Lead Multimedia Content Designer -WGU Academy

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Multimedia Content Designer - WGU Academy Company: Western Governors University Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Creative & Media / Education Technology Operations Date Posted: 2025-10-30 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote OK, but based in Salt Lake City Office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the creation of engaging, user-facing multimedia assets for online and mobile learning platforms, including interactive games, simulations, graphics, animations, and videos.
• Define and implement visual design and multimedia standards, establishing a scalable system that empowers product teams to deliver exceptional learner experiences.
• Lead an agile design team in selecting, designing, iterating, and developing production-ready assets for eLearning courses and modules, directly impacting learner success.
• Collaborate with Design Managers, experience designers, and stakeholders to develop product media strategies aligned with desired product goals and outcomes.
• Proactively analyze product metrics in conjunction with Learning Experience Designers and Research Scientists to identify, ideate, implement, and measure continuous enhancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is categorized under "Education Technology Operations" due to its focus on designing and standardizing digital learning content at scale within an educational institution. The "Lead" designation implies significant responsibility for team direction, process definition, and strategic input, aligning with senior operational roles in GTM or product development. The hybrid nature, requiring presence in Salt Lake City but allowing remote work, is a key detail for operations professionals evaluating location flexibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Champion and collaboratively develop/implement Visual Design and Multimedia standards and guidance across the department.
• Prepare a scalable system of Visual and Multimedia standards and guidance to empower Product teams to create delightful learner experiences.
• Lead the creation of product media strategies with Design Managers, experience designers, and stakeholders to ensure media alignment with product goals and outcomes.
• Proactively analyze product metrics with Learning Experience Designers and Research Scientists to identify, ideate, implement, and measure ongoing enhancements for learner engagement.
• Collaborate with WGU leaders and various business stakeholders to influence and define project scope and delivery expectations.
• Lead the design and implementation of multiple products, ensuring compliance with all project deadlines and quality control of multimedia assets.
• Mentor team members, providing direction on applying best-practice learning content development and continuous learning principles.
• Model leadership, professionalism, and a collaborative relationship with internal and external stakeholders, guiding them through practices, concepts, and approaches.
• Stay current with trends and research in content best practices, including learning science, UI/UX, and behavioral economics.
• Lead the creation and implementation of media strategies meeting objectives, messaging goals, and requirements, while fostering cross-functional, agile design team collaboration.
• Oversee the technical feasibility of designs with Ed Tech and work with front-end developers to leverage the latest technical capabilities.
• Apply UX, UI, and multimedia design skills to create proof-of-concepts, mockups, and prototypes, rapidly producing multiple approaches for testing and presentations.
• Plan and practice user testing based on user-centered design principles, adjusting media accordingly based on feedback and sound judgment.
• Create a variety of media assets: interactive games, simulations, expert videos, polished visual images, sophisticated animations, and audio files.
• Review learner and stakeholder feedback to provide recommendations for design enhancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on design, process development, and cross-functional collaboration, typical of senior operations roles focused on product enablement and content scalability. The emphasis on "standards and guidance" and "scalable system" points towards a role focused on operationalizing creative processes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree required. Graduate degree and evidence of continued learning are preferred. Experience: 7+ years of experience is required. A strong portfolio of work is mandatory.

Required Skills:

