Job Description

Serves as a subject matter expert (SME) and mentor to instructional designers (IDs), leading the integration of innovative features and practices-with a specialized focus on equity, accessibility, and inclusive design. This role ensures the timely and effective incorporation of emerging instructional technologies and methodologies into course design and content development. This role is also a key point of contact for "how-to" inquiries related to equitable and accessible instructional design and assessment development.

This role is critical in bridging the gap between instructional design expertise and the adoption of cutting-edge educational technologies, ensuring instructional designers are well-equipped to create engaging, effective, and forward-thinking learning experiences. This role additionally serves as a cross-team advocate, working laterally across Academic Program Development (APD) to lead the integration of equity strategies into course materials, assessments, and learning experiences.

Location: This position will be onsite based in our Raleigh, NC office.

Primary Responsibilities

• Coaches instructional designers in APD on course/content development using equitable, accessible design practices.
• Leads the integration of new instructional design features and approaches; evaluates impact on diverse learner populations.
• Ensures the timely rollout of new strategies and tools, monitoring effectiveness and learner impact.
• Mentors and develops instructional designers and contractors, through training, guidance, and scalable resources.
• Explores and implements emerging technologies (including generative AI); document best practices and innovation standards.
• Develops and maintains AI-enabled guidance to ensure consistent design practices across instructional design roles.
• Partners with stakeholders to strengthen instructional strategy and uphold academic quality standards.
• Contributes to course development to ensure alignment with WGU's mission and academic quality standards.
• Delivers workshops, training sessions, and just-in-time resources to build team capability.
• Leads cross-functional projects; recommends and implements process improvements.
• Coordinates contractor work (approve hours, track timelines) to keep projects on schedule.
• Designs and champions scalable solutions that advance student equity and next-generation accessibility across APD's course portfolio.
• Works laterally across APD teams to integrate equity strategies into course materials, learning resources, and assessments.
• Creates and drives adoption of consistent accessibility, DEI, and inclusive design frameworks across curriculum and content.
• Applies Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to proactively support diverse learner needs.
• Conducts needs-analyses; provide training, consultation, and guidance on accessible design, assistive technologies, and data-informed equity gap reduction.
• Represents APD and serve as a cross-department spokesperson for equity, diversity, and accessibility practices in Program Development.
• Evaluates AI tools and instructional technologies through an equity lens; identify opportunities and risks for diverse learner populations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

This job description includes a general representation of job requirements rather than a comprehensive inventory of all required responsibilities or work activities. The contents of this document or related job requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expertise in instructional design, curriculum development, and learner experience (UX).
• Advanced knowledge of emerging instructional technologies, including Generative AI applications in education.
• Ability to integrate innovative instructional strategies into course and program design.
• Advanced technical writing and documentation skills to codify and scale best practices.
• Strong mentoring, coaching, and training skills to develop instructional designers.
• Cross-functional leadership and stakeholder collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated innovation in instructional design, course/program development, and process enhancement.
• Problem-solving and analytical skills to assess instructional effectiveness and recommend improvements.
• Strong organizational and self-management skills; able to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Expertise in equity-centered and inclusive instructional design (UDL, accessible design, culturally responsive pedagogy).
• Working knowledge of ADA, Section 504, Section 508, WCAG, and related accessibility standards for digital learning.
• Ability to translate equity principles into scalable, practical design solutions across a large instructional design team.

Education

• Master's degree in Education, Instructional Design, User Experience Design, or a related field.

Experience

• 7 years of relevant experience
• Advanced experience in instructional design and content development for competency-based education.
• Project leadership in multiple areas (e.g., multiple programs, maintenance, QA).
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in job-relevant content or practice area.
• Strong experience with one or more of the following: learning design for equity, universal design for learning, accessible design for digital learning, or designing learning experiences to reduce equity gaps.

Experience in lieu of education

Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate (PhD or EdD) in a related field.
• Advanced experience with systems and procedures for course and program development.
• Certification or demonstrated expertise in accessibility (e.g., IAAP CPACC, WAS, or equivalent).
• Experience conducting accessibility audits of digital learning content.

Travel

This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

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Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.