Instructional Designer and AI Learning Specialist

Instructional Designer and AI Learning Specialist

U24: $76,486.40 - $122,359.00 (Salaries for internal candidates are determined by a promotional formula. Salaries for external candidates are determined up to step 4: $87,954.55, or dependent on qualifications)

Learning Technology, Innovation, and Services

102 West State Street Trenton, NJ 08608

Thomas Edison State University was founded in 1972 to break down barriers to degree completion. Fifty years later, it proudly serves a diverse body of adult students with innovative and professionally relevant academic programming in a predominantly online delivery. Our team of high-energy student-focused professionals is welcoming new members who are making their mark in education and are ready to help change the lives of thousands of adult students across New Jersey and around the world.

Candidates who are excited by changing lives, committed to the success of all and want to be challenged by new and innovative opportunities, should submit an application.

Summary:

The Instructional Designer & AI Learning Specialist designs, develops, and revises online courses in the Canvas learning management system using Thomas Edison State University's ADDIE-based course development model. Working closely with subject matter experts, assessment developers, learning technologists, and academic leadership, the Instructional Designer & AI Learning Specialist translates disciplinary expertise into pedagogically sound learning experiences that align objectives, activities, and assessments and meet institutional standards for accessibility, course mapping, and credit hour alignment. This role also leads the responsible integration of artificial intelligence into course design and development - building prompts, templates, and AI-supported workflows that accelerate production, embedding AI-enhanced learning activities tied to workforce-relevant skills, and guiding teams in applying institutional AI policies and academic integrity expectations. In addition, the Instructional Designer & AI Learning Specialist manages course revision projects from intake through completion, balancing multiple competing priorities against fixed academic deadlines such as term starts and program rollouts, and brings a deep understanding of the self-directed, practical needs of adult learners in digital environments.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Instructional Design

• Design, build, revise, and implement online courses in Canvas consistent with TESU's ADDIE-based course development model, ensuring alignment among learning objectives, activities, and assessments.
• Evaluate and select instructional materials - including OER, multimedia, and online resources - that support effective and sustainable course design.
• Guide subject matter experts in developing content and integrating it into sound learning experiences, applying instructional design theory, UX principles, learning technologies (e.g., LTI integrations), and emerging tools.
• Review and edit course content for clarity, quality, and adherence to instructional design standards and c copyright guidelines.
• Ensure courses meet institutional quality standards, including ADA accessibility, course mapping, credit hour alignment, and student success and engagement priorities.
• Collaborate with staff, faculty, SMEs, and other stakeholders using Canvas, Google Docs, MS Teams, and Slack
• Observe cybersecurity best practices.

AI-Assisted Course Design and Development

• Guide course design and development teams in applying institutional AI policies, promoting ethical AI use, and supporting academic integrity through clear expectations and responsible practices.
• Lead the incorporation of AI-infused course learning activities (case studies, projects, written assignments, etc.) that are aligned with workforce-relevant skills and program outcomes.
• Collaborate with the Learning Technologist and Artificial Intelligence Coordinator to apply AI coding assistants, lightweight scripting, and automation tools to streamline repetitive instructional design workflows and accelerate creation of syllabi, learning objectives, evaluation rubrics, and accessible course assets.
• Continuously upskill the instructional design team's AI integration skills by developing prompts, templates, AI agents, and generative AI materials that accelerate creation of syllabi, learning objectives, active learning scenarios, case studies, and accessible course assets.
• Support AI tool integration in alignment with TESU strategic priorities, data governance, privacy, security, compliance, and bias mitigation, and monitor emerging AI trends and research to inform course design and institutional adoption.

Project Management

• Partner with the Senior Director on the course project intake process and with Associate and Assistant Deans on prioritizing and coordinating course revision projects.
• Manage multiple competing course project priorities, navigating academic governance, and consistently meeting tight, fixed deadlines (e.g., term starts) without compromising course quality or student experience.
• Independently organize, drive, and execute complex instructional design initiatives from inception through completion in a fast-paced higher education environment.
• Participate in university initiatives, committees, and assigned projects.

Additional Competencies

• Deep understanding of the unique motivations, self-directed nature, and practical needs of adult learners in an online learning environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build trusting relationships across instructional design, assessment development, learning technology, and academic leadership teams.

Requirements:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree supplemented by a Master's degree in a field related to the position to be filled or an equivalency as determined by the appointing authority.

Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of professional instructional design or related experience in a higher education institution directly related to the functions of the position to be filled (e.g., Instructional Designer), or equivalency as determined by the appointing authority.

• Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute required experience on a year-for-year basis (30 credit hours is considered one year of college).
• A Ph.D. or an Ed.D. degree may be substituted for two years of the required experience.
• TESU strives to offer a flexible work environment while balancing the operational needs of the University. As such, we have several options for hybrid-work schedules. Positions determine what type of hybrid-work schedule is available and, if necessary, adjustments are made to support University operations.

Thomas Edison State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer