Associate Director, Learning Design

About Digital Promise Global

Digital Promise Global is an independent, bipartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to spur innovation to advance equity and improve the opportunity to learn. Positioned at the intersection of educators, entrepreneurs, and researchers, Digital Promise Global identifies, develops, and promotes strategies to improve education and provide people with the knowledge and skills needed to compete in the global economy. Digital Promise centers our work in equity and values and rewards inclusivity, collaboration, and innovation.

About The Position

Millions of students nationwide lack the access to technology and the skills they need to succeed in the digital world. Since 2012, Verizon has worked to help solve this problem through a transformative program called Verizon Innovative Learning. Digital Promise collaborates with Verizon to partner with middle and high school leaders, coaches, teachers and students across America by providing technology, access, technical support, and comprehensive professional learning, and to support technology integration in classrooms and to advance digital equity.

Reporting to the Director of Learning Design for the Digital Equity Team, the Associate Director of Learning Design will be charged with providing instructional design solutions for a wide range of adult professional learning and student-facing learning experiences. This highly credible individual will be responsible for end-to-end instructional design, content creation, and production in partnership with leadership and key stakeholders. Successful solutions are those that follow systematic instructional design processes and methodologies and result with innovative products that will develop the aligned competencies among learners.

Responsibilities

Overall

• Contribute to the intake process for new learning requests to provide guidance, suggested frameworks or methods, and better practices as well as opportunities to innovate
• Apply instructional design methodologies, adult learning principles, and innovation strategies in the conception, design, and development of learning assets
• Collaborate with SMEs across the Digital Equity team and Digital Promise broadly to ensure reliable, up-to-date, evidence-backed content is used in learning solutions
• Ensure learning assets created by other team members or external vendors fully meet the outlined learning objectives, company brand standards, and Verizon requirements
• Adhere to the learning asset development calendar
• Determine and document the detailed design needs and required learning content for all learning modalities both current and future
• Convert complex topics and simplify into digestible accessible learning assets that will support learning-centered experiences strategy
• Develop and create micro-credentials learning assets
• Review learning asset analytics on a regular cycle to assess design theories as they play out over time, identify creative solutions for learning improvements, and recommend the need for revision (re-entry into the development cycle)
• Stay at the forefront of industry trends to benchmark, understand, and create a best-in-class inclusive student-centered learning experience
• Skill in creating and aligning learning design to support Digital Promise’s North Star Goals, and learning strategy
• Engage in Digital Promise projects that promote and advance digital equity and contribute meaningfully to achieving the organization’s impact goals.
  
  
  

Initiative Implementation

• Think, work, and plan sequentially toward initiative outcomes, constantly managing multiple deadlines and needs of different stakeholders
• Collaborate with other VILS internal teams
• Conduct on-site visits if needed
  
  
  

Reporting

• Identify and track key performance indicators related to content that measure progress towards the achievement of initiative goals and elements of success.
• Implement a competency mapping framework (e.g. Competency-Based Education, NIACE Competence Framework, etc) to align learning experiences with required competencies.
• Support the collection of data and generation of reports on the progress of leaders, coaches, and schools
• Provide vital insights and reporting across the program for Verizon, Digital Promise, school leadership, and programming
• Assist with measuring the return on investment of learning and development
  
  
  

VILS Community/Learning Management System

• LEarn the features of LMS and community platform to maximize opportunities for learner engagement in design
• Escalate concerns where needed
• Leverage the learning management system for resource sharing with schools
• Engage in professional learning courses to build familiarity and capacity
• Support Associate Directors of Community to plan and host virtual and in-person convenings for school leaders and teachers
• Other duties as assigned
  
  
  

Education

• A Bachelor's degree and 5-7 years of experience in education, instructional design, learner experience, technology, or a relevant field of study
  
  
  

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of national educational trends in instructional technology and professional learning in face-to-face, virtual, and blended learning environments
• Proven expertise in professional learning, curriculum development, educational technology, and creating content for multicultural audiences and can lead a team to strengthen their capacity
• Self-directed leadership skills with exceptional decision-making abilities, tenacity, conviction, and attention to detail
  
  
  

Learning Sciences

• Knowledge of the principles and applications of cognitive science for learning
• Knowledge of communication theories and models and how they relate to learning
• Knowledge of a variety of experiences and understanding of the learning needs and interests of diverse learners
  
  
  

