The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) at Northern Illinois University (NIU) invites applications for an Instructional Designer. This is a twelve-month, full-time staff position with benefits including flexible schedule options and remote work opportunities.
Join the team at Northern Illinois University dedicated to supporting quality course design! The Instructional Design Team within the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning contributes to the educational excellence of NIU online undergraduate and graduate courses by designing and developing quality online learning experiences.
The Instructional Designer collaborates with faculty to ensure quality standards, design accessible learning experiences, and advance strategic initiatives including the online general education bundle and new credential opportunities.
The Instructional Designer provides multi-tiered instructional design support for credit-bearing courses, alternative credentials, and non-credit offerings. This position collaborates with faculty and academic units to apply program framework requirements, ensure quality standards, and design accessible, engaging, and inclusive learning experiences. In addition, the role supports the creation of revenue-generating learning opportunities and contributes to the development of NIU’s online general education course bundle and other strategic online learning initiatives.
The Instructional Designer will report to the Director of Instructional Design and Development
Note: Note: Master’s Degree in an area consistent with the duties of the position may be substituted for one (1) year of work experience.
$2,500 - $2,708.33 ($60,000 - $65,000 annualized). Includes generous benefits package.
Posting Date: 11/13/2025
Closing Date: 12/5/2025
Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law. Through its main campus in DeKalb, Illinois, and education centers for students and working professionals in Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Oregon and Rockford, NIU offers more than 100 courses of study while serving a diverse and international student body.
The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) provides comprehensive services supporting excellent teaching and learning at Northern Illinois University.
Our vision is to be a catalyst for transformative learning experiences for faculty and students.
We support effective and innovative teaching in pursuit of transformative learning experiences.
The major functions of the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning are as follows:
At this time, this position requires a minimum of one day a week on our main campus in DeKalb, IL. This is necessary to ensure we are meeting the needs of our faculty and teaching assistants who may prefer to meet in person or who are using the One Button Video Studio or Lightboard in our Digital Media Studio.
We are committed to providing flexibility for our staff to work remotely, but the availability of remote work is subject to change.
We want to accommodate as much flexibility as possible for the members of our team. While the university work week is typically Monday - Friday from 8 AM - 4:30 PM, we would be happy to discuss alternatives that meet the 37.5 hour requirement for full-time employment, such as adjusting work hours or adopting a 4-day work week.
This position is classified as Professional positions under the Illinois State University Civil Service System. As such, Illinois residency is waived for application and examination for this position (the examination occurs via an HR credential review; there is no separate examination required).
However, because it is a Civil Service position, by statute, out-of-state candidates who accept an offer of employment must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days of an employment offer.
We will work with out-of-state candidates further to determine how this applies to remote work expectations in the interim, with guidance from Human Resource Services.
While this position is not a teaching position, staff are allowed and encouraged to teach up to one course overload per semester as they are interested and able to do so. We're happy to discuss the nuances of your teaching interests.
While we are eager for someone to join our team in this role as soon as possible, we recognize the likely need for a successful candidate to finish an existing contract and/or existing commitments. We will work with you on a mutually beneficial start date and accommodate a successful transition.