About the Job

Position Overview

The Director of Learning Experience Design will lead the design, development, and continuous evolution of learning experiences across one of the nation’s premier business schools. This is a strategic leadership position responsible for leading and developing a team of instructional designers & academic technology professionals, leading schoolwide pedagogy and assessment, and governing learning technology and accessibility. The Director of Learning Experience Design will oversee all online course development and execution in the University’s Canvas Learning Management System and other learning technology infrastructure, while also building the instructional capacity of a large and diverse faculty community.

The Carlson School of Management serves approximately 3,600 undergraduate students, 1,200 graduate students, and 150 faculty across both on-campus programs and online programs that enroll 600-700 students. The Director of Learning Experience Design will report to a faculty associate dean (associate dean of academic innovation and operations). The role will lead a team of six instructional design and academic technology professionals, as well as many part-time student employees. 

This role is the right fit for someone who genuinely enjoys working with faculty, including the ones who push back; leads with curiosity, operates with rigor, and communicates with clarity; knows when to build something new and when to protect what is already working; cares about the student learning experience as much as the faculty experience; can move comfortably between strategic conversations with a dean and hands-on design work with a course team; and sees AI as something to understand and guide rather than fear or evangelize.

Location and Work Environment: This is a hybrid position and will require 3 days on campus (potentially more, depending on business need). Any in-person work will be located on the UMN Twin Cities campus.
 

Job Description

Lead and Develop the Instructional Design Team (35%)

• Provide strategic leadership, vision, and operational direction for the instructional design team, establishing priorities, processes, and resource strategies that support Carlson’s academic goals.
• Lead long-term strategic planning for the team, ensuring that instructional design, academic technology, and faculty support initiatives are aligned with the school’s evolving academic strategy and institutional priorities.
• Establish clear priorities and frameworks that enable the team to balance day-to-day execution with longer-term innovation, ensuring resources are directed toward the initiatives with the greatest impact on teaching and learning.
• Champion continuous learning opportunities, fostering an environment where staff are supported in exploring and applying emerging education technologies and AI tools.
• Model the same openness to experimentation and iteration you expect from the faculty you support.
• Serve as an executive advocate for the team, establishing overarching priority frameworks and clear scope boundaries with faculty and leadership.
• Have oversight over the instructional design team budget and make strategic budgetary decisions. Advocate for the unit’s budget and resource needs in alignment with academic priorities, making strategic financial decisions by partnering with the Director of Carlson IT and the associate dean of academic innovation.
• Maintain a collaborative, strategic partnership with the Director of Carlson IT and the broader Carlson IT team to ensure pedagogical needs and technical infrastructure are aligned.

Lead Strategic Pedagogy and Assessment (20%)

• Provide strategic leadership for schoolwide pedagogy and assessment, ensuring that learning design practices are aligned with Carlson’s academic priorities and consistently support high-quality student learning experiences.
• Serve as the school’s leading thought partner regarding schoolwide pedagogy, expertise in assurance of learning, program and course assessment, and the measurement of learning effectiveness.
• Translate Carlsons academic priorities into pedagogically sound, learner-centered course and program designs.
• Champion a shift from content delivery toward active learning, meaningful assessment, and deep engagement for students navigating an AI-saturated world.
• Partner with faculty and the associate dean to develop learning strategies across undergraduate, graduate, and online programs.
• Serve as a thought partner on how AI tools are changing course design, student learning, and faculty practice.

Build Faculty Capacity (20%)

• Communicate effectively with faculty and faculty leaders at the school regarding online learning, course standards and expectations, and pedagogical approaches that best serve students.
• Design and deliver faculty development programs that meet instructors where they are, from skeptic to early adopter, and move them forward.
• Help faculty understand what AI means for their students, their assessments, and their course designs, without being prescriptive or alarmist.
• Build trust with a faculty population that ranges from enthusiastic innovators to deeply cautious traditionalists. Both groups deserve skilled support.
• Develop programming that builds genuine pedagogical capacity, not just familiarity with new tools.

Govern Learning Technology and Accessibility (25%)

• Oversee Canvas administration at the school, oversee Carlson’s relationship with the University canvas administrators, learning technology evaluation, and the instructional technology ecosystem.
• Lead the long-term planning and continuous improvement of learning technology infrastructure, balancing innovation with stability, usability, accessibility, and institutional sustainability.
• Ensure all courses and materials meet WCAG 2.1 AA and ADA Title II accessibility standards.
• Stay current on emerging tools, including AI-assisted design platforms, and make recommendations grounded in evidence and institutional fit.
• Manage appropriate university-level relationships and serve as a leader of online education and instructional design at the university.
• Manage vendor relationships and technology integrations with care for faculty experience and student outcomes.

*The employer reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position*

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS degree plus at least 10 years of related experience, or master’s degree plus at least 8 years of related experience, or terminal degree plus 6 years of related experience.
• Experience managing online program infrastructure at scale.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with faculty in a higher education setting, including faculty who are skeptical of or resistant to change.
• Deep familiarity with LMS platforms, particularly Canvas, including governance, course templates, and faculty training.
• Working fluency with AI tools for learning design: you use them in your own practice and can help others do the same thoughtfully.
• Strong project management discipline, including the ability to manage competing priorities across a large faculty population.
• Substantive knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA / ADA Title II) and how they apply to digital course materials.
• Location and Work Environment: This is a hybrid position and will require 3 days on campus (potentially more, depending on business need). Any in-person work will be located on the UMN Twin Cities campus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree in instructional design, educational technology, learning sciences, or a closely related field. Doctoral degree a plus.
• Eight or more years of progressive experience in instructional design and/or academic technology, with at least three to five years managing full-time instructional design teams in higher education.
• Teaching experience at the college or university level. Understanding what it feels like to stand in front of a class matters for this work.
• Experience developing faculty AI literacy programs or advising on AI policy at the course or program level.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex pedagogical or technological concepts for non-specialist audiences.
• Familiarity with business education contexts, including AACSB accreditation and assurance of learning processes.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $140,000.00 – $160,000.00; depending on education/qualifications/experience 

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff 

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services 
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume or CV.

This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail jobcentr@umn.edu.

Priority Application Deadline: November 1, 2026

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission.  The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  To learn more about diversity at the U:  http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.