Instructional Design

• Knowledge of theories and models of adult learning (e.g., Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory, Bloom’s Taxonomy, Gagne’s Nine Levels of Learning, Mager’s Criterion-Referenced Instruction Approach, social and collaborative learning, and experiential learning)
• Knowledge of competency mapping frameworks (e.g. Competency-Based Education, NIACE Competence Framework, Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition, etc.)
• Skill in InDesign and Storyline to support interactive content development
• Skill in designing blueprints, schematics, and/or other visual representations of learning and development solutions (e.g., wireframes, storyboards, and mock-ups)
• Skill in selecting and aligning delivery options and media for training and/or learning events to the desired learning or behavioral outcomes
  
  
  

Project Management

• Knowledge of project management principles and processes (e.g., scheduling, planning, allocating resources, evaluating, and reporting)
• Skill in coordinating the logistical tasks associated with planning meetings
• Skill in adjusting work processes and outputs in response to or anticipation of changes in goals, standards, resources, and/or time
  
  
  

Technology

• Knowledge of functions, features, limitations, and practical applications of the technologies available to support student learning experience and program management (e.g., Asana, VILS Academy, Microsoft & Google Suite, Salesforce, Camtasia, Articulate Rise, Articulate Storyline, etc.)
  
  
  

Future Readiness

• Knowledge of techniques to promote, support, and/or generate innovation and creativity (e.g., design thinking, brainstorming, and ideation)
• Knowledge of emerging learning technologies and support systems
  
  
  

Collaboration and Leadership

• Knowledge of conflict management techniques
• Skill in building and managing teams and work groups (e.g., leveraging group dynamics and fostering teamwork and collaboration)
  
  
  

Communication

• Skill in applying verbal, written, and/or non-verbal communication techniques (e.g., agenda-setting, asking open-ended questions, use of posture and deference, and demonstrating professional presence)
  
  
  

Emotional intelligence and Decision Making

• Skill in identifying personal biases that influence one’s own cognition and behavior
• Knowledge of decision-making models (e.g., consensus-based, democratic, and autocratic)
• Skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems
• Skill in observing and interpreting the verbal and non-verbal behavior of individuals and/or groups
  
  
  

Cultural Awareness and Inclusion

• Knowledge of approaches to encourage and/or promote workplace diversity and inclusion
• Knowledge of methods and techniques to foster cultural awareness, encourage cultural sensitivity, and broaden viewpoints
  
  
  

Compliance and Ethical Behavior

• Skill in acting with integrity (e.g., being honest, acknowledging own mistakes, treating people with dignity, respect, and fairness)
  
  
  

Evaluating Impact

• Knowledge of models and methods to evaluate the impact of learning
  
  
  

Lifelong Learning

• Skill in acquiring new knowledge through professional development activities for one's self
• Skill in developing, maintaining, and leveraging networks across a range of people and groups inside and outside the organization
• All other duties as assigned.
  
  
  

At Digital Promise, we also seek candidates with:

• A strong commitment to improving equity and accessibility in education
• A commitment to anti-racist approaches to our work
• Diverse life experiences
• An interest in redesigning learning systems
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional team members to ensure information is shared, projects are completed on time, and goals are reached
  
  
  

Working Conditions:

Digital Promise Global is a hybrid organization. Employees are expected to travel at least 4 times a year for in person meetings and the annual staff retreat. Additional travel may be required based on role and responsibilities.

• Travel: up to 20-30%
• Physical/Sensory Demands: Fast-paced working environment. Extensive computer usage and online engagement & communication. Must be willing to build inclusive relationships and collaborate with employees at all levels within the organization and external partners.
• Special Provisions:
  
  
  

Occasional work outside of normal business hours, such as weekends and evenings required.

Compensation

We consider candidate experience and location when determining where a candidate may fall within that range. Digital Promise Global offers a competitive total rewards package including coverage of 85% of health insurance premiums for employee coverage and 75% of health insurance premiums for dependent and family coverage, 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 3% 401k employer contribution, 3% employer 401k match, and a flexible work environment.

The full-time salary range for the Associate Director, Learning Design position based on geographical regions are listed below, with exact salary depending on relevant experience.

National: $99,450 - $108,225

California: $121,550 - $132,275

DC & NYC: $110,500 - $120,250

To Apply

Please apply and submit your resume, cover letter, and salary requirements. Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis until the search is successful.

Digital Promise is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.