Are you looking for a learning designer, instructional designer, or what the University of Michigan calls a learning experience designer? If so, your search is perfect for featured gigs. Please reach out.
Senior Learning Experience Designer Your opportunity today is to work with the University of Michigan’s Center for Academic Innovation, the premier academic innovation team in higher education. Evan Ogg Straub, director of learning experience design at CAI, answered my questions about the show.
Q: What is the university’s mission behind this role? How does it help align and advance the university’s strategic priorities?
one: Imagine you are someone who turns bold ideas into learning experiences that reach thousands of learners around the world. The University of Michigan’s commitment to life-changing education is a key pillar of our Envision Michigan vision, driving the position’s focus on delivering high-quality, equitable learning experiences to a global audience.
The Senior Learning Experience Designer role advances the Center for Academic Innovation’s mission to collaborate on campus and around the world to create equitable lifelong educational opportunities for learners everywhere. At CAI, we help translate Michigan’s academic excellence into scalable, learner-centered opportunities, both in our non-credit and credit-bearing portfolios. The Learning Experience Designer senior role is at the forefront of what we do.
Designers at CAI don’t just build courses; they develop them. Together they create learning experiences that blend research-based design and empathy with the expertise of teachers. We ensure that every online or hybrid course embodies Michigan’s commitment to excellence while reimagining how learning impacts people at every stage of life, whether they are traditional students, working professionals or lifelong learners.
Q: Where does this role fit within the university structure? How will the person in this role interact with other units and leadership on campus?
one: Reporting to the Director of Learning Experience Design, the Senior Learning Experience Designer operates within a highly cross-functional team that brings together experts in design, technology, data, and media. We have a highly collaborative environment, both within the center and with our faculty and academic partners.
As a senior learning experience designer, the ideal candidate will be collaborative and relationship-driven, working closely with faculty and academic unit leaders across colleges and schools across the university to design meaningful online and blended learning experiences. Our work environment values experimentation, collaboration and continuous learning.
Q: What will success look like in one year? Three years? Exceed?
one: CAI’s learning experience designers are connectors and translators. We translate instructional goals into actionable design strategies and align instructional visions with institutional priorities. In your first year, success looks like becoming a trusted liaison, building strong relationships between our team and academic partners. You will shape not only our curriculum but our culture, contributing your voice, curiosity and care to our thriving community.
Within three years, this role may result in a recognized mentor, leader and thought partner in the field of learning experience design across the University of Michigan. Individuals in this role will be recognized for advancing best practices in digital pedagogy, mentoring colleagues, and contributing to the University’s growing online and hybrid programs.
Beyond that, success means lasting impact. The courses and programs you help build will continue to attract new learners, and the practices you influence will continue to guide our work long after any individual program ends.
Q: What future roles will someone in this position be prepared for?
one: This role provides the opportunity to develop strategic, creative and leadership skills that are highly transferable to higher education and beyond. Learning Experience Designers in this role gain experience with a variety of online and blended learning experiences from degree programs, non-credit MOOCs, and stackable certificate-based courses. This prepares our designers for roles that require both teaching expertise and operational agility.
Those who thrive in this role have the ability to move into leadership positions, including leading design teams, developing instructional design strategies within academic units, or moving into broader academic innovation-focused roles within and outside higher education.
