Senior Instructional Designer

Southwestern Law School seeks an experienced and innovative Senior Instructional Designer to spearhead the development of our new Online J.D. Program, which we hope to launch in Fall 2024 (pending accreditor approval). The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the design and development of engaging, high-quality course materials while also recruiting and managing a team of instructional designers. The successful candidate will also work closely with faculty subject matter experts, the Associate Dean for Online Education, and an Instructional Media Support professional. This position provides an excellent opportunity for an individual with a strong background in instructional design and a passion for online education to make a significant impact on our organization.

This position reports to the Associate Dean for Online Education. It is a full-time, exempt position in Los Angeles, with some hybrid work possible. This is a new position, and the ideal start date is June 2023.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead the design, development, and implementation of the proposed Online J.D. program, ensuring the highest quality course materials and learner experience.
  • Collaborate closely with faculty and administration to align course content with program objectives, accreditation standards, and best practices in online education.
  • Work with faculty and Instructional Media Production Support to develop a timeline for developing and finalizing video content. 
  • Recruit, hire, and manage a team of instructional designers, both on a contract and staff basis, to support the development of the Online J.D. program and other online programs.
  • Coordinate and manage the schedules of instructional designers and the instructional media support professional to ensure timely delivery of course materials and adherence to project timelines.
  • Develop and maintain project plans, budgets, and progress reports to keep stakeholders informed and ensure project success.
  • Develop templates and protocols for instructional design elements and processes for the proposed Online J.D. Program and other future online programs.
  • Serve as the hands-on instructional designer for many courses.
  • Provide training, support, and resources to faculty and staff on the effective use of instructional technologies and best practices in teaching and learning. This may include workshops, one-on-one consultations, and creating guides and tutorials.
  • Establish and maintain quality assurance processes, ensuring continuous improvement of course materials and instructional design practices.
  • Assess the effectiveness of instructional materials, courses, and programs using various evaluation methods such as surveys, student feedback, and learning analytics. Use this data to make data-driven improvements and ensure continuous quality improvement.
  • Ensure that course materials and instructional technologies are accessible to all learners, including those with disabilities, and compliant with relevant laws and regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
  • Evaluate and implement instructional technology tools to facilitate engaging and interactive online learning experiences.
  • Stay current with industry trends and best practices in instructional design, online education, and legal education, and apply this knowledge to the ongoing development and refinement of the Online J.D. program.
  • Help ensure compliance with accreditation standards.
  • Collaborate with Information Technology and other departments as necessary and appropriate.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Dean for Online Education.

Qualifications:

  • Prefer a master's degree in instructional design, educational technology, or a related field; a J.D. or experience in legal education is highly desirable.
  • At least 5 years of experience in instructional design, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
  • Demonstrated experience in designing and developing online asynchronous courses, preferably in higher education or professional development settings.
  • Expertise in Canvas.
  • Knowledge of best practices in online education, instructional design, and adult learning principles.
  • Experience hiring, managing, and coaching instructional design teams.
  • Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize, multitask, and meet tight deadlines.
  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
  • Proficiency in instructional technology tools, learning management systems, and multimedia development software.

Salary: $105,000 - $115,000/year

To Apply:

Please submit your application, including a cover letter, resume, and three professional references, via jobs7@swlaw.edu. In your cover letter, please highlight your instructional design experience and your interest in developing the Online J.D. program.

We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Commitment to Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging and Nondiscrimination:

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who identify with groups that are historically underrepresented in legal and higher education.

Founded in 1911, Southwestern was the second law school in Los Angeles. We started as an evening program designed to provide a legal education to individuals who had work obligations or who were not welcome at other law schools. Our first graduate, in 1914, was a woman. Our amazing alums include a long, diverse list of trailblazers, including Mayor Tom Bradley, the first Black Mayor and longest-serving Mayor of Los Angeles.

Southwestern remains committed to its original mission and currently offers five pathways to the J.D., including a two-year accelerated program (SCALE), a full-time day program, a part-time day program designed for parents and caregivers (PLEAS), a second part-time day program designed for those with greater scheduling flexibility, and a part-time evening hybrid program.

Southwestern’s student body is more than 50% racially and ethnically diverse and more than 66% diverse when counting our Middle Eastern and North African students. Approximately 59% percent of students identify as female. Close to 50% of our students are First Gen, which we define as being the first in their family to attend college.

Additional Information

We highly recommend reviewing our Viewbook and other brochures.

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