| Department: Office of Human Resources
Salary/Grade: EXS/9 The Digital Learning Consultant will lead the transformation of digital learning at Northwestern. Staff and faculty need new skills delivered on-demand. This position will innovate to provide digital curricula and learning experiences that reach more employees and lead to increased job performance. The Digital Learning Consultant is responsible for the entire lifecycle of assigned learning initiatives, from needs assessment, to designing and developing effective, engaging learning, all the way through measuring the impact of learning. The Digital Learning Consultant serves as subject matter expert in regard to content, processes, and procedures associated with instructional design and development of on-line learning and online-learning technologies. Designs and develops innovative, relevant and engaging learning and performance support solutions in an environment of rapidly evolving learning approaches, methodologies, and architectures. Meets the dynamic, ever-increasing need for both internally designed and externally sourced compliance, business process, professional skills, and leadership training. Leads the curation, resourcing, configuration, and availability of online content in the learning management system. Operationalizes the curricula in the Learning Management System. Provides communications and operational support for stellar execution of learning programs. This position is a one year term appointment which is renewable upon available funding and performance. Design, Development & Evaluation - Serves as leader in design, development and testing, of new and existing learning initiatives; innovates enhancements to existing learning modules which may include applications over multiple software and platforms.
- Creates and manages a detailed project plan to ensure quality standards and timelines for deliverables are met.
- Utilizes needs analysis to address learning and performance gaps.
- Identifies and selects the appropriate approaches and technologies that follow sound principles of learning theory, and align to the specific learning/performance support opportunity.
- Designs logical learning assets that create an effective, efficient and engaging experience for the learner and maximize performance improvement outcomes that yield measurable organizational results.
- Designs and develops instructional materials including externally developed content or develops new instructional materials.
- Conducts review of materials with appropriate parties, such as subject matter experts, the design team, and the target audience.
- Creates a continuous learning process through the integration of existing and emerging technologies and resources.
- In partnership with the L&OD and ESHRS teams and other University stakeholders, contributes to the strategic input, curation, resourcing, configuration, and availability of online content in the learning management system.
- Builds into the design of learning solutions a variety of both formative and summative evaluation strategies to determine learning mastery and impact.
- Continuously evaluates, reports on, and improves existing learning/performance support solutions.
- Assesses and evaluates emerging learning technologies for adoption and integration.
Analysis - Identifies and collaborates with stakeholders to understand needs and expectations and uncover organizational and performance goals.
- Applies a systematic process to gather, identify, and analyze root causes of learning and performance gaps.
- Selects and makes recommendations for performance improvement solutions to address root causes.
- Makes recommendations for business process improvement in the context of learning and performance.
- Works with subject matter experts and other resources to transform knowledge into learning solutions.
- Consults with stakeholders to gain commitment for implementing solutions.
Innovation - Investigates emerging practices in adult learning strategies.
- Builds and maintains relationships with Northwestern digital learning community.
- Develops best practices for entire learning portfolio.
Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)
- Bachelor’s degree with major coursework and/or equivalence in instructional design, instructional technology, education technology, adult education, communications, or closely related field
- Minimum four years of experience conducting needs analysis, and designing and evaluating learning programs.
- Minimum eight years of hands-on development experience across multiple learning modalities (online, virtual, classroom, blended and social) using authoring tools such as: Captivate, Articulate, Lectora and Flash; web conferencing applications such as Adobe Connect, Zoom, GoToMeeting; and collaboration platforms such as Yammer, SharePoint, Ning or Google.
- Experience with LMS functionality.
Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.) - Uses contemporary adult learning theory and best demonstrated practices in instructional design.
- Knowledge of human performance improvement technology and ability to consult with clients to distinguish training from non-training performance improvement solutions.
- Excellent organizational and project management skills and ability to influence work progress and outcomes in a decentralized organization.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills.
- Able to build highly collaborative partnerships with stakeholders and subject matter experts at all levels.
- Curiosity, creativity, and resourcefulness.
- Passionate about learning and the learner experience.
Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience) - Master’s degree in instructional design, digital learning, or related field.
- Certified Performance Technologist (CPT), Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) or similar designation.
- Eight years of experience in instructional design and multimedia development, including HTML.
- Four years of in-person and/or virtual learning design experience
- Experience using project management software such as Smartsheet.
- Experience with SABA.
Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities) - Able to analyze and make recommendations for broader areas of process improvement in the context of learning and performance.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.
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