What are the responsibilities and job description for the Instructional Designer position at Vanderbilt University?
Job Description
The Instructional Designer is part of the Office of Learning Innovation within the Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education in the Office of the Deputy Provost at Vanderbilt University and is a key individual contributor responsible for advancing high-quality, inclusive teaching and learning across the university. This position is part of a centralized instructional design team that collaborates with faculty and academic units to design, develop, and enhance online courses that reflect best practices in pedagogy and accessibility. The Instructional Designer provides expert consultation and faculty development support while contributing to institutional initiatives that promote innovation in teaching and learning. This role requires strong collaboration, creativity, and a commitment to continuous improvement in educational design. Reporting directly to the Assistant Director of Instructional Design.
The Instructional Designer will collaborate with faculty and university partners to design engaging, inclusive, and pedagogically sound learning experiences that advance the institution’s teaching and learning mission. This position supports multiple academic units and initiatives, applying creativity, organization, and expertise in instructional design to achieve institutional goals for quality and innovation.
The Office of the Deputy Provost was established by Provost C. Cybele Raver in 2025 to strengthen Vanderbilt's ability to implement strategic academic initiatives and foster cross-institutional alignment. Led by Deputy Provost Tracey George, the office is charged with advancing enterprise-wide priorities across schools and colleges, leading important special initiatives, and supporting the Provost in executing Vanderbilt's academic vision.
Created by the University Provost, the Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education (AdvancED) exists to promote cutting-edge innovations in higher education pedagogy and student experience in order to maximize the impact of new ideas on society. The Institute provides university faculty development and training, optimizes student learning in all environments, drives technological and pedagogical innovation, and charts the course for a best-in-class future. The Institute includes the Office of Education Design and Development and the Office of Learning Innovation.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Instructional Designer will collaborate with faculty and university partners to design engaging, inclusive, and pedagogically sound learning experiences that advance the institution’s teaching and learning mission. This position supports multiple academic units and initiatives, applying creativity, organization, and expertise in instructional design to achieve institutional goals for quality and innovation. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Instructional Design and Development: Design and develop online courses in partnership with faculty, ensuring alignment with program outcomes, learning objectives, and institutional quality standards.
- Consultation and Support: Serve as a design consultant to faculty and departments across the university, providing guidance on course structure, learning activities, assessment strategies, and the effective use of educational technology.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with project managers, digital media specialists, learning technologists, and other university teams to design and deliver cohesive, high-quality courses and programs that align with institutional standards and timelines.
- Quality and Accessibility: Ensure all instructional materials and digital content meet accessibility, usability, and quality assurance standards in accordance with university policy and best practices.
- Innovation and Research: Stay current with trends in learning science, educational technology, and instructional design; share insights and contribute to the development of institutional best practices.
- Technology and Tools: Utilize systems such as Brightspace, Microsoft 365, and other emerging educational technologies to support course design and faculty engagement.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in instructional design, educational technology, curriculum and instruction, or a related field is necessary.
- Master’s degree is preferred.
- Quality Matters certification is preferred.
- One to three years demonstrated experience designing and developing online, in-person, or hybrid courses within a higher education environment is necessary.
- Strong knowledge of instructional design frameworks, learning theory, and effective online pedagogy is necessary.
- Experience applying accessibility standards and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in digital course design is necessary.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and stakeholder relationships in a collaborative, service-oriented environment is necessary.
- Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to consult effectively across disciplines and organizational levels is necessary.
- Proficiency with learning management systems (e.g., Canvas, Brightspace, Blackboard) and related instructional technologies is necessary.
- Demonstrated success partnering with faculty and academic leadership to advance institutional goals for teaching and learning is preferred.
- Familiarity with Quality Matters or other recognized quality assurance frameworks for online learning is preferred.
- Commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and staying current with research and emerging practices in online education is preferred.
The Instructional Designer is part of the Office of Learning Innovation within the Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education in the Office of the Deputy Provost at Vanderbilt University and is a key individual contributor responsible for advancing high-quality, inclusive teaching and learning across the university. This position is part of a centralized instructional design team that collaborates with faculty and academic units to design, develop, and enhance online courses that reflect best practices in pedagogy and accessibility. The Instructional Designer provides expert consultation and faculty development support while contributing to institutional initiatives that promote innovation in teaching and learning. This role requires strong collaboration, creativity, and a commitment to continuous improvement in educational design. Reporting directly to the Assistant Director of Instructional Design.
The Instructional Designer will collaborate with faculty and university partners to design engaging, inclusive, and pedagogically sound learning experiences that advance the institution’s teaching and learning mission. This position supports multiple academic units and initiatives, applying creativity, organization, and expertise in instructional design to achieve institutional goals for quality and innovation.
The Office of the Deputy Provost was established by Provost C. Cybele Raver in 2025 to strengthen Vanderbilt's ability to implement strategic academic initiatives and foster cross-institutional alignment. Led by Deputy Provost Tracey George, the office is charged with advancing enterprise-wide priorities across schools and colleges, leading important special initiatives, and supporting the Provost in executing Vanderbilt's academic vision.
Created by the University Provost, the Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education (AdvancED) exists to promote cutting-edge innovations in higher education pedagogy and student experience in order to maximize the impact of new ideas on society. The Institute provides university faculty development and training, optimizes student learning in all environments, drives technological and pedagogical innovation, and charts the course for a best-in-class future. The Institute includes the Office of Education Design and Development and the Office of Learning Innovation.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Instructional Designer will collaborate with faculty and university partners to design engaging, inclusive, and pedagogically sound learning experiences that advance the institution’s teaching and learning mission. This position supports multiple academic units and initiatives, applying creativity, organization, and expertise in instructional design to achieve institutional goals for quality and innovation. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Instructional Design and Development: Design and develop online courses in partnership with faculty, ensuring alignment with program outcomes, learning objectives, and institutional quality standards.
- Consultation and Support: Serve as a design consultant to faculty and departments across the university, providing guidance on course structure, learning activities, assessment strategies, and the effective use of educational technology.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with project managers, digital media specialists, learning technologists, and other university teams to design and deliver cohesive, high-quality courses and programs that align with institutional standards and timelines.
- Quality and Accessibility: Ensure all instructional materials and digital content meet accessibility, usability, and quality assurance standards in accordance with university policy and best practices.
- Innovation and Research: Stay current with trends in learning science, educational technology, and instructional design; share insights and contribute to the development of institutional best practices.
- Technology and Tools: Utilize systems such as Brightspace, Microsoft 365, and other emerging educational technologies to support course design and faculty engagement.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in instructional design, educational technology, curriculum and instruction, or a related field is necessary.
- Master’s degree is preferred.
- Quality Matters certification is preferred.
- One to three years demonstrated experience designing and developing online, in-person, or hybrid courses within a higher education environment is necessary.
- Strong knowledge of instructional design frameworks, learning theory, and effective online pedagogy is necessary.
- Experience applying accessibility standards and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in digital course design is necessary.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and stakeholder relationships in a collaborative, service-oriented environment is necessary.
- Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to consult effectively across disciplines and organizational levels is necessary.
- Proficiency with learning management systems (e.g., Canvas, Brightspace, Blackboard) and related instructional technologies is necessary.
- Demonstrated success partnering with faculty and academic leadership to advance institutional goals for teaching and learning is preferred.
- Familiarity with Quality Matters or other recognized quality assurance frameworks for online learning is preferred.
- Commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and staying current with research and emerging practices in online education is preferred.