Instructional Designer

About San Francisco Bay University:

San Francisco Bay University (SFBU), a nonprofit, WASC-accredited, university situated in the heart of Silicon Valley in Fremont, California, seeks an innovative and experienced Instructional Designer. SFBU's mission is to offer inclusive, innovative, and inspirational education for lifelong careers and our vision is to set the standard as a national model of higher education in service of the common good.

At SFBU, students come first. We prioritize students' needs by fostering personal engagement among students, faculty, and staff. We are committed to providing affordable quality education with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. 

We encourage you to learn more about SFBU by reviewing our strategic plan at

Position Overview: San Francisco Bay University is seeking a dynamic and dedicated Instructional Designer  to develop and support the design of remote educational offerings to international students still residing in their country of origin. This position ensures high quality course materials are created and that courses are consistent in look, feel, design, and user experience in order fulfill their objectives and provide a quality student experience. This is accomplished through the application of evidence-based pedagogy, knowledge of educational technology tools and systems, infusion of high-impact asynchronous course design principles, and effective implementation of project management practices. This is a full-time, 12-month contract, renewable contingent upon performance review. The hybrid position is located on-campus in Fremont, CA with periodic remote work possible. 

Responsibilities: 

• Play a key role as SFBU delivers innovative, high-quality, student-centric education through 4+0, 3+1, and dual-degree programming that combines academic expertise with real-world applications.

• In conjunction with the Chief Learning Officer, AI Strategist, and other staff in the SFBU Center for Empowerment and Pedagogical Innovation (CEPI), support faculty training and pedagogical integration of new and emerging instructional technologies.

• Design and develop asynchronous courses in Business Administration, Computer Science and General Education that align with program and course level learning outcomes.

• In coordination with SFBU faculty, develop course and module level objectives, assessments, course content and learning activities for 8-week asynchronous courses.

• Execute comprehensive quality assurance processes to ensure all course elements function correctly before deployment.

• Apply instructional design theories and best practices, such Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Bloom's Taxonomy, or Backward Design in all courses.

• Ensure the incorporation of design elements for accessibility and inclusivity, such as using American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards.

• Design courses focused on learner engagement containing interactive elements that support active learning by creating interactive and engaging learning experiences, such as discussions, case studies, simulations, and adaptive learning to foster deeper learning in an asynchronous environment. 

• Identify learning resources and map them to course or program objectives and competencies in collaboration with SFBU's leading-edge pedagogical practices.

• Manage projects by coordinating meetings, activities, and reporting with SFBU colleagues, faculty, and other external stakeholders to ensure deadlines and milestones are met and projects remain on track.

• Conduct quality assurance reviews on courses and implement revisions.

• Develop and revise curricular materials, including competency statements, learning objectives, and other relevant documentation.

• Review learning resources and assessments to ensure proper alignment to the intended objectives and facilitate agreement for necessary changes.

• Identify relevant tools and software that enable SFBU to deliver planful pedagogical experiences that align with the university's educational strategy.

• Gather and analyze real-time and post-course feedback, student performance data, in an effort to inform continuous improvement efforts.

• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Education/Instructional Design/Technology or 3-5 years of relevant experience in higher education instructional design.

• Ability to facilitate and present instructional materials; effectively communicate technical information to a nontechnical audience; and establish cooperative working relationships.

• Demonstrated understanding of educational pedagogy, particularly in relation to online asynchronous  teaching and learning.

• Ability to analyze and solve problems with innovative, creative solutions.

• Proven track record of implementing innovative learning solutions in higher education.

• Adaptable to work in a changing, fast-paced environment and produce a high volume of work within established deadlines.

• Must have a general understanding of web-based learning management systems.

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in education and practice.

  Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Canvas

• Masters degree in related field of study. 

Salary Range: $75,000- $110,000/ year, depending on experience. 12-month contract renewable contingent upon performance review. 

This position description is not intended to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

Application Materials:

Interested candidates must submit the following application materials:

● A cover letter detailing your qualifications for this position and alignment with our mission and core values ).

● Curriculum vitae.

● Contact information for three professional references.

● Applications will be reviewed immediately and continue until the position is filled.

San Francisco Bay University is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We encourage candidates who will contribute to our mission of fostering a diverse and inclusive educational environment to apply.

SFBU is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer: SFBU is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. SFBU does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

In accordance with federal and state disability laws, San Francisco Bay University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance during the application or interview process, please contact SFBU Human Resources