Content Specialist (Instructional Designer)

If youre passionate about building a better future for individuals communities and our countryand youre committed to working hard to play your part in building that futureconsider 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: Faculty 506

Pay Range: $73500.00 - $110200.00

Job Description

This role is the design and build engine behind WGUs Orientation experience the role that turns program strategy into the actual modules assets and just-in-time supports that students see click watch and learn from. Across both Traditional Orientation and the Career Accelerator program the this role owns the ongoing maintenance evolution and creation of every orientation touchpoint.
This is a hybrid role at the intersection of learning experience design content creation and digital asset development. Working closely with partners in Communications EdTech and Program Development ensures the orientation experience stays current on-brand and pedagogically sound while leading the design and development of just-in-time supports that help students get the right resource at the right moment of need. If the Engagement Specialist brings the student experience to life and the Operations Specialist makes it run on time the Content Specialist designs and builds the experience itself.

Primary Responsibilities

Learning Experience Design

• Designs and maintains the end-to-end orientation experience for both Traditional and Career Accelerator students ensuring the journey is coherent paced well and grounded in adult learning principles
• Translates program goals and student needs into structured learning experiences with clear outcomes and meaningful checkpoints
• Leads the iteration of existing modules and the creation of new ones in response to data student feedback and program changes
• Partners with Program Development on changes that need to flow through the orientation experience ensuring content stays accurate and aligned with program intent

Content Creation & Digital Assets

• Creates and maintains a wide range of digital assets across the orientation experience videos scripts slides written copy graphics interactive elements and supporting materials
• Maintains a library of reusable content templates and components that keep the experience consistent across populations and easy to update over time
• Ensures every asset is on-brand accessible and aligned with WGUs voice and values
• Partners with multimedia and design teams when more complex production is needed; manage external contributors and vendors as required

Just-in-Time Support Design

• Leads the design and development of just-in-time supports in-the-moment resources triggered by student behavior needs or moments of friction
• Identifies gaps where students need contextual help then design build and ship solutions that meet them where they are
• Tests and iterates on JIT content based on usage data student feedback and Engagement Specialist input
• Maintains and grows the JIT library as new student needs emerge and the program evolves

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partners with Communications on messaging brand consistency and tone across all orientation content
• Partners with EdTech on platform capabilities content delivery and learning system integrations
• Coordinates with Engagement Specialists on content needs surfaced through student conversations and community activity
• Coordinates with the Operations Specialist on engagement and content-performance data that informs design decisions
• Represents the orientation experience in cross-departmental working groups as needed

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

Learning Experience Design

• Demonstrated experience designing learning experiences for adult learners
• Familiarity with instructional design models (e.g. ADDIE SAM) and adult learning principles
• Ability to translate complex content into clear structured learner-friendly experiences
• Strong sense for pacing scaffolding and the moments where students need extra support

Content Creation & Multimedia

• Strong writing skills with the ability to adapt voice and tone for different audiences and channels
• Hands-on experience with content creation tools (e.g. Canva Adobe Suite video editing software design platforms)
• Comfort with multimedia production video scripting basic editing screen recordings narration
• Visual design sensibility and attention to detail

Project & Program Management

• Strong project management instincts able to balance ongoing maintenance new content creation and JIT development on parallel timelines
• Highly organized with the ability to track multiple modules stakeholders and deadlines simultaneously
• Self-directed and reliable; comfortable holding accountability across multiple workstreams

Collaboration & Communication

• Outstanding collaboration skills comfortable working across creative technical program and student-facing teams
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for translating across disciplines and audiences
• Diplomatic and trustworthy in cross-team work; earns confidence with internal partners

Data & Iteration

• Comfort using engagement metrics completion data and JIT usage patterns to inform content decisions
• Open to iteration and feedback; sees content as something that improves over time not something shipped once

Cultural Competence & Equity

• Cultural competence and demonstrated experience designing for diverse student populations
• Commitment to equity accessibility and inclusive design in everything created
• Growth mindset with commitment to continuous professional development

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in instructional design education communications multimedia or related field
• 3 years of demonstrated experience in content creation instructional design learning experience design or a closely related role
• Portfolio demonstrating learning design and digital content creation work
• Hands-on experience with content creation tools (Canva Adobe Suite or equivalent) and basic multimedia production
• Experience working with adult learners or in higher education

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters Degree in Instructional Design Educational Technology Adult Learning or related discipline
• Experience designing just-in-time supports microlearning or contextual help systems
• Experience working across multiple stakeholder groups (Communications EdTech Program teams)
• Familiarity with learning management systems and digital content delivery platforms
• Familiarity with WGUs academic model programs or student success systems

Working Conditions

• This is an on-site role based at WGUs Salt Lake City office
• Standard business hours with occasional flexibility required to support production timelines or program needs
• Occasional travel of up to 20% including attendance at company summits (typically 12 per year) commencement conferences and other business-related events

A Day in the Life

Your day as a Content Specialist might begin with a review of last weeks JIT support usage data flagging two help articles that arent getting clicks and brainstorming whats missing. From there youre in a working session with Communications to align on tone for an upcoming Orientation refresh then in your design tool building out the next set of slides for the Career Accelerator welcome module. Mid-morning you connect with EdTech on a platform update that affects how a key video is delivered. After lunch youre writing the script for a new JIT video on financial aid options recording a voiceover draft and queuing edits for a contractor on the final cut. By afternoon youre walking the Engagement Specialists through new content additions so they know what students will see next week and updating the content backlog for the next sprint. You end the day having shaped what every new WGU student will experience in their first week and the supports they can reach for when they need them most.

WGUs Commitment

At Western Governors University we believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed. The Content Specialist plays a foundational role in our student-centered model designing and building the orientation experience that welcomes every new student to WGU and the just-in-time supports that help them succeed throughout their journey. This position directly contributes to WGUs mission of expanding access to quality higher education through innovative student-focused approaches.

This position requires occasional travel of up to 20% including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences visits to company locations and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

Disclaimer: This job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It is not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability or protected veteran status.

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. Its 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

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

Required Experience:

IC