Remote Instructional Designer — Higher Ed & Impact

Sonoran Desert Institute; Yuma (AZ); Remote; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

Medical option (100% company-paid for

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off

Education Tuition Benefit

Career development opportunities

Pet Insurance

Company-paid Life Insurance

Referral program

EAP

Job summary

Sonoran Desert Institute is seeking an experienced Instructional Designer to join our team. You will design and develop engaging online courses, collaborate with subject matter experts, and create course shells in Canvas using native tools and add-on authoring software.

You will ensure accessibility, apply adult learning principles, and align content with objectives while supporting quality assurance. Some travel (up to 10%) may be required, and the remote role is limited to specific states.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of professional experience in instructional design.
• At least one year of professional instructional design experience at a higher education institution.
• Advanced knowledge of adult learning principles and distance instruction.
• Practical experience with learning management systems and course-authoring software.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with subject matter experts to analyze learning needs and identify objectives; create course documentation and resources.
• Apply instructional design principles and accessibility standards to content.
• Design and develop engaging online course materials, assessments and discussions.
• Develop course shells and modules in the LMS using course authoring tools.
• Source external media and cite resources; support QA processes.
• Stay current with trends in instructional design and distance education.

Skills

Instructional design

Adult learning theory

Written & verbal communication

Time management

Project coordination

Travel readiness

Education

Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instructional Design or related subject

Certificate or formal training in instructional design / eLearning (≥ 720 clock hours)

Tools

Canvas LMS

Course-authoring software (CidiLabs, Design Plus, Canva)

Job description

Sonoran Desert Institute is seeking an experienced Instructional Designer to join our team. You will design and develop engaging online courses, collaborate with subject matter experts, and create course shells in Canvas using native tools and add-on authoring software.

You will ensure accessibility, apply adult learning principles, and align content with objectives while supporting quality assurance. Some travel (up to 10%) may be required, and the remote role is limited to specific states.