Learning Designer

The University of Southern Maine (USM) is seeking a collaborative, innovative, and student-centered Learning Designer
to join the Center for Academic Innovation (CAI). This position partners closely with faculty and academic departments to design engaging, accessible, and high-quality learning experiences across online, blended, and face-to-face instructional environments.

In addition to supporting course design and faculty development, this position plays a key leadership role in advancing the University’s digital accessibility initiatives and supporting institutional compliance with Title II digital accessibility requirements.

If you are passionate about instructional design, educational technology, faculty collaboration, and creating inclusive learning environments, we encourage you to apply.

The Center for Academic Innovation partners with faculty and academic units to enhance teaching excellence through innovative instructional design, educational technologies, faculty development, and student-centered learning practices. The Center supports high-quality teaching across all instructional modalities while fostering creativity, accessibility, and continuous improvement.

• Collaborate with faculty and academic stakeholders to design, develop, and improve high-quality courses and academic programs.
• Consult with faculty on instructional strategies, course redesign, and innovative teaching practices.
• Apply instructional design best practices and quality standards to online and blended course development.
• Recommend improvements to existing courses to enhance student engagement, learning outcomes, and accessibility.
• Integrate research-based instructional practices and open educational resources into course design.
• Partner with University Libraries and other campus partners to support teaching excellence.

• Lead faculty-facing efforts supporting the University’s Title II digital accessibility compliance initiatives.
• Develop and deliver training and resources that promote accessible instructional materials and digital learning environments.
• Collaborate with campus partners to identify accessibility needs and implement effective solutions.
• Monitor progress toward institutional accessibility goals and communicate updates to the University community.
• Serve on University and University of Maine System accessibility committees and working groups.

• Provide Tier II support for instructional technologies and learning management systems.
• Troubleshoot instructional technology issues and respond to faculty support requests.
• Develop documentation, tutorials, and training materials for educational technologies.
• Stay current with emerging trends in learning science, instructional design, and educational technology.

• Design and facilitate workshops, training sessions, and professional development opportunities for faculty.
• Create instructional resources that support effective teaching across all course delivery formats.
• Partner with campus stakeholders to promote continuous faculty development and instructional excellence.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Expertise in instructional design principles, learning theory, and course development.
• Knowledge of current educational technologies and online learning environments.
• Strong understanding of digital accessibility standards and best practices.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and project management skills.
• Creative problem-solving abilities and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Experience working collaboratively with faculty and diverse campus stakeholders

This is an in-person, full-time position based on our Portland Campus. This position offers an annual salary of $62,000.00, along with a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off (13 holidays, vacation, and sick leave), health, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, tuition benefits for employees and eligible dependents, and a 403(b) retirement plan with 10% employer…