Instructional Design Senior Specialist

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Job Title:

Instructional Design Senior Specialist

Department:

FAES | School of Environment and Natural Resources

Under minimal supervision, the Instructional Design Senior Specialist provides strategic leadership and expert support for SENR’s distance education and online learning initiatives. This role combines deep knowledge of instructional design principles with practical experience in course development, pedagogy, and digital learning technologies. The position is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining high-quality, accessible, and inclusive online courses that reflect best practices in teaching and learning.

The Specialist collaborates with faculty, staff, and university partners to enhance course effectiveness, supports the adoption of evidence-based instructional strategies, and contributes to continuous improvement of online and hybrid learning experiences. This position also provides project leadership, manages instructional technology tools, and oversees key instructional support efforts including teaching assistant coordination and course administration. Opportunities to teach undergraduate courses may be available based on program needs and the candidate’s interests and qualifications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership in the design, development, and evaluation of online and hybrid courses aligned with pedagogical best practices and accessibility standards.
• Serve as a pedagogical and technological resource for faculty and staff, offering guidance on course design, instructional technology, and assessment strategies.
• Conduct regular quality assurance reviews of existing online and hybrid course portfolio using established Ohio State rubrics and guidelines for online learning.
• Participate in and lead collaborative project teams across SENR and the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
• Serve as the local Learning Management System (LMS) administrator (Canvas) and provide first-line support for users within the School.
• Serve as the local administrator for the social annotation tool Hypothesis and provide first-line support for users within the College.
• Develop and lead professional development opportunities for instructors on instructional design, digital pedagogy, and online course delivery.
• Contribute to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) through research, collaboration, publication, and presentation of findings at academic conferences.
• Network with instructional designers and technologists within and beyond Ohio State University to stay informed of emerging trends and tools in instructional design.

Minimum Education Required

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Instructional Design, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of experience in instructional design and online course development.
• Demonstrated expertise in adult learning theory, instructional design, and online pedagogy.
• Experience collaborating with subject matter experts to design and implement high-quality online learning experiences.
• Proficiency with learning management systems (preferably Canvas), Microsoft 365 Copilot, and other learning technology supported by Ohio State.
• Experience applying accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG 2.0 Level AA) in online learnin