Instructional Design Strategist (Salt Lake City, UT)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Instructional Design Strategist

Company: Western Governors University

Location: Salt Lake City, UT, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Learning & Development Operations / Instructional Design

Date Posted: March 06, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ Years (with Master's degree) / Equivalent Experience

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in-office, 1 day remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Serves as a senior subject matter expert (SME) and mentor for instructional designers, focusing on the integration of innovative instructional design features and emerging technologies.

• Leads the exploration, adoption, and documentation of best practices in instructional design, particularly within the Generative AI space, to enhance course and content development.

• Acts as a key point of contact for "how-to" inquiries and provides advanced guidance on instructional design methodologies and technologies.

• Drives process improvements and cross-functional projects to optimize the effectiveness of instructional design and content development workflows.

• Mentors and develops new instructional designers and contractors, scaling team resources and expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Instructional Design Strategist," its core functions align closely with "Revenue Operations" or "Sales Operations" in terms of process optimization, SME leadership, technology integration, and driving efficiency through strategic implementation. This role focuses on optimizing the "production" of educational content, much like RevOps optimizes sales processes. The emphasis on Generative AI and emerging tech integration is a key differentiator, positioning this as a forward-thinking operations role within the education sector.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Act as the primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for instructional designers, offering advanced guidance on instructional design principles, curriculum development, and user experience (UX) best practices.

• Lead the integration of innovative instructional design features, methodologies, and emerging technologies, including Generative AI, into course and program development lifecycles.

• Ensure the timely and effective implementation of new instructional strategies and tools, monitoring their impact on learning outcomes and operational efficiency.

• Serve as the main point of contact for instructional designers and stakeholders regarding best practices, "how-to" inquiries, and technical challenges related to course and program design.

• Mentor and onboard new instructional designers and contractors, providing comprehensive training and development opportunities to enhance team capabilities and scalability.

• Drive the exploration, experimentation, and adoption of cutting-edge technologies, specifically Generative AI, documenting strategies, best practices, and innovation roadmaps for instructional design and content creation.

• Develop, maintain, and disseminate comprehensive best practice documentation for instructional design roles, ensuring consistency, quality, and effectiveness across the department.

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including curriculum developers and academic quality teams, to refine instructional strategies and uphold WGU's academic quality standards.

• Contribute critically to the course development process, ensuring alignment with WGU's mission, competency-based education model, and stringent academic quality standards.

• Facilitate training sessions and workshops for instructional designers and related roles, focusing on professional development, new tool adoption, and advanced techniques.

• Lead and contribute to cross-functional projects, recommending and implementing process improvements for instructional design and content development effectiveness and efficiency.

• Manage contractor coordination, including approving hours, tracking timelines, and ensuring project milestones are met for instructional design initiatives.

• Support the alignment of the Content Management System (CMS) with established Content Design and Development practices, ensuring system usability and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of technical expertise in instructional design, strategic leadership in technology adoption (especially AI), and operational management of instructional development processes and personnel. This mirrors operations roles that focus on process optimization, tool adoption, and team enablement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in Education, Instructional Design, User Experience Design, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7+ years of progressive experience in instructional design and content development.

• Advanced experience specifically within competency-based education (CBE) environments.

• Proven experience leading instructional design projects across multiple programs or complex initiatives.

Required Skills:

• Expert knowledge of instructional design principles, curriculum development methodologies, and user experience (UX) design.

• Advanced understanding of emerging instructional technologies, with a strong emphasis on Generative AI applications in education and prompt engineering.

• Demonstrated ability to integrate innovative instructional strategies and technologies into course and program design.

• Strong technical writing and documentation skills for creating and maintaining best practice guides.

• Proven mentoring, training, and coaching abilities for developing instructional design talent.

• Advanced project management skills, including risk assessment, scope management, and process improvement implementation.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate instructional effectiveness and propose data-driven improvements.

• Excellent organizational and self-management skills to prioritize and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.

Preferred Skills:

• UI/UX Certification.

• Quality Matters (QM) Certification.

• AI Certification, including advanced prompt engineering.

• Terminal degree (e.g., Doctorate) in a relevant field.

