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The Instructional Design Manager is a full-time leadership role that reports to the Director of Learning Solutions and Experience Design. This position plays a key role in shaping and sustaining the quality of our online learning experiences. By guiding a team of instructional designers, supporting faculty and SMEs, and collaborating across departments, the manager ensures that course design efforts are engaging, inclusive, and aligned with both institutional priorities and learner needs. Blending strategic insight with hands-on leadership, the Instructional Design Manager brings deep pedagogical expertise to the development of instructional materials and course design. This role champions design excellence, accessibility, and innovation, ensuring that all learning solutions reflect best practices and meet evolving educational standards and needs. Duties & Responsibilities: Instructional Design Leadership & Oversight
Leads the instructional design team in the development and enhancement of engaging, inclusive, and pedagogically sound online courses and programs. Provides design direction grounded in learning science, instructional strategies, and universal design principles. Oversees and manages collaboration with subject matter experts (SMEs) and faculty for the development of online and enhanced learning experiences. Proposes and implements instructional strategies, course models, and tools to ensure consistency and quality across course offerings. Manages internal course design reviews and ensures the use of unified templates and formatting across learning experiences. Reviews and evaluates instructional materials for quality, consistency, and alignment with learning objectives, accreditation standards, and institutional guidelines. Ensures implementation of Quality Matters (QM), accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG 2.2), and best practices in online teaching and learning.
Team Management & Development
Supervises and mentors a team of instructional designers, assigning projects and coaching on effective design practices, learning technologies, and stakeholder collaboration. Promotes an inclusive team culture that values creativity, innovation, and shared ownership. Manages workload distribution to build team capacity and effectiveness. Cultivates a culture of care and continuous improvement by encouraging professional development and research-based practice.
Cross-Functional Collaboration and Support
Collaborates with multimedia developers, assessment specialists, curriculum managers, and technical staff to support cohesive and high-impact learning experiences. Serves as a key liaison between design teams, both internally and externally, and academic departments, ensuring timely and responsive communication across stakeholders. Designs and delivers faculty training programs on instructional design best practices, use of educational technologies, and course delivery strategies. Maintains faculty-facing resources and repositories for design support and instructional technology integration. Coordinates with technical staff and support services, both internally and externally, to ensure seamless implementation of instructional tools and platforms. Serves as a point of contact for concerns related to instructional design.
Project & Administrative Management
Manages LMS-related instructional design needs and makes recommendations for updates. Oversees the instructional design project lifecycle from scoping through delivery, ensuring milestones and deliverables are met. Utilizes project management tools to monitor progress, allocate resources, and communicate project status to stakeholders. Identifies risks, recommends solutions, and implements process improvements to streamline design workflows and improve outcomes.
Research, Innovation & Evaluation
Leads the exploration and evaluation of emerging instructional technologies and pedagogical models to improve course design. Tests and recommends new tools and strategies that enhance instructional quality and learner engagement. Disseminates updates and guidance related to technology tools, instructional trends, and training opportunities.
The job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve. Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Education, English, Communication Studies, Technical Writing, Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Accessibility Studies, or a related field. (A Master's degree is preferred-see Preferred Qualifications.) At least 5 years of experience in higher education, with a minimum of 3 years in a strategic role focused on accessibility and inclusive learning. Proven expertise in WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 508, WAI-ARIA, UAAG, ATAG, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. Familiarity with assistive technologies such as NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver. Current Quality Matters certification or training. Experience managing institution-wide accessibility compliance initiatives and implementing quality assurance processes.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree in a related field. Web accessibility certifications or Trusted Tester Certification (e.g., CPACC, WAS, or equivalent). Experience leading faculty training programs and working with Quality Matters standards. Advanced training or certification in implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Extensive experience with accessibility audits, remediation strategies, and implementation of accessible design in digital learning environments. Strong knowledge of copyright and fair use related to educational content. Experience conducting user testing or research involving students with disabilities or diverse learning needs. Experience in leading accessibility reviews for content in asynchronous, centralized online curriculum Experience partnering with vendors to support product remediation in alignment with university needs. Experience developing systems for management and tracking of accessibility of course materials.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
Deep expertise in instructional design, curriculum development, and digital pedagogy. Experience leading instructional design teams and managing complex learning design projects. Deep knowledge of instructional design models (e.g., ADDIE, SAM), adult learning theory, and UDL principles. Familiarity with a range of educational technologies and course authoring tools (e.g., Articulate, Adobe Captivate, H5P). Proficiency with LMS platforms (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard, D2L) and managing course templates and structures. Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to multitask, manage competing deadlines, and work both independently and collaboratively. Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines. Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills. Experience with online asynchronous centralized curriculum models.
Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more! The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here (http://talent.arizona.edu/) . Rate of Pay: $86,870 - $112,932 Compensation Type: Salary at 1.0 full-time Equivalence (FTE) Grade: 11 Compensation Guidance: The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity. The Grade Range represents a full range of career compensation growth over time in this position and grade. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide (https://talent.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/Applicant_Guide_to_Compensation.pdf) and our Total Rewards Calculator (https://hr.arizona.edu/employees-affiliates/compensation/total-rewards-calculator) . The grade range for this position is $86,870 - $112,932. Each unit typically sets starting pay between the minimum and midpoint upon hire as reflected in the Rate of Pay field above. Special Instructions to Applicant: The application window is anticipated to close on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 (11:59 PM MST). Career Stream and Level: M2 Job Family: Instructional Design and Support Job Function: Instructional and Assessment Services Clery Language: Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report : In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) (https://clery.arizona.edu/asr) for each of the University's campuses.Thesereports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures. Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office. For more information regarding this position, please contact us atTalent@arizona.edu.
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The University of Arizona Global Campus
life insurance, vision insurance, sick time
Dec 03, 2025