Senior Instructional Designer

Mission Statement

The mission of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is to improve the well-being of vulnerable individuals and communities, advance social and economic justice, and eradicate pressing societal problems in complex and culturally diverse urban environments throughout Southern California, the nation, and the world. This mission is achieved through experiential, practice-based, and competency-driven education, alongside culturally responsive training that is informed by evidence and best practices.

Position Overview

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work seeks a dynamic and innovative Senior Instructional Designer to lead our efforts in developing and implementing cutting-edge digital learning experiences. This role will focus on the design, development, and integration of innovative digital learning solutions, with a particular emphasis on online courses and AI. The successful candidate will be instrumental in building the School’s capacity for digital learning by working closely with faculty and staff to enhance their instructional design capabilities. As the digital learning initiatives grow, the Manager will also play a key role in expanding the team and scaling these efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Digital Learning Leadership: Lead the development and implementation of digital learning strategies and solutions, particularly in online courses and AI-enhanced learning environments.

• Design and Development: Manage the design, production, and evaluation of multimedia content, UX design, and other digital learning materials, ensuring alignment with pedagogical goals and accessibility standards.

• Faculty and Staff Collaboration: Collaborate with faculty and staff to enhance their capacity in instructional design, multimedia development, and UX design, providing training, mentorship, and support.

• Capacity Building: Develop and implement strategies to build the School’s digital learning infrastructure, including the adoption of new technologies and best practices in instructional design.

• Assessment and Evaluation: Incorporate robust assessment and evaluation mechanisms into all digital learning projects to ensure continuous improvement and effectiveness of instructional materials.

• Funding and Resource Development: Identify and pursue opportunities for funding to support the growth and sustainability of digital learning initiatives.

• Strategic Partnerships: Build and maintain strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to advance the School’s digital learning initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in instructional design, UX design, multimedia development, educational technology, or a related field.

• Experience: At least 5 years of experience in instructional design, with a focus on digital learning, UX design, and multimedia development. Experience in securing funding for educational projects is highly desirable.

• Technology Proficiency: Expertise in digital learning platforms, multimedia development tools, UX design principles, and emerging technologies such as AI.

• Project Management: Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects, manage multiple priorities, and collaborate effectively with diverse teams.

• Communication Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in instructional design, UX design, multimedia development, educational technology, or a related field.

• Experience in Social Work or Nursing: Experience or knowledge in social work, nursing, or related fields, particularly in designing training programs for students and professionals across various disciplines.

• Advanced Experience: 7+ years in digital learning and instructional design, with a strong focus on innovative curriculum development and the integration of AI.

• Interprofessional Education: Experience in designing and implementing interprofessional education curricula.

Compensation

The annual base range for this position is $96,380 annually - up to $120,309 annually. When extending an offer of employment, USC considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, and external market and organizational considerations.

Location

This position is based at the University Park Campus in Los Angeles, California.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix Dfor specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree Organizational Development Or Bachelor's degree Human Resources Or Bachelor's degree in related field(s) Minimum Experience: 5 years of experience in curriculum development, learning experience design or user experience. Minimum Skills: Ability to interpret, analyze, and apply pertinent policies, procedures, regulations, and requirements. Research experience. Demonstrated interpersonal, critical thinking and project management skills. Demonstrated knowledge of adult learning theory and application of theory to learning deliverables. Experience creating learning content in a virtual setting. Ability to apply user experience principles (e.g., usefulness, usability, and desirability) to create engaging learning activities. Knowledge of human-centered design, design thinking and Agile design methodologies. Ability to translate content into visual, multimedia experiences, leveraging graphics, motion graphics, audio and visual design skills. Experience creating virtual or augmented reality courses. Demonstrated knowledge of gamification principles and application to learning experiences. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated understanding of the nuanced messaging required for various audiences and distribution channels. Experience distilling complex topics and content into personable, easy-to-understand information. Ability to oversee concurrent projects, prioritize competing assignments, and work under pressure with frequent interruptions. Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office. Ability to exercise discretion with confidential information. Preferred Education: Master's degree Organizational Development Or Master's degree Human Resources Or Master's degree in related field(s) Preferred Certifications: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) Organization Development Certified Professional Program (ODCP) SHRM (Human Resource Certification) Professional in Human Resources - PHR Senior Professional in Human Resources - SPHR Preferred Experience: 7 years of experience in curriculum development, learning experience design or user experience. Preferred Skills: Experience in higher education and/or organizational change. Basic graphics and video creation/editing experience (e.g., Photoshop, PowerPoint, Illustrator). Demonstrated success shaping the development of new learning experiences and the enhancement of existing programs. Experience utilizing learning management systems. Demonstrated sound judgment in making decisions with minimal supervision. Strong project management skills to lead a concept from inception to execution, including leading course developers.