Job Description

Department

Online & Continuing Education - Online Learning

Salary range

$63,972.00 to $88,539.48

Hours per week

35

Grade

10

Posted date

July 17, 2025

Closing date

July 31, 2025

Position Type

Full Time - Operating Funded

Description

---------------

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).


This position has a term length of 2 years and offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Location -

This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person. Work primarily takes place at Enterprise Square, Edmonton.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Metis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.


The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.


Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people -- from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just.

Learn more

.

Working for

Online Learning & Continuing Education (OCE)

Online Learning & Continuing Education (OCE) is a central U of A service unit in the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) that partners with colleges, faculties, and external partners to develop and deliver online courses, programs, and non-credit micro-credentials. OCE leverages its deep expertise, skills, and experience to build high-quality and scalable online offerings to enable the U of A to expand its enrolment capacity, reach new student populations, and provide accessible pathways into U of A offerings.


The Online Learning team supports the development and delivery of high-demand online courses and programming, with a current focus on developing new online graduate certificates and course-based master's programs. The team provides extensive expertise to elevate the quality and accessibility of online programming at the U of A.

Position

The Instructional Designer plays a key role in the design and development of innovative, purposeful online learning at the University of Alberta. As part of Online Learning and Continuing Education (OCE), the Instructional Designer creates enriched, interactive digital learning experiences. The Instructional Designer will engage in various online course projects, including both credit and non-credit programming. Additionally, the Instructional Designer will work with internal and external partners on digital training and development opportunities that support the OCE Action Plan, and unit Priorities and targets.


The Instructional Designer is excited by the art of the possible in online learning. A creative thinker, the Instructional Designer is eager to design experiences that are impactful and memorable, and that align with best practices for online learning. The Instructional Designer is a skilled communicator that will work closely with academics, SMEs, and instructors to provide guidance, recommendations, and support throughout the course development process and to ensure that deliverables meet and exceed the expectations of all partners.


The Instructional Designer will lead the planning and design of each new digital learning experience. This includes persona development, content frameworking, storyboarding, core content design, and the identification of activities, interactives, assessments, and multimedia to enrich the learning experience.


Additionally, the Instructional Designer ensures quality across every experience, compliance with copyright and accessibility standards, and collaboration with internal partner groups to ensure Indigenous Initiatives and Access Community and Belonging are at the forefront of and represented across all online programming.


The incumbent will work closely with the Online Learning's Senior Project Manager to align resources and monitor projects and reports directly to the Senior Instructional Designer, Online & Continuing Education.

Duties

Planning & Design

Ensure Indigenous Initiatives and Access, Community and Belonging, are foundational to all planning, design, and development work. Align design recommendations to accessibility guidelines, UDL, WCAG, and best practices in digital LX/UX. Working with faculty, instructors, SMEs, and external clients, conduct a needs assessment to identify learning gaps or skill development needs of the target audience(s), identify desired outcomes, and make high-level recommendations for the learning experience. Review any existing source content or course materials owned by the academic lead/SME that may be transformed for online delivery. Facilitate a persona workshop to develop a persona package that includes a primary, secondary, and tertiary persona for the learning experience.

Content, Assets, & Assessments

Coach the academic lead/SME as they draft core content using the OCE's pre-approved content template, or collaborate with the academic lead/SME and a content writer on the creation of core content. Provide substantive editing for structure, readability, and flow; review subsequent drafts of core content, escalating certain drafts for copyediting to an approved OCE editor. Perform minor copy edits to instructional materials by checking for grammatical errors, punctuation, spelling and overall flow of materials, providing suggestions for revisions with the academic lead / SME. Escalate areas for additional support in each project (such as copyediting, media, writing) that require additional resourcing to the Senior Project Manager.

Quality Assurance & Testing

Perform quality assessment checks and Course quality reviews (supportive audits) using OCE-approved checklists, quality scorecards, and accessibility guidelines. Perform User Acceptance Testing to validate the functionality of all digital learning objects, assets, and interactives. Contribute to OCE's overall approach to quality assurance through continuous process improvement, skill and knowledge enhancement, and design approach.

Instructor Support

Provide instructor onboarding for the online course, as required. Coordinate with the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL), leveraging the extensive web-based resources, knowledge, and expertise within this unit.

Project Coordination

Collaborate with the Senior Project Manager on all phases of the course project to ensure that the project is delivered on time and on budget, with the highest degree of partner satisfaction. Report weekly on development task status and time spent using Project Management, Time Tracking, and Scheduling tools. Collaborate with the project team using asynchronous tools and status meeting updates.

Qualifications

An Undergraduate degree in educational technology, instructional design, adult education or a related field is required; a Master's degree would be an asset. A diploma with extensive instructional design experience may be considered. A minimum of three years of online instructional design work experience; preference given to those with experience designing credit, non-credit, and corporate digital learning experiences. Experience in the planning, design, and development of micro-credentials is considered an asset. Demonstrated experience creating online courses within various learning management systems and course authoring tools, including Articulate Rise & Storyline. Experience consulting, supporting, and including Indigenous Initiatives and Access, Community and Belonging across the digital learning experience. Exceptional creativity and ability to design enriched, innovative online learning that utilizes a variety of modalities, technologies, and multimedia. Strong coaching and facilitation skills to work with academics, SMEs, and clients on the design and development of digital learning experiences. The ability to produce confident instructional design recommendations back to clients and partners is essential to this role. Must have experience developing learner personas, content frameworks, and storyboards. Keen eye for detail for editing, quality assurance, and user acceptance testing. Familiarity with copyright legislation and compliance. Some experience in and knowledge of web, graphic design, and multimedia development (i.e., HTML, CSS, Adobe, Camtasia, Dreamweaver, etc.) would be considered an asset to the role. Experience in project management and the tools, approaches, and phases of the project lifecycle. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to positively influence partners, build trust, and generate excitement.


At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.


We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.



All University employees have a responsibility to foster a workplace that prioritizes safety in all its forms--physical, cultural, and psychological. This is achieved by promoting a safe environment, adhering to all safety laws, policies and procedures, completing all required safety training, identifying hazards and implementing controls, reporting incidents, and contributing to a culture of inclusivity and respect, while endeavoring to ensure that all colleagues feel valued and safe to express their thoughts, perspectives and concerns.



The University of Alberta is committed to creating a university community where everyone feels valued, barriers to success are removed, and thriving connections are fostered. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women, First Nations, Metis and Inuit persons, members of visible minority groups, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.



L'Universite de l'Alberta s'engage a creer une communaute universitaire ou chaque personne se sent valorisee, ou les obstacles a la reussite sont elimines et ou des connexions enrichissantes peuvent se developper. Nous accueillons les demandes de toutes les personnes qualifiees. Nous encourageons les femmes; Premieres nations, Metis et Inuits; membres des groupes minoritaires visibles; personnes handicapees; personnes ayant une orientation sexuelle ou une identite et une expression sexospecifique; et tous ceux qui peuvent contribuer a la diversification des idees et a l'universite a postuler.

Note:

This opportunity will be available until midnight July 31, 2025, Edmonton, Alberta local time.