If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Grade: Professional 308

Pay Range: $73,000.00 – $109,400.00

Job Description

The Learning Experience Designer (LxD) understands how people learn and designs experiences to help them learn better. The successful candidate is passionate about delighting students while they achieve and demonstrate learning outcomes. The LxD works closely with stakeholders, researching and applying science-informed learning strategies and practices into their designs. They also push the boundaries of the field, seeking new and innovative ways to help students learn. This position will work with a team versed in rich media, front- and back-end development, assessment, and writing to guide their designs from inception through launch and evaluation. The LxD exhibits a high level of expertise and knowledge in the design, development, and advancement of quality learning experiences.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Designs and participates in projects that involve cross-functional, agile teams by developing engaging and effective learning experiences that impact students
• Under the mentorship of more senior Learning Experience Designer, conducts user research including interviews, surveys, and usability testing
• Designs learning experiences achieving robust student outcomes in both academic courses and the affective/ non-cognitive domain
• Understands adult learners, under-served populations, and student body and designs experiences accordingly
• Wireframes actionable learning interactions and iterates designs based on efficacy and usability studies
• Applies best-practice UX and UI design skills to create proof-of-concepts, mockups, and prototypes
• Efficiently produces multiple approaches for usability testing, AB testing and stakeholder presentations
• Contributes collectively with other developers to ensure technical feasibility of designs
• Ensures learning design and content development are completed on time and within budget and meets standards of quality
• Collaborates with peers to apply and drive best-practice learning experience design
• Participates in business development efforts such as assumption testing, product promotion, and partnership formation.
• Works mostly with situational and highly complex projects or assignments
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Stays current with trends, leading science and innovations, and research in learning science, instructional media, UI/UX and learner behavior
• Successfully collaborates with stakeholders to ensure designs are aligned with desired outcomes
• Reviews student feedback and provides recommendations for learning experience improvements
• Participates in research projects to advance learning science and quality improvement for student learning experience
• Ensures developed curriculum meets or exceeds expected student outcome metrics and improves the student experience
• Promotes the business through professional conferences, product demos, and other outreach activities
• Models leadership and professionalism
• Fulfils other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

• Experience applying design strategies informed by learning and behavioral sciences, instructional design, and interaction/web/eLearning design principles
• Experience in developing and implementing learning experiences / eLearning from ideation through implementation and analysis
• Basic to intermediate project management skills and “hands on” tactical management of learning experience product development, agile experience preferred
• Excellent written, oral, presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative primary research methods
• Ability to analyze and interpret data to drive future design improvements, direction, and to quantify and validate design effectiveness
• Proficiency in design tools, such as Invision and Photoshop, to rapidly create both low- and high-fidelity mockups and wireframes
• Ability to work collaboratively and creatively in a fast-paced, agile environment
• Conceptual knowledge of web/software development
• Strong attention to detail and a feeling of pride and ownership over the quality of our learning experience

Competencies: 

Organizational Impact:

• Works to achieve operational targets within job areas impacting department, function, or office results.​
• Work is performed independently on moderately complex projects and assignments with some guidance required for direction and complex tasks. Sets objectives for oneself to meet the goals of projects or assignments.​

Problem Solving & Decision Making:

• Responsible for employing adjustments or recommended enhancements to systems and processes to solve problems or improve the job area’s effectiveness while leveraging a systems-thinking approach.​
• Problems faced may require an understanding of a broader set of issues and job areas.

Communication & Influence:

• Collaborates with contacts typically within the job area to obtain or provide information requiring some explanation or interpretation.

Leadership & Talent Management

• May provide guidance and assistance to entry-level professionals and or support employees.​
• Demonstrates the WGU leadership principles in all aspects of service to students, employees, and partners of WGU.

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of related experience, or an advanced degree without experience.​

Department Specific Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of experience in product design content following a user-centered design process OR, Master’s degree and 1 year of experience in product design content following a user-centered design process
• Strong portfolio of learning product/app design

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in relevant field

Working Conditions:

• 5-10% Travel

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Disclaimer: This Job Description has been designed to indicate the general nature, essential duties, and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this classification. It does not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications that are required of the employee to do this job.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. This Job Description does not constitute a contract of employment and the University may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.

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Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.