Instructional Designer

About Us:

Located in Georgetown, Texas, Southwestern University is an independent, four-year undergraduate institution offers a top-ranked integrated arts and sciences curriculum that incorporates the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, and natural sciences.

At Southwestern University, we are committed to fostering an environment where every individual feels respected, valued, and empowered. We believe that a thriving community is built on the strength of varying perspectives and experiences, and we strive to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. Our actions are guided by a commitment to fairness, openness, and the belief that our differences are what make us stronger as a whole.

Position Overview:

Southwestern University has an immediate opening for a Instructional Designer. This position will report to the Dean of the Faculty. The incumbent plays a central role in supporting faculty in the design and delivery of high-quality, inclusive, and effective teaching and learning. The position requires expertise in instructional design, inclusive pedagogy, evidence-based teaching strategies, and faculty development. Reporting to the Dean of the Faculty, this role is critical to advancing Southwestern’s commitment to innovative teaching within a liberal arts context. This is a full-time exempt position eligible for our comprehensive benefits program. On-campus presence is preferred, but we are willing to consider a hybrid schedule.

Essential Duties:

• Instructional Design and Course Development (60%)
  

• • Collaborate with faculty to design and develop courses—primarily face-to-face, but also hybrid, and online—grounded in evidence-based teaching strategies, backward design, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.
  • Provide individual consultations on course design, inclusive pedagogy, learning objectives alignment, assessment strategies, and active learning techniques.
  • Assist faculty in constructing learning experiences that include analysis of the audience, environment, objectives, content, and pedagogical approaches appropriate for undergraduate liberal arts education.
  • Advise on considerations for content design, including readability, potential for learner engagement, opportunities for reflection, and alignment with course outcomes and objectives.
  • Design effective and meaningful instruction based on specified pedagogical and conceptual frameworks, current trends in higher education, and diverse learning strategies.
  Support faculty in incorporating emerging pedagogical approaches, including generative AI tools, to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
  

• Faculty Development and Training (30%)
  

• • Develop and lead group workshops and training sessions on instructional design best practices, inclusive pedagogy, active learning strategies, and course alignment.
  • Create and maintain comprehensive faculty development resources, guides, and toolkits on instructional design, pedagogical innovation, and effective teaching practices.
  • Partner with departments and programs to build faculty capacity in evidence-based teaching and course design.
  • Provide user-level support and training for the Learning Management System (currently Moodle, with potential migration to Canvas) and other digital learning tools.
  Remain aware of emerging instructional design best practices and pedagogical innovations, making recommendations to continue to offer the best learning experience possible.
  

• Consultation and Strategic Support (10%)
  

• • Collaborate with directors of academic programs to support program-wide course development and curricular initiatives.
  • Provide consultation on educational approaches and pedagogical tools to support student learning and faculty teaching excellence.
  • Support digital accessibility compliance in course design and instructional materials.
  Recommend changes to existing courses, including pedagogical methods and instructional approaches, to ensure courses align with Southwestern’s academic quality standards.
  

Additional Duties:

• Maintain a Sponsored Programs website.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean of the Faculty.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in instructional design, educational technology, learning sciences, higher education, or related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in instructional design in a college or university setting.
• Experience designing courses for diverse learning modalities (face-to-face, hybrid, and online).
• Demonstrated expertise in instructional design frameworks (e.g., backward design, UDL, inclusive pedagogy).
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate pedagogical concepts into practical, user-friendly guidance for faculty.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with faculty across diverse disciplines in a liberal arts environment.
Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and continuous improvement in teaching and learning.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in instructional design and faculty development in higher education.
• Experience working in an undergraduate liberal arts institution.
• Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, or similar platforms) from a user-support perspective.
• Proficiency in educational technology tools, including video creation, multimedia content development, and interactive learning applications.
• Experience supporting generative AI applications for teaching and learning.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG, Section 508) and their application in course design.
• Experience facilitating workshops and providing group training for faculty.
Background in curriculum development or assessment design.

Starting annual salary: $68,000. The final offer for the successful candidate will be commensurate with experience and may exceed the starting salary.

Benefits:

Southwestern University offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health and welfare insurance (medical, dental, and vision), life and AD&D insurance, long-term disability coverage, generous contributions to a 403(b) retirement account, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), various paid time-off options, undergraduate tuition assistance for you and your dependents, access to athletic facilities, free parking, and discounted meal rates, along with other benefits designed to support your well-being and work-life balance.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume, and the name and contact information of three (3) professional references through Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/178570. Email and paper applications will not be accepted. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background check. In compliance with immigration laws, proof of work authorization in the United States will be required when employment begins. Southwestern University is an E-Verify employer.

Southwestern University is an equal-opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at hr@southwestern.edu.