• Expert in design, layout, and visual communication principles.
• Skilled user of AI tools for code creation, troubleshooting, and problem-solving.
• In-depth understanding of User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), and multimedia design principles.
• Understanding of responsive design principles and practices.
• Proficient with Adobe Creative Suite, Articulate 360, Sketch, and Invision.
• Thorough understanding of Color Theory, Typography, iconography, composition, grid systems, animation, and interactive development.
• Proven ability to artistically conceptualize a multi-product UI framework.
• Clear understanding of web accessibility standards (e.g., alternate text, color contrast, multiple means of representation, keyboard controls).
• Ability to create designs, layouts, motion graphics, and creative solutions that adhere to style guidelines.
• Experience in developing and implementing multimedia assets from ideation through implementation and analysis.
• Advanced project management skills; agile experience is preferred.
• Critical thinker with excellent problem-solving and analytical strategist capabilities.
• Comfortable launching and iterating quickly with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Capable and experienced in planning and conducting studies; process-oriented.
• Curious learner, continuously seeking to improve skills and sophistication; self-motivated.
• Effective communicator with excellent written, oral, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Collaborative creative individual able to thrive in a fast-paced, agile environment.
• Reliable and committed contributor to product quality; diligent.
• Ability to take, give, and receive feedback and iterate toward improved learning and engagement.
• Strong prioritization and time management skills to balance multiple demands.
• Ability to grasp new concepts quickly, with extreme attention to detail and strong communication skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Graduate degree and evidence of continued learning.
• Broad knowledge of project management.
• Experience in media production for education.
• Proven familiarity with standards of web accessibility.
• Proficiency with a variety of platforms, including Articulate 360, H5P, Adobe Acrobat, OpenEdX, Learnosity.
• Comfort in leveraging AI and engineering prompts for improved workflows.
• Proven successful collaboration and work experience with learning and performance solutions teams, education/training/development teams, or eLearning teams.
• Excellent knowledge of adult learning theories and instructional design models.
• Experience in creating graphics and assets for digital, print (layout), and motion graphics.
• Experience working within a brand system across multiple channels and extending it creatively.
• Familiarity with bringing graphics and layout to life using code.
• Comfort in using Figma.
• Ability to support designers with different tasks in their own building processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize a strong technical and creative foundation in multimedia design, coupled with strategic thinking, project management, and collaboration. The preference for AI tool proficiency and experience in educational media production aligns with modern GTM and operations needs in the EdTech space. The mention of "agile experience preferred" and "advanced project management skills" indicates a need for operational efficiency and iterative development.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in visual design, multimedia asset creation (games, simulations, animations, video), and UX/UI principles is mandatory.
• Showcase examples of creating user-facing assets for online and mobile delivery, highlighting adaptability to different platforms.
• Include case studies or project breakdowns that illustrate your process from ideation to implementation and analysis, emphasizing iterative improvements and learner impact.
• Demonstrate the ability to conceptualize and implement a multi-product UI framework, showing consistency and scalability.
• Present examples of how you have applied user-centered design principles and incorporated user feedback into design iterations.

Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of developing and implementing multimedia assets from initial concept through to final production and post-launch analysis.
• Illustrate your approach to establishing and maintaining visual design and multimedia standards, including how you would scale these for product teams.
• Showcase your experience in leading agile design teams, including methodologies for sprint planning, task management, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Demonstrate your process for analyzing product metrics in conjunction with learning designers and researchers to drive design enhancements and measure effectiveness.
• Include examples of how you have collaborated with stakeholders to define project scope, delivery expectations, and ensure compliance with deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "mandatory" portfolio requirement is a critical piece of information for operations candidates. The emphasis on process documentation, standards development, and agile team leadership suggests the hiring team is looking for someone who can not only design but also operationalize creative workflows for scale. This aligns with the core functions of a Revenue Operations or GTM Operations role focused on content and product enablement.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $88,300 - $132,400 annually. Note: Western Governors University states that it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range; compensation decisions are dependent on specific circumstances, including skills, experience, training, licensure, certifications, and business needs.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Telehealth, and Mental Healthcare
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance
• Disability Coverage (Short-term and Long-term assumed based on standard offerings)
• Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Supplemental Coverages
• Legal and Identity Theft Coverage
• Retirement Savings Plan (401k or similar)
• Wellbeing Program
• Discounted WGU Tuition for employees
• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) for rest and relaxation (no accrual required)
• Flexible Paid Sick Time (no accrual required)
• 11 Paid Holidays
• Up to 12 weeks of Parental Leave

Working Hours: 40 hours per week. This is a full-time, regular position classified for 40 standard weekly hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Lead Multimedia Content Designer role, especially in Salt Lake City, Utah. The comprehensive benefits package, including flexible PTO and sick time, is a significant draw for operations professionals valuing work-life balance and employee well-being. The explicitly stated working hours of 40/week provide clarity on expected commitment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education / Online Learning / EdTech Company Size: Large (Western Governors University is a significant institution, employing thousands). Founded: 1997. WGU was founded with a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs.

