Director of Learning Design

Colorado State University

$120K — $140K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree
  • 8+ years in instructional design or educational technology
  • 3+ years managing teams
  • Proven ability to lead strategic initiatives
  • Experience translating strategy into measurable operations

Responsibilities

  • Lead and implement the strategic vision for learning design across the division
  • Develop a team culture focused on innovation and collaboration
  • Set standards for course design and quality assurance
  • Translate pedagogy trends into scalable design practices
  • Maintain partnerships with academic and external stakeholders
  • Oversee learning design project planning and execution
  • Manage budget and educational technology investments

Benefits

  • Hybrid work arrangements may be available
  • Regular on-site presence to support team leadership
  • Occasional travel for work-related engagements
  • Engagement in national discussions on teaching and learning
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Director of Learning Design serves as a strategic leader within the Division of Learning Innovation at Colorado State University, responsible for advancing the quality, innovation, and impact of learning experiences across online, hybrid, and in-person offerings. Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President for Learning Innovation, this role leads a 30+ person team and translates institutional strategy into scalable, high-quality learning design practices.

This position is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Hybrid work arrangements may be available; however, regular on-site presence is expected to support team leadership, collaboration, and partner engagement. Occasional travel and evening/weekend work may be required.

Essential Job Duties:
  • Lead and operationalize the strategic vision for learning design across the Division of Learning Innovation, aligning with CSU's Strategic Roadmap and growth goals.
  • Direct and develop a team of managers and learning design professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Establish and implement standards for course design, accessibility, and quality assurance across all learning modalities.
  • Translate emerging trends in pedagogy, learning science, and educational technology into actionable design practices and scalable solutions.
  • Build and maintain strategic partnerships with academic colleges, IT, faculty, and external stakeholders to advance learning innovation.
  • Oversee planning, prioritization, and execution of learning design projects to ensure alignment with divisional goals and timelines.
  • Manage budget, staffing strategy, and investment in educational technologies to support sustainable growth and impact.
  • Represent Learning Innovation in campus-wide and external forums, contributing to institutional strategy and national conversations on teaching and learning.

Supervision:
  • Senior Managers and Managers, Learning Design
  • Program Coordinators, Learning Design
  • Indirect supervision of Instructional Designers, Media Production staff, and related roles

Conditions of Employment:
  • Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires).
  • Must have a valid driver's license or the ability to obtain a driver's license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.
  • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available.
  • Occasional travel and flexible work hours, including evenings and weekends, may be required.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree
  • 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in instructional design, educational technology, or related field.
  • 3+ years of experience managing teams and/or managers.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead strategic initiatives with cross-functional or institutional impact.
  • Experience translating strategy into operations with measurable outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Familiarity with Quality Matters, WCAG accessibility standards, and universal design for learning.
  • Experience applying emerging technologies (e.g., AI, adaptive learning) to educational design.
  • Master's degree in instructional design, education, or related field.
  • Experience in higher education, particularly online and hybrid learning environments.
  • Demonstrated success building partnerships and influencing across complex organizations.

Application Instructions:

For full consideration, all materials must be RECEIVED in Workday no later than 11:59 PM Mountain Time on Sunday, August 16, 2026. Please submit the following to apply:
  • Resume
  • Cover letter addressing how professional experiences align with identified required and preferred qualifications of the position


For questions regarding the job vacancy, responsibilities, pay rate, please contact Morgan Taylor at [redacted].

Salary Range
$120,000 - $140,000

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Cover Letter, Resume/CV

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