- CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
This position is funded for 12 months; continuation past 12 months will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.
POSITION SPECIFICS
The College of Agricultural Sciences Digital Education Non-Credit team is seeking an Instructional Designer to work with an innovative team of instructional designers, multimedia specialists, and subject matter experts to develop online learning components—primarily online course content and educational videos, for Penn State Extension’s education programs.
The Instructional Designer works collaboratively to design, develop, evaluate, and revise online courses, workforce trainings, and educational videos. They apply instructional design principles, quality standards, and team SOPs to create engaging content, assessments, and multimedia-supported learning experiences within the learning management system (LMS). This includes: determining learning outcomes; outlining and developing written materials; and designing multimedia. The instructional designer inputs course materials to the LMS, edits LMS settings, and troubleshoots LMS issues.
The Instructional Designer also conducts course checkups and copyedits courses and multimedia assets to ensure accuracy, consistency, accessibility, and adherence to style guidelines. They contribute to daily digital education team operations and support continuous improvement of team processes.
Required Qualifications:
- Instructional design experience.
- Knowledge of online learning theory and pedagogical principles.
- Experience with learning management systems.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, and strong word-smithing skills to enhance comprehension of written material.
- Digital file organization skills.
- Interpersonal, project management, and time management abilities.
- Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and finish projects in a deadline-driven environment.
- Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to collaborate closely with a diverse group of people, including writers, designers, faculty, staff, and other professionals.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with technical writing, copyediting, and/or multimedia asset design is preferred.
This position is available to work remotely in a remote-eligible state in the US. Occasional on-site work may be required as determined by business need. Standard working hours are in the Eastern Time Zone.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
Master's Degree 1+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None
Application Instructions:
Submit a cover letter and a resume or CV.
Questions regarding this employment opportunity can be directed to Rebecca Rumbel, Assistant Director of Digital Education, at [email protected].
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $54,060.00 - $78,444.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
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Skills Required
- Master's degree
- At least 1 year of relevant experience
- Instructional design experience
- Knowledge of online learning theory and pedagogical principles
- Experience with learning management systems
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong wordsmithing skills
- Digital file organization skills
- Interpersonal, project management, and time management abilities
- Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
- Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and collaborative work style
- Experience with technical writing, copyediting, and/or multimedia asset design
Penn State University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Penn State University and has not been reviewed or approved by Penn State University.
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Retirement Support — Employer contributions to SERS and the TIAA Alternate Plan are described as significant, with supplemental retirement options available. Feedback suggests these choices and contributions create strong long‑term value.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Full‑time employees accrue over 24 sick and vacation days annually, with additional university holidays and a winter break. Feedback suggests this depth of leave supports work–life balance.
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Inclusive Benefits Coverage — A 75% tuition discount extends to employees, spouses, and dependent children up to age 26 across resident instruction, World Campus, and Penn College courses. Feedback suggests this broad eligibility meaningfully enhances total rewards, especially for families.
Penn State University Insights
What We Do
There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our nearly 88,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom—it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. From access to state-of-the-art resources to interdisciplinary pursuits in collaborative atmospheres, a Penn State degree is more than an education. The experiences and knowledge gained here will form the foundation for the lives our students build. Their contributions to the world begin with a Penn State degree. We Are Penn State.