Team Structure:

• The role is within WGU Academy, a specific division of Western Governors University.
• The Lead Multimedia Content Designer will lead an agile design team, implying a collaborative and iterative team structure.
• Collaboration with Design Managers, experience designers, Learning Experience Designers, Research Scientists, Ed Tech teams, and various business stakeholders is expected.
• The reporting structure likely involves reporting to a Design Manager or Director within WGU Academy's content development or curriculum design department.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on an agile design process, focusing on rapid iteration and continuous improvement.
• Data-driven decision-making, utilizing product metrics and user feedback for enhancements.
• User-centered design principles are core to the development process.
• Standards-based approach to multimedia content creation, aiming for scalability and consistency.
• Focus on learning science, UI/UX, and behavioral economics to inform content design.

Company Website: https://www.wgu.edu/ (WGU overall) and likely specific portals for WGU Academy.

📝 Enhancement Note: WGU's mission-driven culture, focused on student success and accessibility, is a key cultural differentiator. The emphasis on innovation in online education, competency-based learning, and leveraging technology suggests a forward-thinking environment that would appeal to operations professionals seeking to make a tangible impact. The scale of WGU implies robust operational processes and opportunities for large-scale project execution.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Lead" position, indicating a senior individual contributor role with leadership and mentorship responsibilities. It sits above entry-level or mid-level designer roles and below management positions. It's a key role in operationalizing the creative output for WGU Academy.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a Design Manager or similar leadership within WGU Academy. It leads a team of multimedia content designers, potentially including specialists in graphics, animation, or interactive development. Collaboration extends across various departments, requiring strong stakeholder management skills.

Operations Impact: This role has a high impact on learner success by defining the standards and quality of educational content. By creating engaging and effective learning experiences at scale, it directly contributes to student outcomes, retention, and overall institutional reputation. The operationalization of design processes ensures efficiency and consistency in content delivery, which is critical for a large online university.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in emerging multimedia technologies, AI-driven design tools, advanced UX/UI, and learning science.
• Leadership Development: Progression into management roles (e.g., Design Manager, Director of Content Development) by demonstrating leadership, team management, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Specialization: Focus on specific areas within multimedia design, such as interactive simulations, educational game design, or advanced animation techniques.
• Cross-functional Exposure: Opportunity to work on high-impact projects across different WGU divisions, gaining broader institutional knowledge and strategic perspective.
• Mentorship: Formal and informal opportunities to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title signifies a critical operational node for content production. Growth here could involve moving into management or becoming a subject matter expert in a specialized area of educational media, both of which are common career paths for senior operations professionals. The impact on learner success is a strong motivator for mission-driven candidates.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role is based in the Salt Lake City Office but allows for remote work. This suggests a flexible work model where in-office collaboration is valued, but remote flexibility is also provided.

Office Location(s): Salt Lake City Office, Utah, United States.