• Advanced experience with systems and procedures specifically for course and program development workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for advanced experience in CBE and a strong understanding of emerging technologies like Generative AI positions this role as a strategic operational leader within educational product development, demanding a blend of pedagogical expertise and technological foresight.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated experience in designing and developing competency-based learning modules or courses, showcasing an understanding of learning objectives, assessments, and content sequencing.

• Case studies or examples highlighting the integration of innovative instructional technologies or methodologies, with a specific focus on user experience enhancements.

• Documentation samples that exemplify clear, concise, and actionable best practice guides for instructional design processes or technology usage.

• Evidence of leading or significantly contributing to cross-functional projects aimed at improving development workflows, efficiency, or content quality.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of documented instructional design workflows, from needs analysis and design to development, implementation, and evaluation.

• Provide evidence of creating and maintaining standard operating procedures (SOPs) or best practice documentation for instructional design teams.

• Include examples of process improvement initiatives undertaken, detailing the problem, proposed solution, implementation, and measurable outcomes (e.g., reduced development time, improved content quality).

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, a portfolio is crucial for demonstrating practical application of instructional design strategies, technology integration expertise, and process optimization capabilities. It should highlight strategic thinking and an ability to translate complex educational requirements into tangible, effective learning solutions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $80,300.00 - $120,400.00 USD per year

• This range reflects a comprehensive compensation strategy for a Professional 309 grade, considering factors such as skill sets, experience, training, licensure, certifications, and business needs.

Benefits:

• Healthcare: Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, telehealth, and mental healthcare coverage.

• Financial Wellness: Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), basic and voluntary life insurance, disability coverage, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages, legal and identity theft protection.

• Retirement: Retirement Savings Plan with company contributions.

• Wellbeing: Dedicated Wellbeing Program.

• Professional Development: Discounted WGU tuition for employees.

• Time Off: Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) and flexible Paid Sick Time, with no accrual requirements.

• Holidays: 11 paid holidays.

• Family Support: Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

Working Hours:

• This is a full-time, regular position classified for 40 standard weekly hours.

• The hybrid work arrangement requires 4 days in the Salt Lake City office and 1 day remote.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a senior-level instructional design/operations role in Salt Lake City, UT. The extensive benefits package, particularly the flexible PTO, paid sick time, and parental leave, indicates a strong focus on employee well-being and work-life balance, which is increasingly important for operations professionals seeking sustainable careers.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education (Online, Competency-Based)

Company Size: Approximately 3,000-5,000 employees (based on LinkedIn data for WGU). This size indicates a well-established organization with significant operational infrastructure, offering opportunities for process refinement and cross-functional collaboration.

Founded: 1997. WGU's founding mission is to expand access to higher education through innovative, competency-based online degree programs. This mission-driven culture often translates into a highly engaged workforce focused on student success.

Team Structure:

• The Instructional Design Strategist will likely be part of a larger Learning & Development or Curriculum Development department.

• This role involves mentoring and leading instructional designers, suggesting a team of direct reports or individuals they guide.

• It requires close collaboration with content developers, academic quality assurance, IT, and potentially product management teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: WGU's competency-based model inherently relies on data to measure student progress and learning effectiveness. Operations roles here leverage data analytics to identify areas for improvement in course design and delivery.

• Process Optimization: The role emphasizes refining instructional design and content development workflows for efficiency, scalability, and quality, aligning with core operations principles.

• Innovation & Technology Adoption: A key aspect is the proactive exploration and integration of new technologies, particularly AI, to enhance educational products and processes.

Company Website: https://www.wgu.edu/

📝 Enhancement Note: WGU's commitment to its mission and its pioneering approach to online education create a unique work environment. Operations professionals here are expected to be change agents, driving innovation while maintaining high academic standards and operational efficiency.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior/Lead Individual Contributor with Mentorship and Project Leadership responsibilities. This role sits at the "Professional 309" grade, indicating a high level of expertise and responsibility beyond entry-level or mid-level roles.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a leadership position within Learning & Development or Curriculum Development, such as a Director or VP. The Strategist, in turn, mentors and guides other instructional designers and contractors.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of WGU's educational offerings. By optimizing instructional design processes and integrating new technologies, the Strategist contributes to student success, scalability of programs, and the university's competitive advantage in the online education market. This is analogous to how RevOps impacts revenue generation by improving sales efficiency and effectiveness.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Progression: Potential to advance into management roles (e.g., Manager of Instructional Design, Director of Curriculum Development) or specialized leadership tracks focused on technology innovation.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like Generative AI for education, advanced UX for learning, or competency-based assessment design.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Opportunity to lead larger, more strategic initiatives impacting multiple departments or university-wide educational strategies.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to the broader field of instructional design and educational technology through presentations, publications, or participation in industry forums.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for an Instructional Design Strategist at WGU is strongly tied to operational excellence, strategic technology adoption, and leadership within the learning and development domain. It offers a clear trajectory for individuals aiming to combine educational expertise with operational impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, requiring 4 days per week in the Salt Lake City, Utah office. This indicates a structured office environment designed for collaboration, team interaction, and focused work.

