[Remote] Instructional Designer

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. The University of California, Santa Cruz is a unique public university known for its innovative and experimental approach to education. The Instructional Designer will work collaboratively with various teams to manage the development of online courses, ensuring they meet educational standards and accessibility requirements while leveraging emerging technologies.

Responsibilities

• Designs, develops, and maintains asynchronous and hybrid online middle/high school courses by applying sound instructional design principles
• Aligns learning objectives, assessments, content, and activities to support defined academic goals
• Selects and applies appropriate educational technologies to create engaging, standards-aligned learning experiences
• Collaborates with the instructional design team, subject matter experts, and cross-functional partners to determine effective delivery methods, promote learner engagement, and ensure alignment with established procedures and timelines
• Manages assigned course development deliverables using defined tools and workflows, tracking progress, addressing obstacles, and communicating proactively to ensure timely and high-quality outcomes
• Participates in project planning and content review meetings and efforts
• Tests instructional content and tools to ensure compliance with ADA/WCAG accessibility standards
• Deploys, monitors, and troubleshoots course materials built into, embedded within, or linked through Canvas, as well as integrated e-learning platforms and educational technology tools (e.g., H5P, Kaltura, DesignPLUS, Google Workspace) to ensure functionality, accessibility, well-structured design, and a consistent user experience
• Operates under supervision to carry out ongoing course maintenance, revision, and development tasks, receiving detailed guidance for new or complex projects
• Contributes to team productivity by collaboratively prioritizing assignments, analyzing needs or bottlenecks, and developing practical recommendations that support departmental goals and instructional design operations
• Identifies, initiates, and otherwise participates in continuous improvement efforts to enhance instructional quality and student experience catalog-wide
• Regularly engages in professional development, including self-directed as well as guided learning, to build instructional design expertise
• Participates in planning activities such as curriculum mapping, instructional sequencing, and job task analyses under the mentorship of senior staff
• Expands knowledge of instructional strategy, accessibility standards, educational technologies, and cross-functional collaboration to support increasing independence and contribution to team goals

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
• Sound knowledge of instructional design principles and learning strategies, including needs analysis, backward design, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), learning outcomes and assessment alignment, and instructional approaches suited for the online environment. Understands how work within one course may impact adjacent courses, shared assets, or programmatic goals
• Demonstrated attention to detail, analytical thinking skills, and the ability to organize, conduct, and synthesize analysis to inform decisions and develop recommendations. Strong problem-solving and organizational skills
• Proficiency in verbal, written, and interpersonal communication; ability to collaborate effectively across teams and negotiate shared solutions when needed
• Working knowledge of learning management systems (e.g., Canvas), video and multimedia tools (e.g., Kaltura), course design tools (e.g., DesignPLUS, HTML), and productivity and project management software (e.g., Asana, Google Workspace). Demonstrates awareness of trends in educational technology and its role in delivering engaging, media-rich online learning experiences
• Working knowledge of copyright law, ADA/WCAG accessibility standards in digital environments, and related regulations and guidelines for online course development and distribution
• Working knowledge of learning theories relevant to high school education, student needs, and instructional practices for online learners
• Demonstrates a growth mindset toward emerging technologies, with experience or willingness to explore and adopt AI-powered tools to enhance productivity, support data-driven decision-making, and drive continuous improvement in workflows and outcomes
• Teaching Credential, ID degree and/or certification, or other/equivalent experience or training
• Master's degree in instructional design, educational technology, curriculum and instruction, learning design and technology, or a closely related field
• Familiarity with institutional policies and procedures that impact online course development, including academic integrity, accessibility, quality assurance frameworks, and instructional quality standards

Benefits

• Full benefits
• Ability to work successfully from a home/remote office and be able to fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as directed
• Ability to occasionally work overtime with little or no advance notice
• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training

Company Overview