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative environment is fostered, with expected interaction with design managers, experience designers, learning designers, research scientists, and Ed Tech teams.
• Access to necessary operations tools and technology, including Adobe Creative Suite, Articulate 360, Figma, and AI tools, is expected.
• Opportunities for team collaboration, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional project work, both in-person and virtually.
• The work environment likely supports an agile methodology, emphasizing iterative development and continuous feedback loops.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility expected to meet project deadlines. The emphasis on agile methodology suggests iterative work cycles and a dynamic pace.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of this role is a significant factor for operations candidates, balancing the need for in-person collaboration and team cohesion with the benefits of remote flexibility. The mention of "user-centered design principles" and "agile methodology" implies a dynamic and collaborative workspace focused on continuous improvement and stakeholder input.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will review applications and portfolios for basic qualifications and fit.
• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Expect interviews with the Design Manager and potentially other team leads to assess technical skills, design philosophy, and leadership potential. This stage will likely involve discussing your portfolio in detail.
• Skills Assessment/Portfolio Review: A dedicated session will likely focus on reviewing your provided portfolio. You may be asked to walk through specific projects, explaining your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work.
• Cross-functional Stakeholder Interview: Interviews with representatives from related departments (e.g., Learning Experience Design, Ed Tech) to assess collaboration skills and understanding of their needs.
• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to confirm cultural fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your multimedia design, UX/UI, and leadership capabilities. Prioritize projects similar to educational content creation if possible.
• Highlight Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (especially your design and iteration methods), the tools used, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Emphasize how you established standards or improved efficiency.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased learner engagement, improved completion rates, efficiency gains).
• Showcase Leadership: Include examples where you led a team, mentored others, or established design standards. Explain your approach to collaboration and stakeholder management.
• Technical Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your proficiency with the required tools (Adobe Suite, Articulate 360, Figma, AI tools) and how you leverage them to achieve specific design goals.
• Accessibility & Standards: Explicitly mention how you incorporated web accessibility standards and how you contribute to or develop design systems and style guides.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a potential design challenge, either taken home or completed during an interview. This might involve creating a concept for an interactive learning module, a simulation, or a set of graphic assets based on a given brief.
• Scenario-Based Questions: Expect questions about how you would handle specific design challenges, manage conflicting stakeholder requirements, or lead a team through a difficult project.
• Agile & Iteration: Practice explaining your approach to agile development, rapid prototyping, and iterative design based on feedback.
• AI Tool Integration: Be ready to discuss how you use AI tools in your workflow and how you would leverage them for efficiency and innovation in multimedia content creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential design challenges highlights the practical, hands-on nature of this role. Operations candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just creative output but also their ability to manage creative projects, establish processes, and lead teams, much like a GTM or RevOps professional would manage sales enablement or marketing campaign operations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro), Articulate 360 (Rise, Storyline), Figma, Sketch, Invision.
• AI Tools: Explicitly mentioned for creating code, troubleshooting, and devising solutions. Proficiency in prompt engineering for AI tools is a plus.
• Interactive Content: H5P, OpenEdX, Learnosity.
• General Productivity: Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite.
• Project Management: Agile methodology preferred, indicating familiarity with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While specific tools aren't listed, the role involves analyzing product metrics. This implies familiarity with learning analytics platforms or general data analysis tools used to track learner engagement and course effectiveness.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this role's core design function, but understanding how content integrates with learning management systems (LMS) or student information systems (SIS) might be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI tools is a significant differentiator, signaling WGU's commitment to modernizing its content creation processes. Proficiency in this stack is crucial for operations roles that often involve integrating and managing various technology platforms to drive efficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Learner-Centricity: A core value is improving learner success and expanding access to higher education. All design decisions should ultimately serve the student.
• Innovation & Agility: Embracing new technologies (like AI), rapid iteration, and a willingness to experiment and adapt quickly.
• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, cross-functional partnerships, and open communication across departments.
• Excellence & Quality: Commitment to producing high-quality, engaging, and effective learning experiences.
• Continuous Learning: Encouraging personal and professional growth, staying current with industry trends, and embracing feedback.
• Data-Driven Improvement: Using metrics and feedback to inform decisions and continuously enhance products and processes.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working closely with peers, managers, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds (design, instructional design, research, technology, business).
• Agile methodology dictates a dynamic and iterative collaboration style, with frequent check-ins and feedback loops.
• Openness to giving and receiving constructive feedback is essential for continuous improvement.
• Leadership involves mentoring and guiding peers, fostering a supportive and growth-oriented team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The alignment of values with WGU's mission is critical. Operations professionals often thrive in environments where their work has a clear, positive impact. The emphasis on agility and continuous learning is also characteristic of successful operations teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation and Standards: Creating cutting-edge multimedia content while adhering to established design standards and accessibility guidelines for a large institution.
• Scalability Demands: Developing content that can be effectively scaled across numerous courses and programs without compromising quality or learner experience.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively managing diverse stakeholder expectations and ensuring alignment between design, curriculum development, and technology teams.
• Rapid Technological Evolution: Keeping pace with emerging multimedia technologies, AI advancements, and evolving learning design best practices.
• Iterative Design under Pressure: Delivering creative solutions with quick turnaround times in a fast-paced, agile environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Tool Proficiency: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design tools, advanced animation software, and emerging content creation platforms.
• Instructional Design & Learning Science: Enhance knowledge of adult learning theories, instructional design models, and cognitive psychology to create more impactful learning experiences.
• Leadership & Management: Develop skills in team leadership, project management, strategic planning, and stakeholder influence.
• Industry Trends: Opportunities to attend conferences, workshops, and pursue certifications related to multimedia design, UX/UI, and educational technology.
• Mentorship Programs: Benefit from or contribute to mentorship initiatives, fostering professional growth and knowledge transfer.

