Lead Multimedia Content Designer -WGU Academy

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Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

The Lead Multimedia Content Designer will create engaging user-facing assets for online and mobile delivery, including interactive games and simulations, graphics, animations, videos, and more. This role balances UX/UI, programming, and multimedia expertise with an understanding of learning design and instructional technology to determine the standards for providing delightful course experiences for Academy learners. This role impacts learner success by providing standards and guidance, empowering WGU to produce beautiful and engaging courses and assessments at scale-their work will make a high impact for learners who are changing their lives through education. The individual in this role is passionate about simplifying complexity and delighting learners as they grow in understanding and confidence. This role leads and with collaborates with team members in the early phases of the design process to by leveraging their knowledge and subject matter expertise.

They will Lead an agile design team to select and design appropriate digital content that's fit for purpose, iterate on the design, and ultimately develop production-ready assets for inclusion in eLearning courses and modules.

The Lead Multimedia Content Designer must be an innovative thinker willing to deliver creative solutions with a quick turnaround time. This position will provide mentorship to a team versed in learning design, rich media, front- and back-end development, and behavioral psychology, to craft world-class eLearning for WGU's Rising Talent market.

Job Description

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Champions, advocates, and collaboratively develops and implements Visual Design and Multimedia standards and guidance across their department.

• Prepares a scalable system of Visual and Multimedia standards and guidance that empowers our Product teams to make delightful learner experiences.

• Leads in the creation of product media strategies with Design Managers, experience designers, and stakeholders to ensure medias are aligned with desired product goals and outcomes;

• With a Learning Experience Designer and Research Scientist, they will lead in proactively analyzing product metrics to continuously identify, ideate, implement, and measure ongoing enhancements.

• Collaborates with WGU leaders and various business stakeholders to influence and determine the necessary project scope and delivery expectations.

• Leads the design and implementation of multiple products and ensures compliance with all project deadlines.

• Oversees quality control of all multimedia assets.

• Works independently and mentors others to achieve project objectives.

• Makes informed subjective decisions, based on project objectives, product messaging, and stakeholder requirements.

• Provides direction to peers on how to apply and drive best-practice learning content development.

• Models leadership and professionalism.

• Models a collaborative relationship with all appropriate internal and external stakeholders and guides them through practices, concepts, and approaches.

• Provides guidance and coaching to others how to approach job tasks and projects with a mindset of continuous learning and improvement, improving skills and sophistication, and self-motivation to learn new skills.

• Stays current with trends and research in content best practices, including learning science, UI, and behavioral economics.

• Seeks out and welcomes feedback from various sources and iterates based on feedback. Conversely provides feedback to leadership and peers alike.

• Leads in the creation and implementation of media strategies meeting objectives, messaging goals, and requirements.

• Leads in cross-functional, agile design team to develop engaging, effective learning experiences.

• Leads and manages media projects closely aligned with the goals of the company; coordinates multiple tasks and deadlines while working with others.

• Leads in collaboration with Ed Tech to ensure the technical feasibility of designs; works with front-end developers to leverage the latest widely adopted technical capabilities.

• Applies best-practice UX, UI and multimedia design skills to create proof-of-concepts, mockups, and prototypes

• Rapidly produces multiple possible approaches for usability testing, A/B testing and stakeholder presentations.

• Leads in the plan and practice user testing based on user-centered design principles, and adjust media; accordingly, welcomes feedback from others and applies sound judgement.

• Creates media in all forms: interactive games and simulations, expert videos, polished visual images, audio files that meet the project's objectives, animations with sophistication that show advanced skill, and more.

• Reviews learner and stakeholder feedback and provides recommendations for design enhancements.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

• • Critical thinker with excellent problem-solving skills; analytical strategist

  • Comfortable launching and iterating quickly; entrepreneurial mindset

  • Capable and experienced in planning and conducting studies; process-oriented

  • Curious learner continuously seeking to improve skills and sophistication; self-motivated.

  • Effective communicator with excellent written, oral, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

  • Collaborative creative able to thrive in a fast-paced, agile environment.

  • Reliable and committed contributor to the quality of our product; diligent.

  • Ability to take, give, and receive feedback and iterate toward improved learning and engagement.

  • Excellent interpersonal skills.

  • Strong prioritization and time management skills to balance multiple demands

  • Ability to grasp new concepts quickly, extreme attention to detail, and strong communication skills.

• • Expert in design, layout, and visual communication.

  • Skilled user of AI tools to create code, troubleshoot functionality, and devise creative solutions to complex problems.

  • Shows substantial history of strong judgment when creating media in all forms based on project objectives, messaging, and stakeholder requirements.

  • In-depth understanding of User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), and multimedia design principles

  • Understanding of responsive design

  • Comfortable building relationships, influencing, and inspiring at all levels within the organization

  • Proficient with Adobe Creative Suite, Articulate 360, Figma, Sketch, Invision, etc.

  • Thorough understanding of Color Theory, Typography, iconography, composition, grid systems, animation, and interactive development.

  • Proven ability to artistically conceptualize a multi-product UI framework.

  • Clear understanding of web accessibility standards to contribute to design systems and patterns

  • Ability to create designs, layouts, motion graphics, and other creative solutions that follow style guidelines.

  • Experience in developing and implementing multimedia assets from ideation through implementation and analysis

  • Advanced project management skills, agile experience preferred

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience with a bachelor's degree, or 4+ years and a master's degree, or a doctorate or terminal degree with 2+ years of experience.

• Strong portfolio of work required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate degree and evidence of continued learning

• May have broad knowledge of project management.

• Experience in media production for education.

• Proven familiarity with standards of web accessibility including alternate text, color contrast, multiple means of representation, and keyboard controls.

• Ability to work in a variety of platforms, including but not limited to Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Articulate 360, h5p, Adobe Acrobat, Open EdX, Learnosity, and the ability to quickly learn proprietary tools as well.

• Comfortable in leveraging AI and engineering prompts for improved workflows.

• Proven successful collaboration and work experience with learning and performance solutions teams/education, training and development teams/eLearning teams.

• Excellent knowledge of adult learning theories and instructional design models.

• May have broad knowledge of project management.

• Comfort in creating graphics and assets for digital, print (only in terms of layout), motion graphics.

• Experience working within a brand system across multiple channels (creating social posts, print assets, web banners for a single company would be an example of this), examples of extending a brand system in a way it hasn't previously done things is a nice to have

• Familiarity in how to bring graphics and layout to life using code is a big plus.

• Comfortable in using the Adobe suite, Figma(nice to have) and learning new tools if needed (thinking h5p, rise, figma)

• Comfort in supporting designers, through work or ideas, with different tasks in their own building processes

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Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.