SENIOR LEARNING DESIGNER, INCLUSIVE PEDAGOGY

Senior Learning Designer, Inclusive Pedagogy 

Pay Status and Classification: Exempt, Regular full-time 

Supervisor: Director of Learning Design and Digital Innovation

Position Purpose: Works through the lens of inclusivity to support faculty awareness, teaching practices, course design, and classroom management that ultimately supports student retention, resilience, motivation, and engagement. Creates and delivers mission critical training materials and workshops on effective use of learning technologies and multimedia in the classroom.

1. Essential Responsibilities and Duties: Course Design/Redesign: Consults with faculty on course (re)design to help them select the best combination of teaching practices, learning technologies, and other resources to develop courses and course components that create the most effective learning experiences for all students. Creates workshops for faculty teaching development that accommodate faculty, student, and institutional needs. Provides instructional coaching and direct, diagnostic observations of teaching by faculty request.
2. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB): Applies equity-focused, educational frameworks and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles for syllabus development, assignment-design, inclusive assessment and grading practices, course design and management, and communication strategies. Using student success data collected by departments, the Registrar, and Institutional Research, this position will identify areas of need and provide guidance to faculty in incorporating student support resources, such as the Writing Center, the Library, student study groups, and more into their courses to ensure that students are supported holistically in their studies. Curates and shares appropriate resources on inclusive best teaching practices in the arts and humanities, as well as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. 
3. Teaching and Training: Creates and executes faculty development programs, workshops, and individual instruction sessions to address instructional challenges, while promoting evidence-based, best practices in teaching and learning. Produces written, video, and audio support materials to assist faculty with learning new pedagogical strategies and technological tools. Teaches or co-teaches at least one college-level course once every 2 years to maintain an active teaching practice that directly informs instructional design work. 
4. Collaboration: Collaborates with the Learning Design and Digital Innovation director and staff, as well as other Academic Affairs departments, to support the College’s strategic goals. Builds a trustworthy, reliable reputation with faculty stakeholders through an authentic curiosity in the subject matter expert’s discipline, thorough research of potential learning and assessment strategies, and sound incorporation of quality practices into course design. Collaborates with faculty to identify/align desired learning objectives with measurable assessments that aim to help every student reach their full potential. Offers to assist colleagues during crunch times and overlapping deliverables. Works on special projects and College committees, as assigned. 

Qualifications:

1. Graduate degree in instructional design, curriculum development or related field from an accredited university and 3 to 5 years of experience and/or a combination of relevant education, training, certifications, and/or work experience.
2. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Listens actively and seeks to clarify and confirm accuracy of their understanding.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of developing materials using a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach; and appropriate integration of multimedia, academic technology, collaboration tools, and accessible digital learning materials. 
4. Expertise in at least one instructional design framework. Familiarity with learning theories.
5. Comprehensive knowledge of active learning and inclusive pedagogies.
6. Strong skills in collaboration, relationship building, influence, and project management.
7. Demonstrated ability to be open-minded, creative, and flexible with excellent collaboration, relationship building, influence skills, and project management skills.
8. Ability to independently manage multiple deadlines and priorities with the highest degree of accuracy and efficiency.
9. Ability to exercise exceptional judgment, ensure strict confidentiality, and demonstrate outstanding professionalism in a range of situations.
10. Able to support, contribute to, and strengthen a vibrant, culturally diverse, and inclusive learning community of students, alumni, faculty, and fellow staff colleagues.
11. Ability to proactively identify and pursue relevant learning and professional development opportunities and apply new knowledge, insights, and skills to enhance results.

Preferred Qualifications: 

1. Ph.D or Ed.D.
2. Experience working with faculty members and departments.
3. Experience giving teaching observations focused on providing new and senior faculty with feedback to improve their teaching practice.
4. Experience with the learning management system Moodle.
5. Experience with STEM teaching methods and strategies.
6. Experience with Understanding by Design instructional design framework.

The annual salary range for this position is $70,000.00-$75,000.00. Starting salary will be commensurate with qualifications.

We offer exceptional benefits including:

• Generous Vacation, Sick and Personal Time
• Winter Recess Break in Addition to Paid Holidays
• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision Insurance (Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts)
• Free On-Campus Fitness Facility Access and Discounts for On-Campus Wellness Programs
• Employee Scholarships toward Certifications, Seminars, Training and Professional Development
• Pre and Post Tax participation in a 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Salary Continuation Program in the event of Disability
• Tuition Assistance Program for Employee, Spouse and/or Dependents

Note: All new hires of Union College are subject to a thorough education, work experience, and criminal history background check.

Union College

Officially chartered in 1795, Union College is the fifth oldest liberal arts college in the country. Located in the Capital District of New York State, Union is a highly selective residential and undergraduate college, home to 2,200 students and 220 faculty, and offering 44 majors. Union was the first liberal arts college to rethink the traditional liberal arts education and adopt an engineering curriculum. That pioneering approach continues today with an education that encourages students to work beyond the limits of disciplinary boundaries, allowing them to think globally and lead innovatively in a world where problem solving requires breadth across humanities, arts, social sciences, science, and engineering.

Diversity at Union College

Union College is an equal opportunity employer and strongly committed to student and workforce diversity. Increasing diversity on campus is a critical priority for Union, one that is integral to our mission of preparing students for a globally interconnected world. Union provides a blend of intellectual, social and cultural opportunities to facilitate the integrated academic, social and personal development of a diverse community. We value and are committed to a host of diverse populations and cultures including, but not limited to, those based on race, religion, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin and veteran status. Union College is committed to providing access and will provide reasonable accommodation in its application process to individuals with disabilities that request such accommodations.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Union College will not discriminate in the recruitment or selection of faculty and employees, or in any other area of employment, on the basis of age, sex, race, national origin, religion, religious belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and veteran status. In this regard, opportunities for advancement will be made available without bias. The College is also subject to state and federal laws, supports efforts to attract and retain fully qualified women and other minority group members for faculty and other positions. Union College will comply with the letter and intent of all State and Federal laws and applicable orders pursuant to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action.