Online Course Development Specialist - REMOTE ROLE

Sonoran University of Health Sciences is an innovative, dynamic, and rapidly growing academic community. The Dean of the College of Nutrition and School of Mental Health is looking for an Online Course Development Specialist to work as a key member of our Instructional Support Team in the development of high-quality online educational experiences for our students.

The Online Course Development Specialist will support and collaborate with faculty and subject matter experts through the development, maintenance, and enhancement of courses in the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) and in the use of educational technology in the online learning environment. The ideal candidate will have technical know-how, exceptional attention to detail, and be customer service minded. They will also have proficiency in building and administering online courses in the Canvas LMS along with knowledge of commonly used e-learning tools and multimedia development.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Course building – course development & maintenance in the Canvas LMS:

• Work as part of the Instructional Support Team to build and maintain online courses in the Canvas LMS in adherence with accessibility and universal design standards, and best practices in online course design.
• Build courses in an established course template ensuring alignment with the Course Development Plan provided, instructional goals, and best practices in online education.
• Edit and enhance multimedia content, including PowerPoint presentations, videos, and other interactive materials, to optimize student learning experiences.
• Configure course settings in Canvas, including discussion forums, grading parameters, and access permissions, to facilitate effective course management and delivery.
• Lead quality assurance efforts to ensure courses meet Sonoran University’s accessibility and universal design standards and follow best practices in online course design.
• Collaborate with the Instructional Support Team to improve course effectiveness by implementing enhancements based on feedback and learning analytics.

2. Coordinate and participate in course building and LMS project management:

• Adhere to detailed project schedules for course development and LMS management (setup of courses each quarter), tracking progress against milestones, taking detailed notes as needed, and ensuring issues are resolved in a timely manner.
• Ensure ongoing communication of project status to team members, faculty, and administrators.
• Proactively identify and communicate potential risks to successful project completion and implementation.

3. Provide instructional support to faculty related to course updates, implementing new online course content as specified in Course Development Plans, utilizing instructional design, multimedia development, universal design principles, and the effective use of technology to promote learning.

• Interact with faculty and subject matter experts to collect course components (e.g., faculty videos, PowerPoint slides, assignments, rubrics) and provide basic technical guidance and support to optimize their teaching practices.

Qualifications:

• Proficiency with building and maintaining online courses in the Canvas LMS.
• Experience working with various types of computer software and hardware and multi-media applications.
• Experience with the technical build and maintenance of online courses preferably in a higher education environment.
• Technical skills, including video editing, multimedia production, and web content management.
• Proficient in MS Office and commonly used e-learning tools (e.g., Zoom and Panopto)
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work with non-technical clients and translate content into multimedia products in formats including but not limited to video and audio.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a project team. Ability to remain calm under pressure. Active listening skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with project management software such as MS Project or Smartsheet is an asset.
• Project management and problem-solving skills are an asset.
• Knowledge of Universal Design and accessibility standards and principles in online course design (e.g., ADA compliance) is an asset.

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or master’s degree (preferred) in instructional technology, computer applications, educational technology, multimedia production, or related field.
• 1+ years of experience in course design and maintenance.

Salary: This is a remote role, paying $41,600 - $45,760 DOE with generous benefits package. Sonoran University benefits include health, vision, and dental, insurance; life insurance; 401K matching, wellness programs, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays and more!