.
• Familiarity with Quality Matters course design rubrics and accessibility requirements, including ADA compliance in electronic and distance learning environments.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced, creative team environment, meet tight deadlines, and adapt to changing needs.
• Enthusiasm for researching and experimenting with emerging classroom and web technologies.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with course stakeholders to develop and manage engaging instructional activities, materials, and media using instructional design theories and best practices.
• Analyze existing courses and recommend improvements in instructional design, learning objectives, activities, and evaluation methods in consultation with stakeholders.
• Prepare courses in the Learning Management System (LMS) each term, including updating syllabi, policies, course descriptions, and grading policies; creating course schedules and support information; developing learning modules with overviews, objectives, materials, and assessments; and configuring multimedia resources and gradebooks.
• Conduct quality assurance reviews and functionality testing, including testing integrated and non-integrated third‑party platforms, and facilitate course approval in accordance with College quality guidelines.
• Maintain active courses throughout the semester and respond promptly to faculty and student concerns.
• Develop course revision timelines under the guidance of the Director of Learning Experience and ensure projects are completed on time and meet quality standards.
• Attend and lead regular stakeholder meetings to discuss instructional design, update project timelines, develop or revise learning activities, and review materials in progress.
• Support faculty in using course management tools, including monitoring student engagement, managing discussion forums, maintaining gradebooks, and providing feedback.
• Ensure adherence to the University's intellectual property guidelines and ADA compliance in online and distance learning environments.
• Recommend instructional tools, media, and approaches to enhance teaching and learning.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support a collaborative and innovative learning environment.

Job description

Description

The Instructional Designer I (ID1) performs a variety of instructional design functions related to the planning, development, and delivery of engaging learning experiences through online platforms. The ID1 uses instructional technology tools to design interactive learning content, researches instructional design theories and tools to assess their applicability to learning, and develops or updates courses, instructional materials, and other digital instructional content in alignment with adult learning theory for online delivery.

Position Type

Professional Staff

Employment Status

Full Time

Months

12

Campus

Portland, ME

Description

The Instructional Designer I (ID1) performs a variety of instructional design functions related to the planning, development, and delivery of engaging learning experiences through online platforms. The ID1 uses instructional technology tools to design interactive learning content, researches instructional design theories and tools to assess their applicability to learning, and develops or updates courses, instructional materials, and other digital instructional content in alignment with adult learning theory for online delivery.

This position requires on-site work at the University's Portland, Maine, campus.

About The University Of New England

UNE is Maine's largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands‑on learning, empowering students to positively impact a world full of challenges. We are the state's top provider of health professionals and home to Maine's only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts.

Benefits Overview

• Multiple health and dental plan options, plus vision coverage.


• Up to 8% retirement plan match.


• Generous leave time, including vacation, sick, and personal time, and 12+ holidays per year.


• Educational benefits:
  
  
  
  • UNE tuition waiver for employees, spouses, and domestic partners.
  
  
  • UNE tuition waiver for dependents of employees with 1 year of full-time service.
  
  
  • 50% tuition reduction if less than 1 year of full-time service.
  
  
  
  

For more information about our outstanding benefits, please visit: UNE Benefits Overview

Responsibilities

Content Creation, Course Management, and Maintenance

• Collaborate with course stakeholders to develop and manage engaging instructional activities, materials, and media using instructional design theories and best practices.


• Analyze existing courses and recommend improvements in instructional design, learning objectives, activities, and evaluation methods in consultation with stakeholders.


• Prepare courses in the Learning Management System (LMS) each term, including updating syllabi, policies, course descriptions, and grading policies; creating course schedules and support information; developing learning modules with overviews, objectives, materials, and assessments; and configuring multimedia resources and gradebooks.


• Conduct quality assurance reviews and functionality testing, including testing integrated and non-integrated third‑party platforms, and facilitate course approval in accordance with College quality guidelines.


• Maintain active courses throughout the semester and respond promptly to faculty and student concerns.

Project and Time Management and Collaboration

• Develop course revision timelines under the guidance of the Director of Learning Experience and ensure projects are completed on time and meet quality standards.


• Attend and lead regular stakeholder meetings to discuss instructional design, update project timelines, develop or revise learning activities, and review materials in progress.

Faculty and Student Support

• Support faculty in using course management tools, including monitoring student engagement, managing discussion forums, maintaining gradebooks, and providing feedback.

Compliance and Additional Responsibilities

• Ensure adherence to the University's intellectual property guidelines and ADA compliance in online and distance learning environments.


• Recommend instructional tools, media, and approaches to enhance teaching and learning.


• Perform other duties as assigned to support a collaborative and innovative learning environment.

Qualifications

Master's degree with substantial coursework and research in instructional design, curriculum development, pedagogy, or a related field is preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Strong strategic, analytical, and creative thinking skills, including curricular assessment, planning, and process improvement.


• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to persuade, lead, motivate, instruct, and collaborate effectively as part of a team.


• Demonstrated ability to plan, strategize, and deliver major instructional design initiatives, prioritize projects, assess workloads, and recommend adjustments to assignments.


• Experience with online teaching and learning in higher education or corporate settings, including familiarity with common Learning Management Systems (LMS), particularly Blackboard.


• Knowledge of instructional design principles, electronic learning best practices, course materials development, assessment techniques, and adult learning theory.


• Familiarity with Quality Matters course design rubrics and accessibility requirements, including ADA compliance in electronic and distance learning environments.


• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced, creative team environment, meet tight deadlines, and adapt to changing needs.


• Enthusiasm for researching and experimenting with emerging classroom and web technologies.

EEO Statement Summary

Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits, and will not tolerate, discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors should not motivate decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.

Posting Number

2022PS1010P