Instructional Designer, College of the Liberal Arts
Penn State University
University Park, PA · HybridFull-time$60–86K/yrPosted 2w agoStill listed today
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Job overview
The Instructional Designer will oversee the design, development, and management of online course portfolios for Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts. The role partners with faculty authors to improve course content and assessments using online pedagogy, research, and evidence-based practices. It also manages course-development projects and instructional design assistants, and collaborates on multimedia elements. The position requires at least three days per week onsite and is not fully remote.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
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CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
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CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
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If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS The Learning Design team within the College of the Liberal Arts is seeking an Instructional Designer to oversee all aspects of designing, developing, and managing online course portfolios.
This position is not focused on technical support. Instead, the key responsibilities of the Instructional Designer are centered on collaborating closely with faculty authors to ensure course content and assessments enhance learning and support student success.
This involves the evaluation of online lesson content and assessments using knowledge of online pedagogy, interdisciplinary research, and evidence-based best practices.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
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Meeting with faculty authors to design and develop content for asynchronous online courses, including those that enroll adult learners.
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Providing guidance to faculty authors based on established learning frameworks.
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Reviewing faculty-created course content and assessments and providing research-based recommendations to enhance student learning.
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Acting as the project manager for courses in development to monitor progress; determine, set, and ensure others on the team adhere to schedules and deadlines.
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Collaborating with multimedia specialists in the creation of course-related multimedia elements (animations, illustrations, videos, virtual environments) and managing the completion of these elements within an established timeframe.
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Overseeing the work of Instructional Design Assistants for the setup and maintenance of approximately 35 courses each semester.
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Ensuring that all course content follows copyright and accessibility standards.
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Researching and promoting innovative trends and technologies that impact online learning in higher education.
Qualifications:
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Advanced knowledge of learning theories, best practices for online learning, and current research in the field
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Ability to draw from the above knowledge in their course design, reviews, and recommendations
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Outstanding project management skills
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Excellent interpersonal and communication (written and verbal) skills
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Ability to work collaboratively with team members and faculty partners, as well as being comfortable delegating work to others
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Experience with Canvas or another learning management system
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS Master's Degree 3+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None
Important Application Instructions: Applicants are required to:
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Submit both a cover letter and resume that highlights the qualifications and experience that prepared them for this position.
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Provide a link to an online portfolio (or attach samples) that demonstrates knowledge of online pedagogy via relevant school and/or work projects.
Important Note: The cover letter, resume, and portfolio must all be submitted to be considered for this position.
System limitations allow for a total of 5 documents (5mb per document) as part of your application. Please combine materials to meet the 5-document limit.
Additional Information: The College of the Liberal Arts is supportive of flexible work arrangements when aligned with the ability to meet the needs of the unit and the essential duties of the position. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.
Important Note: This is not a fully remote position. In accordance with College guidelines, this position requires a minimum of three days per week of on-site work at the designated work location.
The Instructional Designer will join the team at the Filippelli Institute of e-Education and Outreach. More information on the Institute can be found on our website.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. SALARY & BENEFITS The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $59,580.00 - $86,400.00. Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission. Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information Hotlines
How this job compares
Set against the 670 open Instructional Designer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$60–86K/yr
- US median$80–140K/yr471 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $73K, is 34% below the US median midpoint ($111K) — in the lowest quarter of Instructional Designer salary ranges across the US.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 21 open Instructional Designer jobs in Pennsylvania and 670 across the US. 6% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Pennsylvania
- Oracle3 open
- Parsons Corporation3 open
- City of Philadelphia2 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 3 years of experience; Instructional Designer postings that state a minimum ask for 4 years at the median (542 postings).
- Education
- This posting asks for a master's degree; 15 of the 670 open Instructional Designer jobs (2%) ask for a master's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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