Instructional Designer

Title: Instructional Designer

Agency: Piedmont Virginia Community College

Location: Albemarle - 003

FLSA: Exempt

Hiring Range: $75,000 - $85,000

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

Job Description:

Position Title: Instructional Designer

Department: Academic Affairs

Reports to: Vice President, Academic Affairs and Workforce Development

Employment type: Full-time, 12-month administrative faculty position.

Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) is a nonresidential two-year institution of higher education that serves Central Virginia – principally residents of the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. PVCC is one of 23 community colleges in Virginia that comprise the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). The scenic PVCC campus is located in Albemarle County, Virginia. Classes are also offered at the PVCC Eugene Giuseppe Center in Stanardsville (Greene County), the PVCC Jefferson School Center in downtown Charlottesville and at high school sites across the region. For more information, please visit: www.pvcc.edu

PVCC is known throughout the community and the Virginia Community College System for its exceptional faculty and staff, the quality of its programs and services, and the success of its students. PVCC welcomes, encourages, and supports the diversity of our students, faculty, and staff members and seeks to attract and retain individuals who reflect our diverse community.

Position Summary
The Instructional Designer plays a key role in the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of high-quality eLearning environments, including online, hybrid, HyFlex, and web-enhanced formats. This position supports instructional excellence and enhances student learning by integrating instructional technologies, developing curriculum, and building capacity for flexible, high-quality eLearning. Additionally, the Instructional Designer applies advanced instructional design methodologies, leads strategic curriculum evaluation, and fosters faculty development to promote student success and institutional goals.

The Instructional Designer serves as the primary Learning Management System (LMS) administrator and Shared Services Distance Learning Liaison. The role involves collaboration with faculty, subject matter experts, and other institutional stakeholders to ensure that eLearning offerings meet pedagogical best practices, institutional standards, and accreditation requirements. The position also takes a proactive role in driving instructional innovation, program evaluation, and the continuous improvement of eLearning environments.

Key Responsibilities

Instructional Design and Development

• Provide consultations and direct support to faculty during the design and development of both credit-bearing and non-credit online courses. Ensure that the adopted course design framework is implemented. In addition, provide instructional design support for student support services (such as online orientations, information sessions, and tutorials).
• Provide guidance on effectively using Learning Management System (LMS) features, multimedia resources, and other digital tools to support the design, delivery, and assessment of instruction.
• Collaborate with the Director of the Frank Friedman Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning to deliver professional development workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions focused on improving pedagogical approaches in teaching and learning.
• Create user-friendly training materials in various formats to support individual or group training.
• Work closely with academic affairs, workforce development and student affairs leadership to ensure that courses and technology meet institutional standards for student success, accessibility, and accreditation.
• Collaborate with Technology Services on projects that directly impact instruction and student success.
• Collaborate with faculty, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders to utilize multimedia tools, resources, and software applications to develop curricula, instructional materials, and assessment strategies.
• Function as the institution’s liaison for shared services distance learning (SSDL). Coordinate with the Office of the Vice President, Academic Affairs and Workforce Development regarding scheduling of SSDL courses.

Technology Integration and Support

• Participate in the selection of educational technologies; provide support to adopt educational technologies that enhance teaching and learning, including multimedia resources, digital tools, and software applications.
• Collaborate with the Technology Services helpdesk to ensure helpdesk technicians have the necessary knowledge-based articles, tools, and training to provide first tier support to faculty, staff, and students regarding educational technology issues in supported systems.
• Create user-friendly training materials in various formats including handouts, web pages, videos and by providing group and individualized training.

Research and Evaluation of Emerging Technologies

• In collaboration with Technology Services, research, test, and recommend new technologies and adaptive learning tools to enhance teaching and learning experiences.
• Evaluate and pilot new technologies to determine their effectiveness, scalability, and accessibility in supporting instructional and student success goals. Stay informed about the latest developments in educational technology and provide recommendations for their implementation.

Learning Management System Administrator

• Serves as the primary System Administrative for Canvas, the college’s LMS, including providing direct support to the college as well as interfacing with the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) on support, maintenance, and integration needs. This includes being the escalation path from the helpdesk for advanced support needs, including complex issues requiring VCCS engagement, LTI integrations, and working with textbook publishers.
• As the LMS administration for Canvas, this role also updates Canvas course templates and shells each semester, archives previous semesters, and configures course content and enrollment as needed.

Accessibility

• Apply knowledge of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, Level AA, and increasing digital accessibility in the design and delivery of courses and curricula.
• Collaborate with multiple stakeholders on campus to evaluate education and technology applications for student and faculty use.
• Provide technical expertise and consultation to create plans and strategies to address identified ADA compliance issues quickly and effectively in the development and delivery of instruction and student support services.
• Review Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates from vendors to ensure they follow current accessibility laws and regulations before procurement and that the vendor will quickly resolve any items that are found to be out of compliance.

Other

• Serve as Quality Matters (QM) coordinator.
• Represent PVCC on college and/or Virginia Community College System committees as assigned.

Benefits include:

• Choice of health, dental, disability, and life insurance plans offered through the Commonwealth of Virginia
• Generous leave benefits
• Tuition waiver program for studies at PVCC and opportunities for professional development and career advancement

• Master’s degree in instructional design, educational technology, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in instructional design, preferably in higher education or workforce development settings.
• Proficiency in the use of learning management systems (e.g., Canvas) and educational technology tools
• Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work with stakeholders to deliver effective instructional solutions.
• Familiarity with emerging technologies such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and adaptive learning platforms.

• Quality Matters certification (trainer, peer reviewer) or willingness to acquire certifications within the first year of employment.
• College level teaching experience.
• Familiarity with Open Educational Resources (OERs).