Office Location(s): Salt Lake City, Utah. This location offers a vibrant professional environment with access to a growing tech and education sector.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and office-centric days suggest a workspace that fosters in-person collaboration, team meetings, and spontaneous problem-solving sessions among instructional designers and other stakeholders.

• Technology & Tools: Access to WGU's established technology stack, including Content Management Systems (CMS), learning platforms, and potentially specialized AI tools for instructional development.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct mentorship, peer-to-peer learning, and cross-functional engagement with various departments critical to course development and delivery.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week.

• The hybrid arrangement provides a balance between structured office presence and remote flexibility, allowing for focused work and personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, demanding strong self-management and communication skills to ensure seamless collaboration between in-office and remote team members. This mirrors the operational challenges of managing distributed teams in other industries.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and application to assess alignment with the required qualifications and experience.

• Phone/Video Interview: An initial conversation with a recruiter or hiring manager to discuss your background, motivation, and suitability for the role.

• Skills Assessment/Case Study: Likely to involve a practical exercise or case study focused on instructional design challenges, technology integration (e.g., AI), or process improvement, potentially requiring portfolio elements.

• Panel Interview: Interviews with key stakeholders, including instructional designers, curriculum leads, and potentially senior leadership, to assess technical expertise, strategic thinking, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: A concluding discussion with a senior leader to finalize decisions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your expertise in instructional design, technology integration (especially AI), and process optimization.

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the solution implemented, and the measurable outcomes or impact (e.g., improved learning efficiency, reduced development time, successful technology adoption). Use metrics where possible.

• Highlight AI Integration: If you have experience with Generative AI in instructional design, showcase specific examples of prompt engineering, content generation assistance, or workflow automation.

• Demonstrate Process Thinking: Explain the processes you followed, any improvements you suggested or implemented, and how you documented them.

• Prepare for Presentation: Be ready to walk interviewers through your portfolio, explaining your design choices and strategic rationale.

Challenge Preparation:

• Instructional Design Principles: Refresh your knowledge of adult learning theories, ADDIE, SAM, and other instructional design models.

• Competency-Based Education: Understand WGU's specific model and how it differs from traditional education.

• Generative AI in Education: Research current applications, ethical considerations, prompt engineering best practices, and potential use cases for WGU.

• Process Improvement Methodologies: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach analyzing and improving an existing instructional design process at WGU.

• Stakeholder Management: Prepare examples of how you have collaborated with diverse stakeholders to achieve project goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio, case studies, and practical challenges is standard for operations roles where demonstrable problem-solving and implementation skills are critical. Candidates should prepare to showcase their strategic thinking and ability to drive tangible results.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Content Management System (CMS): Proficiency with WGU's specific CMS is critical. Experience with similar enterprise-level CMS platforms is transferable.

• Authoring Tools: Expertise in common e-learning authoring tools (e.g., Articulate Storyline/Rise, Adobe Captivate, Lectora) is often required for content development.

• Collaboration Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, or similar for daily communication and project collaboration.

• Generative AI Tools: Hands-on experience with AI platforms (e.g., ChatGPT, Midjourney, specialized educational AI tools) for content creation, brainstorming, and workflow automation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Learning Management Systems (LMS): Experience with LMS platforms (e.g., Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard) for understanding course delivery and student progress tracking.

• Data Analysis Tools: Basic proficiency in tools like Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or potentially BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) for analyzing development metrics and course effectiveness data.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how instructional content integrates with student lifecycles managed by CRM or Student Information Systems (SIS) can be beneficial.