📝 Enhancement Note: These challenges are typical for senior roles in fast-evolving fields like EdTech and multimedia design. The growth opportunities are tailored to advancing within a specialized operational or leadership track within the organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a team to develop a complex multimedia project. What was your process, and what were the key challenges and outcomes?" (Focus on leadership, process, and impact)
• "How do you balance creating innovative, engaging content with adhering to brand guidelines and technical specifications?" (Focus on operationalizing creativity)
• "Walk me through your process for incorporating user feedback and analytics into your design iterations." (Focus on data-driven operations and user-centricity)
• "How would you establish and enforce multimedia design standards across multiple product teams at WGU Academy?" (Focus on process development and scalability)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about WGU's mission and our approach to competency-based education?" (Demonstrate alignment with company values)
• "How do you stay current with trends in multimedia design, AI, and learning technologies?" (Showcase continuous learning)
• "Describe your experience working in an agile environment. How do you manage your work and collaborate with others in such a setting?" (Assess adaptability and team fit)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the solution (your design), the process, and the results. Use a story-telling approach.
• Highlight Operational Aspects: Emphasize how you established processes, improved efficiency, managed stakeholders, or applied standards.
• Demonstrate Technical Skills: Be ready to discuss specific tools and techniques used, especially AI tools, Adobe Suite, Articulate, and Figma.
• Showcase Leadership: Point out instances where you led, mentored, or influenced others.
• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to support your claims of success and impact on learners.
• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, problem-solving approach, and how you handle feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just creative talent but also operational acumen, leadership potential, and alignment with WGU's mission, mirroring the expectations for senior roles in GTM or RevOps.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-adjacent content design position:

• Submit your application online through the provided Workday link. Ensure your resume and portfolio are up-to-date and tailored to this role.
• Portfolio Customization: Select 3-5 of your most relevant projects that showcase your multimedia design, UX/UI, and any leadership or process-improvement experience. Clearly articulate your role, process, and the impact of your work, emphasizing how you've developed or adhered to standards.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Multimedia Design," "UX/UI," "Agile," "Project Management," "Learning Design," and specific tools like "Adobe Creative Suite" and "Articulate 360." Quantify achievements whenever possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice answering behavioral and situational questions related to leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, and agile methodologies. Prepare to walk through your portfolio in detail, focusing on your design process and any operational contributions.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with WGU's mission, values, and its approach to competency-based online education. Understand how WGU Academy fits into the larger institution and research their current educational offerings and target audience.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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