Learning Designer

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Why join the Harvard Graduate School of Education?

The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) is a diverse community of learners, teachers, and employees who are passionate about changing the world through education and striving for maximum impact in the field of education.

Many choose to work at the Harvard Graduate School of Education because they believe in our mission and are excited by our vision for the future. We have a reputation as a great place to work, for our excellent leadership, and we are a strong community that values diversity. For more information about HGSE, its programs, research, and faculty, please visit: www.gse.harvard.edu.

Job Summary:

The Learning Designer is a member of the Learning Experience and Design (LXD) team, a fast-paced, learner-centered design and development team within Professional Education (PPE) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). Professional Education serves more than fifteen thousand educators in early childhood, K-12, and higher education around the world each year through a diverse portfolio of professional learning offerings. Reporting to the Director of Learning Experience and Design, the Learning Designer will serve as the primary learning designer on a variety of programs with an immediate focus on online programs, both asynchronous and synchronous. This role will also work on in-person and hybrid programs as needed. The successful candidate will also build out most content and may occasionally collaborate with external learning design consultants.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Learning Design

• Engage with key stakeholders to support design and development of pedagogically sound online and blended credit courses, and other technology-enhanced instructional materials, and to manage all aspects of learning design. Stakeholders include: PPE’s team of Portfolio Directors; communities of subject matter experts, including faculty and instructors (at HGSE and other Harvard schools); field-based experts including alumni of HGSE and other Harvard schools; and partner organizations.
• Collaborate with a diverse, distributed content generation team to translate design ideas and existing content into original scripts, animations, simulations, and written resources as core components of programming
• Ensure that programs meet standards (e.g. have clear learning objectives, involve interactivity, etc.), including accreditation requirements
• Develop training materials and documentation for teaching and course-delivery teams
• Bring familiarity with, or willingness to learn, key principles in learner-centered design (Backwards Design, Design Thinking, etc.)
• Conduct rapid prototyping of course elements; pilot with teaching team and target learners as appropriate
• Create feedback rubrics and implement automated feedback based on user input
• Contribute to program evaluation efforts to track usage, satisfaction, retention, and efficacy
• Collaborate with HGSE’s Teaching and Learning Lab (TLL) to co-develop programs

Digital Asset and Course Creation

• Develop and revise digital assets using HGSE-supported authoring tools (Articulate, iDesign, Adobe, Canva, etc.)
• Ensure sufficient interactivity and variation in modality of content to keep learners engaged
• Build courses on multiple platforms(with DesignPlus)
• Build courses on Harvard’s Learning Experience Platform (LXP), including adapting to new tools and features as needed
• Liaise with learning technologists to explore integrations of 3rd-party or custom tools

Project Management and Technical Expertise

• Develop workplan, key milestones, and list of deliverables for learning design and online course builds in collaboration with Portfolio Director and content experts
• Work to keep projects on task and on budget, elevating problem areas to senior leadership when required
• Provide project leadership on digital asset creation projects, identifying partners both inside and outside of the group, and maintaining clear communication channels with all stakeholders
• Research and evaluate new and emerging technologies, instructional design theories, and approaches and policies for potential application to instructional opportunities with a focus on trends and opportunities that can enhance the Professional Education environment

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of one year experience in an instructional technology/instructional design or related role (advanced degree may substitute for related experience).
• Any candidate wishing to be considered must supply a cover letter in addition to their resume.

This is an 18‑month position starting on the date of hire.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Master’s Degree preferred
• Proven understanding of tools for teaching, including emerging technologies
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within and across departments
• Ability to drive projects forward through proactive project management, coordinating distributed teams, setting and monitoring of milestones, and thorough communication
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills
• Experience authoring or editing content in a learning management system (Canvas or similar)
• Experience authoring in Articulate or similar
• Experience designing online instruction
• Familiarity with the changing educational technology landscape

• Appointment End Date: 18 months from date of hire
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Compensation Range/Rate (including Shift Differential if applicable): $75,000
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity and Education

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 056. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.