Instructional Designer

Title: Instructional Designer- Canvas Systems & Course Quality

Department: Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

Work Location: Remote or Hybrid

Reports To: Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL)

FLSA Status: Full-time, Exempt

Salary: $85,000- $100,000/annually

Position Summary:

The Instructional Designer partners with faculty across Notre Dame de Namur University's schools and programs to design, develop, and continuously improve high-quality courses and learning experiences. Working within CETL, this role blends pedagogical expertise with technical fluency in the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) to support faculty at every stage of course design — from initial concept through ongoing quality improvement — while advancing CETL's broader mission of teaching excellence, accessibility, and innovation across the university.

Core Responsibilities:

Partner with faculty to design, develop, and revise courses using sound instructional design principles and evidence-based pedagogy

Build and maintain course content, structure, and functionality within Canvas, ensuring a consistent and high-quality student experience

Support faculty through consultations, training, and troubleshooting related to course design and Canvas functionality

Apply and promote course quality, accessibility (ADA/WCAG 2.1), and regulatory standards, including Regular & Substantive Interaction (RSI) and credit-hour alignment

Contribute to CETL programming, faculty development initiatives, and institutional teaching and learning priorities

Collaborate with colleagues across CETL, academic schools, and administrative units to support institutional goals

Stay current on trends, tools, and best practices in instructional design, educational technology, and higher education pedagogy

Qualifications:

Master's degree in Instructional Design, Educational Instructional Technology, or a related field

Advanced Canvas Administrator-level proficiency or certification, including integrations and troubleshooting at scale (beyond course-building)

Experience with Canvas Outcomes and/or program-level assessment

Experience with Canvas Course Analytics, or AI integrations within Canvas

Certification from Quality Matters (QM) or the Online Learning Consortium (OLC)

Demonstrated experience in instructional design, preferably within higher education

Working proficiency with Canvas LMS or a comparable learning management system

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical or pedagogical concepts for varied audiences

Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities independently

Demonstrated commitment to inclusive, accessible, and student-centered course design

Specialized Focus:

This position is especially systems-minded, serving as a power user of Canvas up to the administrator level. This person moves fluidly between the technical (integrations, analytics, and troubleshooting) and the pedagogical, working directly with faculty on course structure and content. They think in terms of standards and rubrics when reviewing a course, and compliance is a core part of their approach, including fluency in Regular & Substantive Interaction (RSI), ADA accessibility, and credit-hour alignment. They are the first point of contact for faculty seeking help in Canvas, and are comfortable inviting a colleague to partner in bringing a course up to standard.

Specialized Responsibilities:

Lead significant course and curriculum design and assessment work within Canvas, including close collaboration with faculty on course creation

Conduct course audits and quality reviews using OLC or QM standards (or equivalent applied methodology)

Apply advanced knowledge of compliance requirements, including course-hour/credit-hour standards, Regular & Substantive Interaction (RSI), and WCAG 2.1/ADA accessibility standards

Serve as the primary point of contact for faculty Canvas support, troubleshooting, and course improvement

Application Procedures:

NDNU is committed to providing an educational environment that supports a diverse student population. In your cover letter, please include information about your experiences in working in a diverse environment, and what qualities you would bring to supporting this commitment to inclusive excellence at NDNU.

EEOC Policy:

The University is an equal opportunity employer and is firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and in the application of its personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, employment decisions will be made irrespective of the staff member's race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law. When necessary, the University will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities, if the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform all essential functions of the position and if it will be done without undue hardship to the University.