Department Online & Continuing Education - Online Learning

Salary range $73,050.72 to $102,536.00

Hours per week 35

Grade 12

Posted date

Closing date September 16, 2025

Position Type Full Time - Operating Funded

Description

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position has a term length of 2 years and offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Location - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person. Work primarily takes place at Enterprise Square.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more**.**

Working for Online Learning & Continuing Education (OCE)

Online Learning & Continuing Education (OCE) is a central U of A service unit in the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) that partners with colleges, faculties, and external partners to develop and deliver online courses, programs, and non-credit micro-credentials. OCE leverages its deep expertise, skills, and experience to build high-quality and scalable online offerings to enable the U of A to expand its enrolment capacity, reach new student populations, and provide accessible pathways into U of A offerings.

The Online Learning team supports the development and delivery of high-demand online courses and programming, with a current focus on developing new online graduate certificates and course-based master's programs. The team provides extensive expertise to elevate the quality and accessibility of online programming at the U of A.

Position

The Senior Learning Experience Developer is a key driver in the creation of innovative and purposeful online learning at the University of Alberta. As part of Online Learning and Continuing Education (OCE), this role provides technical leadership and creative direction for the learning experiences within the portfolio of the Office of Online Learning (OL) undergraduate, graduate, or non-credit projects, balancing scalability with the needs of the learners.

Combining expertise in Learning Experience (LX) and User Experience (UX) design, this position champions accessibility, Indigenous Initiatives, and Access, Community and Belonging in digital learning. This role sets the bar for design excellence across all online projects, determining and championing the most effective technologies, tools, and methodologies for the team.

As a pivotal member of Online Learning and Continuing Education (OCE), they produce high-quality, learner-centric, engaging and impactful digital courses and assets for assigned projects. They also ensure that effective strategies and designs are consistently integrated across all Office of Online Learning initiatives. The incumbent directly supervises a team of Learning Experience Developers within OCE. They may also provide oversight for project work completed by the OCE’s pre-qualified vendor pool and network of contractors. This role reports directly to the Manager, Online Learning and works closely with the Project Manager to align resources and monitor projects.

The incumbent will also monitor and evaluate research, design strategies, changes to current tooling, and emerging technologies relevant to online learning development, assessing potential impacts and making recommendations for the project team to ensure OCE’s online courses are innovative and impactful, and that OCE remains a thought leader in the online learning space.

The Senior Learning Experience Developer liaises with other internal units, such as the Centre for Teaching and Learning, Information Services & Technology, and relevant Communities of Practices and committees to ensure OCE has access to the most up-to-date institutional information. They also serve as the key point of contact to liaise with relevant third-party suppliers.

Duties

Strategic LX Leadership & Quality Oversight (15%)

• Provide technical and operational leadership in Learning Experience (LX) and User Experience (UX) design and development, setting the benchmark for digital learning innovation within OCE, ensuring alignment with project outcomes, budget, institutional goals and priorities.
• Research technology, tooling, or methodologies, and make recommendations for LXD practices that support unit and project priorities.
• Identify and evaluate emerging trends, research, and technologies in online learning, assessing their potential impact and making recommendations to OCE for implementation.
• Monitor current tool updates and evaluate for impact and opportunities.
• Serve as the primary point of escalation for tool, licensing or third-party issues and concerns, to raise support tickets, track resolutions, and advocate for effective solutions.
• Support strategic partnerships through active engagement in university committees, pilot initiatives, technical support communities, or evaluation groups.
• Liaise with Senior IDs on processes to share LX insights and cross-project perspectives.
• Establish and oversee the creation and use of quality assurance (QA) documentation related to LX/UX, Style Guides, checklists, or other internal documentation that supports online course development.
• Ensure team adherence to standards for accuracy, functionality, responsiveness, and accessibility guidelines (WCAG), Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and digital LX/UX best practices for team members across all team projects.
• Support continuous improvement efforts, including leading retrospectives on approaches and workflows related to LX approaches.
• Collaborate with internal units such as the Centre for Teaching and Learning, Information Services & Technology, Accommodations, or Learning Initiatives, ensuring coherence, technical alignment, and knowledge exchange.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of documentation to foster consistency and knowledge sharing within OCE.
• Ensure the consistent integration of Indigenous Initiatives, Equity, Diversity, Access, Community and Belonging principles in OCE course development practices in OL courses.

Learning Experience Development Project Work (60%)

• Engage in course production activities across all development phases of assigned online projects, including creating prototypes, drafts and final course versions. Collaborate with academic leaders / SMEs, IDs, and project managers to obtain feedback, QA and approval before launch.
• pedagogical / andragogical best practice to digital course builds to enhance effective and engaging experiences through storytelling, complex interactions (such as branching scenarios or gamification), or strategic multimedia use.
• Make recommendations to IDs and academic leads/SMEs that enhance learning experiences, such as dynamic elements, design approaches or multimedia assets.
• Design and build courses directly in Learning Management Systems (e.g., Canvas, Coursera) using a combination of Rich Content Editor & HTML, and course authoring tools (e.g., Articulate Rise & Storyline). This includes the creation and maintenance of reusable templates and visual elements.
• Plan, design, and create diverse digital assets and multimedia as required (e.g., presentations, podcasts, animations, custom graphics). This includes curating and adapting existing content (e.g. stock imagery) and light post-production.
• Collaboration with external vendors as needed on project work.
• Set up and integrate all course learning activities and resources, such as SME/instructor-created digital assessments (e.g., quizzes, polls, rubrics), discussion forums, assignments, library materials, and Open Educational Resources (OERs), or others, ensuring seamlessness and optimal functionality within the course.
• Lead quality assurance (QA) efforts in each assigned project by thoroughly reviewing prototypes and drafts for accuracy, functionality, responsiveness, and compliance with accessibility (WCAG), UDL, and digital LX/UX best practices.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues with digital builds.
• Report weekly on development task status and time spent using Project Management, Time Tracking, and Scheduling tools.
• Collaborate with the project team using asynchronous tools and status meeting updates.

