Instructional Innovation and Faculty Support Specialist - UT Social Work

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, UT

19d•Hybrid

About The Position

UT Social Work seeks an experienced, collaborative, and student-centered Instructional Innovation and Faculty Support Specialist to support faculty in the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of teaching and learning. This role is embedded within Academic Affairs and works closely with faculty, and program leadership to strengthen pedagogy, instructional technologies, and teaching practices. The position serves as a key resource for faculty seeking to enhance course design, integrate instructional technologies, align learning objectives with assessment strategies, and implement evidence-informed approaches appropriate for social work education.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Higher Education, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
Demonstrated experience supporting faculty with pedagogy and course design in higher education
Strong understanding of evidence-informed teaching and learning principles
Experience working with learning management systems and instructional technologies
Excellent communication, facilitation, and consultation skills
Ability to work collaboratively across roles and programs in a complex academic environment

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in education, Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Higher Education, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
Experience working in a school of social work, health professions, or other practice-based disciplines
Background in faculty development, instructional design, or teaching and learning centers
Knowledge of accreditation-related instructional expectations

Responsibilities

Consult with faculty on course design and redesign, including alignment of learning objectives, assignments, assessments, and instructional strategies
Provide individualized and small-group pedagogical support related to active learning, experiential learning, and adult learning principles
Assist with the development and refinement of common assignments, signature assignments, and scaffolded learning activities across programs
Support faculty use of instructional technologies (e.g., Learning management systems (e.g., Canvas), lecture capture, polling tools, collaborative platforms, AI-supported teaching tools)
Provide guidance on effective, pedagogically grounded use of educational technologies rather than technical troubleshooting alone
Develop templates, guides, and exemplars for course organization, accessibility, and student engagement
Collaborate with campus IT, teaching and learning centers, and instructional support units as needed
Design and facilitate workshops, learning communities, and consultations focused on teaching innovation and instructional effectiveness
Support new faculty, adjuncts, and doctoral instructors with onboarding related to teaching expectations, course setup, and instructional tools
Curate and disseminate teaching resources relevant to social work education and accreditation expectations
Assist Academic Affairs leadership with pedagogical initiatives tied to curriculum review, accreditation, and program innovation
Support faculty in integrating formative and summative assessment strategies aligned with program-level outcomes
Promote accessible and inclusive course design practices (e.g., Universal Design for Learning)
Assist with documentation and evidence related to instructional quality for accreditation or program review purposes
Track emerging trends in teaching, learning sciences, and instructional technologies relevant to social work education