The Senior Instructional Designer will play a key leadership role in guiding course design, providing strategic direction for online and hybrid learning initiatives, and overseeing a team of instructional designers. This position will be instrumental in ensuring the quality and consistency of the university's digital learning offerings and will directly support faculty and academic leaders in the creation of engaging and effective learning experiences.

Duties

• Learning Design and Support: Collaborate with faculty and instructional designers to develop rigorous, objective-focused hybrid and online courses with complex assignments and engaging learning activities. Cultivate relationships with individual faculty members and program administrators to assess instructional, learning, and course-related needs. Support faculty with intentional learning technology integration and enactment of innovative teaching methods. Establish and maintain quality assurance processes for online and hybrid course design. Review and evaluate online courses to ensure quality standards, consistency, and alignment with instructional design best practices. Gather and analyze feedback from students and faculty to make recommendations for continuous course improvement. 
• Leadership and Supervision: Actively manage multiple learning design projects concurrently and move complex projects forward while effectively managing scope, quality, and timeline deliverables of pedagogically appropriate and sustainable media-rich content. Supervise, mentor, and support a team of instructional designers, providing guidance on project priorities, workload management, and professional development. Set performance goals for team members and conduct regular performance evaluations. Lead project meetings, track deliverables, and ensure that deadlines are met. 
• Educational Technology and Innovation: Build awareness of learning technology needs and gaps where current tools do not serve those needs. Proactively research emerging technologies to meet evolving teaching and learning demands. Apply knowledge of the technical tools and platforms required to achieve the delivery of engaging and media-rich online learning content and of trends in the effective use of educational technology in online/hybrid learning. Closely collaborate with campus technology experts and IT to pilot, adopt, and deploy teaching and learning tools. Leverage emerging technologies to design innovative, agile, user-friendly, and immersive online/hybrid learning environments. Stay current in the field by engaging in ongoing research projects and professional development activities, and maintain active membership and participation in professional organizations. Contribute to relevant collaborations with internal and external technology-focused communities to implement effective solutions in other contexts. Work closely with other instructional designers, multimedia specialists, and academic leaders to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. 
• Faculty Development: Design, develop, deliver, and assess various research-based faculty professional learning opportunities. Create instructional recommendations and templates, as well as educational technology resources and asynchronous learning materials. Develop individualized consultations to support faculty in the effective use of digital tools and teaching strategies. Lead initiatives to promote innovative teaching practices. 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 
• Uphold University mission through work performed. 

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• Master’s degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Curriculum and Instruction, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in designing and developing online, hybrid, and face-to-face courses, with a track record of leading complex course development projects.
• Deep expertise in using LMS platforms such as Canvas, Blackboard, or Moodle, including the ability to manage advanced features, troubleshoot complex issues, and train others in LMS use.
• Advanced knowledge and application of instructional design models such as ADDIE, SAM, Backward Design, or Agile methodologies to drive innovation in course design.
• Proven experience using advanced tools for multimedia creation, such as Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, Camtasia, and Adobe Creative Cloud, with the ability to oversee multimedia production and guide other designers.
• Expertise in adult learning theories, instructional strategies, and learner-centered design, with the ability to mentor others and ensure that all courses are pedagogically sound.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to oversee multiple, complex course development projects, coordinate cross-functional teams, and ensure projects are completed on time and within scope.
• Excellent communication skills, with a focus on building strong partnerships with faculty, subject matter experts (SMEs), and university leaders to ensure alignment of learning objectives with program goals.
• Ability to lead the evaluation, selection, and integration of new technologies and digital tools into course design, staying current with emerging trends in educational technology to enhance the learning experience.
• Advanced understanding of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG), Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and inclusive teaching practices, with experience leading initiatives to improve course accessibility.
• Expertise in using learning analytics, assessment data, and student feedback to make strategic recommendations for course improvements and to inform instructional design practices.
• Successful record of instructional design work demonstrating extensive knowledge of the four key ID roles: design, manage, support, and train.
• Current knowledge of best practices in online teaching and learning.
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with faculty and team members.
• Record of innovation and creativity in identifying and integrating technological solutions to pedagogical needs.
• Effective management of multiple projects simultaneously to meet firm deadlines.
• Evidence of effective leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills.
• Advanced knowledge of working with computers and applications in a networked environment; knowledge of working with Microsoft
• Office applications, file conversion, Adobe Creative Suite, Camtasia, Snagit; Google Suite applications; graphic design software and graphic preparation for various delivery; digitization of materials; knowledge of TPACK, tips and techniques using technology, and learning management systems.

Preferred:

• Experience in higher education.
• Experience supervising instructional designers or leading training and professional development for peers.
• Expertise in using learning analytics, assessment data, and student feedback to make strategic recommendations for course improvements and to inform instructional design practices.
• Record of innovation and creativity in identifying and integrating technological solutions to pedagogical needs.
• Evidence of ability to generate faculty enthusiasm for and engagement in the use of new technologies for teaching.
• Evidence of ability to generate faculty enthusiasm for and engagement in the use of new technologies for teaching. Knowledge of technology and media hardware.

Qualified individuals should be able to articulate a strong commitment to diversity, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.

This is a Regular, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $80,250 - $87,500 per year 

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.