Team Leadership (15%)

• Directly supervise and mentor a team of Learning Experience Developers within OCE, fostering their professional growth, skill development, and application of best practices in digital learning development.
• Onboard new Learning Experience Developers and provide ongoing training and development opportunities, cultivating a culture of continuous learning and excellence within the team.
• Build and foster a positive, high-performing team culture emphasizing innovation, collaboration, creativity, and quality.
• Provide leadership through coaching, effective feedback, and encouragement to LXD team members.
• Work closely with the Project Manager to align resources, manage team workloads, monitor project progress, and proactively identify and mitigate risks for all OCE digital initiatives.
• Oversee and guide project work completed by OCE’s pre-qualified vendor pool and network of contractors, ensuring quality and alignment with OCE's standards and project goals.
• Facilitate a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing among LXD team members, encouraging cross-referencing of work, streamlining processes, and enhancing collective practice.
• Facilitate a culture of learning and knowledge sharing by enabling and encouraging team members to engage in professional development, research, and collaborative activities to enhance collective skills and practices.

Work Environment (10%)

• Collaborate with external units, such as Information Services and Technology (IST) and the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL), as needed, for institutional tool-related resources, digital learning technology support/integration, and instructor resources/support.
• Collaborate and communicate with team members about potential issues impacting course development, development tools, process gaps, etc.
• Be a champion for the end user experience and drive positive change for digital course delivery and the learning experience.
• Engage in professional development opportunities, such as researching and testing new and emerging technologies, product updates, and trends to support online teaching and learning.
• Engage in conferences, workshops, courses, webinars, and other professional development activities to continually develop skills, knowledge, and insights that will elevate the digital learning experience at the U of A.
• Participate in communities of practice, working groups, or committees related to learning experience design and development.
• Engage in membership opportunities with higher education learning associations such as OLC, UPCEA, Quality Matters or CAUCE.

Qualifications

• A Master's degree in Educational Technology, Learning Experience Design, Instructional Design or Adult Education with a focus on digital learning or technology, or a closely related discipline is highly preferred. An equivalent combination of education or experience will also be considered. A relevant undergraduate degree or diploma (e.g. adult education, design, or development), in combination with experience in online course development and/or multimedia leadership experience, will be considered.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in developing innovative online courses and digital learning experiences. Preference will be given to those with experience developing for-credit digital learning experiences.
• Demonstrated proficiency in building and uplifting engaging custom course content in the Canvas Learning Management System.
• Demonstrated experience in web, graphic design, and multimedia development (i.e. HTML, CSS, Adobe Suite, Camtasia, Microsoft Office Suite, Yuja, Google Suite, Dreamweaver, LaTeX, etc.).
• Demonstrated proficiency in creating digital assets within online courses using course authoring tools, including Articulate Suite (Rise and Storyline).
• Experience supporting and including Indigenous Initiatives and Access, Community and Belonging (II and ACB) across the digital learning experience.
• Exceptional creativity, passion, and ability to develop enriched, innovative online learning that utilizes a variety of modalities, technologies, and multimedia.
• Knowledge and experience with accessibility guidelines, UDL, and digital LX/UX. Relevant certifications will be considered an asset.
• Familiarity with copyright legislation and compliance, fair use guidelines, Creative Commons licensing, and intellectual property rights related to the use of digital content in educational settings.
• Must have technical skills required to resolve technical issues related to the digital build, LMS course configuration, HTML, or embedded digital assets.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to positively influence partners, build trust, and generate excitement.
• Excellent eye for detail to support quality assurance, assessment, and control for OCE with experience in establishing and implementing quality assurance (QA) documentation, such as style guides or development checklists.
• Strong analytical skills to proactively identify, evaluate, and recommend emerging trends and technologies in online learning.
• Proven ability to work effectively with academic leaders/SMEs, instructional designers, project managers, and external vendors.
• Familiarity with project management and the tools, approaches, and phases of the project lifecycle.
• Energetic, creative, innovative, LX/UX-focused, and able to lead, delegate and multitask in a fast-paced team environment.
• At least 2 years of progressive supervisory experience, with a focus on coaching and developing team members will be considered an asset.

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.

All University employees have a responsibility to foster a workplace that prioritizes safety in all its forms—physical, cultural, and psychological. This is achieved by promoting a safe environment, adhering to all safety laws, policies and procedures, completing all required safety training, identifying hazards and implementing controls, reporting incidents, and contributing to a culture of inclusivity and respect, while endeavoring to ensure that all colleagues feel valued and safe to express their thoughts, perspectives and concerns.

The University of Alberta is committed to creating a university community where everyone feels valued, barriers to success are removed, and thriving connections are fostered. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women, First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons, members of visible minority groups, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.

L’Université de l’Alberta s’engage à créer une communauté universitaire où chaque personne se sent valorisée, où les obstacles à la réussite sont éliminés et où des connexions enrichissantes peuvent se développer. Nous accueillons les demandes de toutes les personnes qualifiées. Nous encourageons les femmes; Premières nations, Métis et Inuits; membres des groupes minoritaires visibles; personnes handicapées; personnes ayant une orientation sexuelle ou une identité et une expression sexospécifique; et tous ceux qui peuvent contribuer à la diversification des idées et à l'université à postuler.

Note: This opportunity will be available until midnight September 16, 2025, Edmonton, Alberta local time.