Specialist, Instructional Designer

Best Friends Animal Society

5d•$58,606 - $65,000•Remote

About The Position

Best Friends’ Learning Advancement Team is looking for an instructional designer to design and develop impactful learning experiences that empower people to save pets. This role is a key position providing an advanced specialty in designing innovative learning materials. The Instructional Designer, Specialist will work closely with the Manager of Instructional Design, Instructional Design team members, and Learning Advancement leadership and staff to oversee instructional design projects and volunteers. This work supports the team's programs and priorities in advancing Best Friends' goal of a no-kill nation. The ideal candidate is passionate about helping people help animals, energized by creative problem solving, and always striving to make learning meaningful and student-centered. In return, you’ll join a supportive, fun team of colleagues who are ready to partner with you to create learning that drives real, lifesaving change for animals nationwide. The company culture emphasizes kindness, compassion, trust, authenticity, well-being, open communication, transparent feedback, diversity, and inclusion.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Instructional Design preferred; a degree in Education, Educational Technology, Curriculum and Instruction or; equivalent combinations of certificates, direct experience, and demonstrated skills will also be considered.
Demonstrated ability to quickly grasp the nuances of an unfamiliar field and translate them into content that feels authentic to the audience required; experience in the animal services field is essential to ensure content is relevant to learners and reflects the actual conditions, challenges, and needs of the profession.
Significant expertise in Articulate Rise, including building Rise custom blocks and navigating complex publishing and output processes is a core requirement.
Proficient in Vyond or similar animation software, which includes innovative approaches to animation development that go beyond templated or default motion, props, or characters, is essential.
Proven ability to apply adult learning theory and integrate principles of diversity and accessibility in the design of effective, student-centered learning experiences that align with instructional objectives and address the needs of adult learners required.
Demonstrated experience designing creative, exploratory assessments—such as scenario-based tasks, simulations, or applied projects—that evaluate learners' ability to apply skills in real-world contexts.
Demonstrated experience applying quality assurance processes and content management best practices to ensure accuracy, consistency, and professional quality across instructional materials is required.
Demonstrated ability to explore creative solutions and push beyond conventional approaches, while still upholding alignment with organizational style guides, visual design principles, and established standards is required.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating strong organizational skills to manage multiple competing tasks and priorities while remaining flexible and able to shift direction quickly as needs evolve is required.
Demonstrated ability to work independently—researching, troubleshooting, and problem-solving without needing significant oversight—while adapting flexibly to setbacks or changing priorities until goals are met is required.
Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with building and troubleshooting HTML and JavaScript Rise code blocks, as well as proficiency in Articulate Storyline, is a plus.
Proficiency in Camtasia or similar video/audio editing tools is a plus.
Deep, current knowledge of instructional design technology, with a drive to continually explore and adopt emerging tools, including the ethical use of AI, to push innovation in course design and development is highly valued.
Experience collaborating effectively and professionally with subject matter experts (SMEs) to inform and enhance content for instructional design projects is strongly preferred.
Sharp eye for tailoring stylistic elements and adapting or drafting transition content that matches the tone of the surrounding material, suited to both adult learners and the animal services field, striking the right balance so learning feels authentic and relevant to the audience is highly desired.
Proficiency building and managing content within Canvas or other learning management systems (LMS) preferred.
Demonstrated ability, or readiness to grow from foundational experience, in managing and supporting all phases of instructional design project management.
Demonstrated openness to coaching and mentorship, including the ability to apply feedback received and to offer feedback to others, with the shared goal of creating impactful, student-centered learning experiences is an asset.

Responsibilities

Work closely with the Instructional Design team to design educationally-sound learning programs and drive the development of engaging, outcome-based learning which is the integral foundation of eLearning courses, certificates, and blended learning programs that align to both the learning advancement department strategy and current organizational strategy.
Partner with the course development team in crafting clear, measurable learning objectives and authentic, real-world assessments that align with them.
Collaborate with subject matter experts to capture course specific knowledge for the development and management of course content.
Design and develop engaging, high-quality learning materials and course content for eLearning courses, blended learning programs, microlearning, and other instructional formats.
Collaborate with the Instructional Design team to select appropriate instructional design principles, strategies, and formats relevant to the project and organization standards.
Proactively apply cognitive learning theories and accessibility guidelines, while staying current on instructional design trends, to create student-centered, inclusive learning experiences across eLearning, LMS, in-person, and blended environments.
Work with and coordinate contractor and volunteer projects to ensure the finished instructional design products are engaging, as well as educationally and professionally sound.
Maintain learning materials and resources to ensure consistency and support content management efforts.
Engage in project management responsibilities for instructional design projects, from supporting key tasks to managing full project workflows as needed.