WILD Student Instructional Designer

NYBG Job Description

Position Summary:

The New York Botanical Garden seeks a thoughtful, highly organized, and mission-driven WILD Student Instructional Designer to support Workforce Innovation and Leadership Development (WILD), a two-year professional development initiative funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Museums Empowered program. Reporting to the Senior Director of Learning Operations and Strategy, this role serves as an instructional design and programmatic partner in advancing Grow in Minutes and the Sprout Library, two core WILD initiatives that expand equitable access to high-quality staff learning across the Garden.

The Student Instructional Designer helps move learning content from concept to implementation by translating subject-matter expertise and staff needs into clear learning objectives, live-session materials, interactive e-learning modules, recordings, job aids, and other just-in-time resources. The role supports content production, accessibility, quality assurance, LMS publishing, version control, and continuous improvement for employees across varied roles, schedules, work settings, and levels of digital confidence.

This position supports WILD's alignment with Museums Empowered Organizational Management Objectives 4.1 and 4.2 by strengthening professional development infrastructure and helping cultivate a resilient, skilled workforce. It will also contribute to digital literacy and responsible AI learning that emphasizes privacy, source verification, thoughtful evaluation, and human judgment. The role is well suited to a graduate student who combines instructional design skill with strong writing, careful coordination, curiosity, and a commitment to inclusive adult learning.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

• Partner with the WILD Project Lead, Learning and Development colleagues, and internal subject-matter experts to translate staff needs and program priorities into clear learning objectives, session outlines, storyboards, and learner-centered experiences.
• Develop and revise digital learning modules, microlearning assets, job aids, templates, scenario-based activities, knowledge checks, and other resources for Grow in Minutes and the Sprout Library using Articulate Rise 360 and related tools.
• Prepare materials for live and virtual learning sessions, including presentations, facilitator guides, participant handouts, practice activities, and follow-up resources; help convert selected sessions into recordings and asynchronous learning experiences.
• Configure, test, quality-check, and publish assigned content in NYBG's learning systems, applying clear titles, descriptions, completion settings, accessibility checks, source review, and version-control practices.
• Design learning materials with accessibility, plain language, mobile use, and varied technology confidence in mind, including the needs of frontline, seasonal, part-time, and non-desk-based staff.
• Support digital literacy and responsible AI learning by incorporating appropriate guidance related to privacy, bias awareness, source verification, evaluation of outputs, and human oversight into relevant WILD resources.
• Maintain production plans, timelines, content inventories, source files, review records, and grant-supported time documentation to support continuity, timely delivery, and accurate project reporting.
• Coordinate professionally with subject-matter experts, Departmental Leads, facilitators, and colleagues across NYBG to gather content, manage review cycles, resolve questions, and ensure materials reflect varied operational contexts.
• Use participant feedback, completion information, and pilot findings to revise learning materials, recommend practical improvements, and provide program or technology support for selected WILD learning sessions.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of WILD, Learning and Development goals, and grant-funded project activities.

Qualifications:

• Current enrollment in a graduate program in instructional design, learning sciences, educational technology, adult learning, communications, human-computer interaction, education, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing instructional materials, e-learning, workshops, microlearning, or other adult-learning experiences for a defined audience.
• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, concise, practical learning resources.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills, including the ability to manage multiple production tasks, deadlines, review cycles, and versions with care and consistency.
• Working knowledge of adult learning, accessibility, inclusive design, and plain-language principles, with attention to learners who have varied schedules, technology access, and levels of confidence.
• Experience with Articulate Rise 360 or a comparable e-learning authoring platform preferred; familiarity with Storyline, multimedia production, or instructional video is a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, especially PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams; comfort learning and maintaining LMS and digital content tools.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across varied roles, receive feedback thoughtfully, and exercise sound judgment and discretion when handling internal information or staff-related content.
• Experience in a museum, garden, library, university, nonprofit, or other cultural or educational institution, and interest in digital literacy, responsible AI, or workforce development, preferred.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, speak, hear, and use a computer and standard office equipment for extended periods. The employee may also be required to walk between locations across NYBG's campus, stand for meetings or program support, and occasionally lift or move materials weighing up to 15 pounds.

This role works in office, classroom, and meeting settings across the Garden, with some approved remote work.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Baseline Work Schedule:

16 hours per week, generally across 2 business days. With supervisor approval and based on project needs, one scheduled workday may be worked remotely each week. In-person attendance is expected for programs, meetings, interviews, content-capture activities, or other work requiring on-site participation.

Payrate:$30 per hour

If you require an accommodation for any part of the application process, please notify the Human Resources department at View email address on us.fitly.work. 

If you are interested in applying for a position at the New York Botanical Garden, please go to  to submit your application.

EOE