• Familiarity with workflow automation concepts, especially as they apply to content development pipelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with specific authoring tools and a strong understanding of CMS are foundational. However, the explicit mention of Generative AI positions this role at the forefront of educational technology operations, requiring a proactive approach to learning and integrating new AI-powered tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Student-Centricity: A core value at WGU, driving all decisions and actions towards improving the student learning experience and outcomes.

• Innovation: Encouraging the exploration and adoption of new technologies and methodologies to enhance educational delivery.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to maintaining high academic standards and delivering high-quality educational content and experiences.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Striving to optimize processes and leverage technology to serve a growing student population effectively.

• Collaboration: Fostering a team-oriented environment where cross-functional cooperation is essential for success.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: This role requires seamless collaboration with instructional designers, curriculum developers, subject matter experts, academic quality teams, and IT to ensure cohesive course development.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: A culture of actively sharing expertise, mentoring junior team members, and collectively advancing the team's capabilities.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: Openness to constructive feedback and a proactive approach to using it for continuous improvement of both individual work and team processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: WGU's culture is deeply rooted in its mission. Operations professionals are expected to embody this mission, translating it into efficient, effective, and innovative processes that directly support student success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Pace of Technological Change: Keeping abreast of rapid advancements in AI and other instructional technologies and determining their practical application for WGU.

• Scaling Innovation: Integrating new technologies and methodologies effectively across a large instructional design team while maintaining quality and consistency.

• Balancing Innovation and Tradition: Navigating the need to innovate with emerging tools while adhering to established academic quality standards and CBE principles.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring buy-in and seamless execution across various departments with potentially different priorities.

• Mentoring Diverse Skill Sets: Effectively guiding and developing instructional designers with varying levels of experience and expertise, including contractors.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Specialization: Opportunities to become a recognized expert in Generative AI applications for education through dedicated training, certifications, and practical project work.

• Leadership Development: Formal and informal leadership training, mentorship programs, and opportunities to lead significant strategic initiatives.

• Industry Engagement: Support for attending relevant conferences, workshops, and professional development events in instructional design, educational technology, and AI.

• Advanced Certifications: Pursuing advanced certifications like Quality Matters Master Reviewer or specialized UX/AI credentials.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is ideal for operations professionals who thrive on tackling complex challenges related to technology adoption and process evolution within a mission-driven organization. The growth opportunities are substantial for those looking to lead innovation in educational operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the integration of a new instructional technology or methodology into a development process. What were the key challenges and outcomes?" (Focus on process, adoption, and impact).

• "How would you approach developing best practices for using Generative AI in course content creation at WGU, considering academic integrity and quality?" (Demonstrate strategic thinking, AI knowledge, and operational planning).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about WGU's mission and its competency-based education model?" (Show alignment with WGU's core values).

• "How do you see your role contributing to WGU's commitment to expanding access to higher education?" (Connect your operational skills to the mission).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio piece, follow a STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or PAR (Problem, Action, Result) format. Clearly articulate the operational challenge and your strategic solution.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your work (e.g., "reduced development time by 15%", "improved student engagement scores by X%", "successfully onboarded 5 new IDs").

• Showcase AI Expertise: Be ready to discuss specific prompts, AI tools used, and how AI assisted in design, content generation, or process efficiency. Explain the ROI or benefits derived from AI integration.

• Emphasize Process and Scalability: Discuss how your contributions improved or optimized workflows, making them more efficient or scalable.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just instructional design expertise but also strategic operational thinking, leadership potential, and a proactive approach to technology adoption, particularly AI.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Instructional Design Strategist position:

• Submit your application online through the Western Governors University careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your experience in instructional design, competency-based education, process optimization, and Generative AI integration. Select projects that best showcase strategic impact and operational efficiency.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 7+ years of relevant experience, Master's degree, and key skills, using keywords from the job description such as "Instructional Design," "Generative AI," "Process Improvement," and "SME."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience using the STAR method, prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail, and research WGU's mission and CBE model thoroughly.

• Company Research: Understand WGU's unique position in higher education, its commitment to accessibility, and its innovative approach to online learning. Be ready to discuss how your role contributes to these strategic goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions tailored for operations roles. All details, especially regarding specific technologies, team structure, and interview processes, should be verified directly with the hiring organization.