The Division of Educational Ventures at Oregon State University (OSU) is a growing, innovative, and collaborative organization with a commitment to providing high-quality online education. The division extends OSU’s exceptional learning experiences including microcredentials, certificates, and degrees available to students throughout Oregon and around the world.

The division includes Ecampus, offering over 100 online and hybrid degree programs; the Ecampus Research Unit (ECRU), conducting and supporting original research in online teaching and learning; the Corporate and Workforce Education Unit (CWE), creating pathways for learners employed by partners in business and government; the Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy (CORE), providing workforce development for the outdoor recreation industry; the Open Educational Resources Unit (OER), aiding faculty in adopting open course materials; and the Alternative Credential Unit (ACU), developing short-form educational opportunities

The Division of Educational Ventures (DEV) is a leader in national online education, our online bachelor’s program is currently ranked in the top 10 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and has ranked in the top 10 for nine consecutive years.

The Instructional Design Specialist is a full-time (1.0 FTE), professional faculty position for Educational Ventures at OSU. DEV currently operates on a hybrid schedule. Tuesdays and Thursdays are designated in-office days, as well as additional days as needed.

Position Summary:

The Instructional Design Specialist is a professional faculty member who reports to the Associate Director of Instructional Design, within the Division of Educational Ventures and the Course Development and Training (CDT) team. The CDT unit provides expertise and support for the development of online and hybrid courses, including instructional design services, innovative multimedia development, and faculty development programming and support.

Instructional Design Specialists enjoy variety in the subject matter of projects they lead and the ability to make decisions about how their projects are handled. The person in this role has the opportunity to lend knowledge and creativity to the development of online and hybrid courses and the learner’s experience. Work with subject matter experts to identify opportunities and make recommendations for multimedia in online courses. Collaborate with Ecampus multimedia experts who produce video, animations, motion graphics, web applications, etc. Ecampus provides full-service instructional design support for faculty, including production of accessible and copyright-compliant materials, as well as open educational resources. Instructional design specialists are supported in their work by a collaborative team of more than 15 colleagues, shared resources and templates, and training and development opportunities both formal and informal. 

Oregon State University and OSU Ecampus maintain and enhance a collaborative and inclusive community that is dedicated to equity and equal opportunity. All employees of this division are responsible for ensuring that these commitments are achieved. This position supports these goals directly by ensuring that courses delivered through Ecampus are designed to include Universal Design for Learning principles, are fully accessible, and are welcoming and inclusive to a diverse student population.

Key Responsibilities Include:

70% Instructional Design and Support

• Provide instructional design and project management support on a number of online and hybrid course development projects per development cycle.
• Recommend strategies for online and hybrid course design; provide guidance on the effective use of technology.
• Review faculty-provided content to ensure copyright and accessibility standards are met and to provide feedback that is aligned with the Ecampus standards and University and federal policies.
• Build course content into the online platform (Canvas), including any additional tools and technology being used, to include but not limited to page design and formatting, embedding media, building exams, and structuring rubrics.
• Accurately interpret information received and respond appropriately in a professional manner that is timely, clear, and concise.
• Coordinate with Ecampus multimedia developers to assure that a project’s media assets are in alignment with course learning outcomes.
• Guide faculty developers through the development process, including but not limited to setting and maintaining schedules, leading communication between SMEs and team contributors, providing timely and appropriate support to faculty developers, and tracking completion on courseware.
• Perform quality assurance checks on all content and the learning environment to ensure that technical specifications match course requirements set by the faculty; courses published are error-free.
• Maintain and archive project records including meeting notes, status updates, project tracking data, and final project reviews following established practices in the unit.
• Prioritize work to support the competing demands of multiple projects and initiatives within the division. 

25% Instructional Design Innovation and Training

• Keep current with research pertaining to online higher education, pedagogy, andragogy, and pertinent learning theories related to instructional and learning design.
• Produce innovative and creative work reflecting current trends, research, and emerging technologies.
• Lead and facilitate faculty and staff trainings.
• Contribute to the development of training materials and technical documentation. 

5% Professional Development and Service

• Attend professional workshops and meetings, sharing knowledge and networking with other hybrid and online instructional design professionals.
• Enhance expertise by establishing professional development goals to be pursued through training, classes, professional development, conference attendance, etc.
• Provide service to OSU and the land grant system by working on departmental, division, university, regional, and national committees and projects.

OSU commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. 

Benefits: 

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Basic Life. OSU pays 95% of premiums for you and your eligible dependents.
• Vacation leave (15 hours/month), sick leave (8 hours/month), and 10 paid holidays (+1 Special Day).
• Professional development opportunities

• Cell phone provider discounts available at AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile/Sprint

• Free confidential mental health and emotional support services, and counseling resources.
• Retirement savings paid by the university.
• Tuition reduction benefits for you or your qualifying dependents at OSU or the additional six Oregon Public Universities.
• Robust Work Life programs including Dual Career assistance resources, flexible work arrangements, a Family Resource Center, Affinity Groups and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Summary of Benefits: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/prospective-employee
• Total Rewards Package Calculator - https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/new-employees/benefits-calculator

Pay range: The anticipated starting salary is $66,000 - $73,100. The starting salary will be commensurate with education, skills, experience and internal equity.

Work environment:

• Ecampus currently operates on a hybrid schedule, Tuesdays and Thursdays are designated in-office days as well as additional days as needed.
• Typical office environment.
• This position may require travel.
• This position may require working events after hours or on the weekends.

How to apply: If you are excited about the opportunity to work with a mission-driven organization please submit an application using the link - https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/145895 Posting #P07478UF

Closing date: 11/27/23

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in adult education, instructional technology, curriculum design, or related field; OR a bachelor’s degree in another field with three years of online or hybrid course development or teaching experience at the college or university level.
• General understanding of pedagogy and learning theories.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multiple complex, time-sensitive projects to successful completion.
• Experience authoring in a learning management system, for example, Canvas, Blackboard, or Moodle.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
• Experience interacting with diverse groups of people, especially in a professional context.
• A demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
• Awareness of Universal Design for Learning principles and accessibility requirements for online content.
• Demonstrated aptitude to solve problems with flexibility and creativity.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a customer-service-oriented position.
• Outstanding interpersonal, oral, electronic, and written presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Postgraduate degree in adult education, instructional technology, curriculum design, or related field.
• Strong understanding of pedagogy and learning theories specifically as applied to hybrid and online higher education.
• Significant experience in hybrid or online course development or in instructional design or in faculty or staff support.
• Experience working in higher education, especially in developing or teaching hybrid or online courses, and/or with instructional development and support.
• Experience supporting a long-term project related to course development, training or teaching advancement.
• Familiarity with a quality framework such as Quality Matters, OSCQR, etc.
• Familiarity with multimedia, social learning tools, and web development technologies such as HTML.