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Senior Associate Director for Instructional Design and Programming
Position overview
Position title: Academic Administrator VIApplication Window
Open date: March 5, 2026
Next review date: Saturday, Apr 4, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Saturday, Apr 4, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date.
Position description
The UCLA Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) was established in August 2023 to support UCLA’s educational mission to engage a university-wide community of scholars composed of educators and the diverse learners they serve in a collaborative process to discover and advance knowledge and practice across the disciplines both in and beyond the classroom. The TLC is a key driver of innovation and excellence in teaching across UCLA’s broad academic landscape, a campus resource for programming in support of inclusive and evidence-based teaching practices, and a champion of pedagogical research and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
The TLC is recruiting a Senior Associate Director for Instructional Design and Programming (Academic Administrator VI) (hereafter “Senior Associate Director”), who reports to the Director of Instructional Design and Media Production (IDMP). The Senior Associate Director provides strategic leadership for the TLC’s instructional design portfolio, advancing accessible, innovative, and research-informed courses, curricular, and eLearning design solutions that positively impact faculty and students. The Senior Associate Director leads instructional design strategy and operations, oversees instructional design personnel, and collaborates closely with media production and other TLC units to deliver high-quality, scalable instructional design services and programming.
Core responsibilities include leading and supervising a team of instructional designers; establishing instructional design competencies, workflows, and quality assurance processes; and directing the development and delivery of professional learning programs focused on teaching with technology (such as artificial intelligence), inclusive and accessible course design, and educational innovation across instructional modalities. The Senior Associate Director oversees instructional design services and consultations, manages complex course and program design initiatives (including online, hybrid, and eLearning projects), and ensures alignment with campus priorities, academic standards, and institutional and regulatory requirements.
In addition, the Senior Associate Director plays a central role in organizational development and strategic planning for instructional design services. This includes co-leading project management processes with media production leadership; systematizing consultation and course design services; collaborating with campus partners and UC systemwide initiatives; supporting assessment and continuous improvement efforts; and contributing to scalable, sustainable models for course design and instructional media production.
The Senior Associate Director’s responsibilities also include representing the TLC on campus-wide and systemwide committees; serving as a principal point of contact for faculty, academic units, and collaborators on course and program design initiatives; contributing to campus communications and outreach related to instructional design services; and directly supporting complex, large-scale instructional design projects as needed. The incumbent fosters innovation in teaching and learning through engagement with emerging educational technologies and pedagogical practices, while modeling inclusive leadership, effective communication, and a high degree of professional autonomy.
Qualifications
● As a normal requirement, the appointee should have a terminal or top degree in the appointee's field or the highest degree that is commonly expected for appointment in the activity.
● Experience in designing high-quality academic courses for online, hybrid, and/or on-campus courses in a college or university setting (3+ years)
● Expert knowledge of instructional design models and frameworks, instructional approaches/classroom teaching in higher education, adult learning theories, accessibility, usability, needs analysis, learning objective design and assessment, and course evaluation tools.
● Thorough knowledge of learning management systems, especially Canvas, and advanced knowledge of eLearning strategies, including, but not limited to, courses (e.g., project management processes, course design cycles, instructional design software and authoring tools, educational technologies and multimedia).
● Advanced ability in using project management tools to plan, document, and monitor effective course design cycles and offer performance solutions to support and improve processes; experience in conducting specialized training in instructional design tasks, multimedia integration, and educational technology adoption.
● Advanced experience in using and instructing others in the following areas: educational technology, instructional design software for developing interactive eLearning content (e.g. Articulate 360), generative artificial intelligence, and interactive social media, multimedia, simulations, and/or gamification applications, etc.
● Knowledge of strategies for integrating principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in technology-enhanced instruction and curriculum development.
● Strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills; ability to effectively manage and collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
● This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement within the state of California with a minimum of three (3) days working on campus; the incumbent must reside within the state of California or be willing to relocate.
● Experience in managing an instructional design unit in a college or university setting, including personnel supervision, project administration, and operational leadership.
● Experience managing large-scale instructional initiatives, online programs, or systemwide educational technology projects; Project Management Certificate (e.g., PMP) or equivalent
● Experience in teaching (in person and online) and curriculum development at the university level.
● Demonstrated ability to influence, engage, and support instructors and academic units in adopting innovative pedagogical practices and forward-thinking uses of educational technology.
● Experience with sales and service models, including recharge, revenue-generating programs, and cost-recovery processes.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Statement of Teaching
Reference check authorization release form - Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form
UCLA Mission Statement - As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life-saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education.
The UCLA campus has expressed these goals in its strategic plan as follows:
Deepen our engagement with Los Angeles
Expand our reach as a global university
Enhance our research and creative activities
Elevate how we teach
Become a more effective institutionPrompt for candidates for recruitment:
Reflecting on your personal and professional experiences, highlight your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan. These accomplishments and ambitions may be discussed in the context of describing your teaching, scholarship, and service
Statement on Contributions to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - An EDI Statement describes a faculty candidate’s past, present, and future (planned) contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
(Optional)
- 3-5 required (contact information only)
3-5 required professional references (contact information only)
Help contact: jvega@teaching.ucla.edu
About UCLA
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California is 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, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment