Fast Facts

The University of Northern Iowa seeks an Instructional Support Specialist to provide instructional support for online faculty and students, focusing on content creation, accessibility compliance, and the integration of emerging technologies.

Responsibilities: Assist online faculty with content creation, manage digital video projects, support LMS integration, and collaborate on instructional material development while ensuring digital accessibility compliance.

Skills: Experience with online instructional development, course design in a learning management system (such as Blackboard Ultra), knowledge of digital accessibility standards, and strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and two years of experience in online instructional development; preferred qualifications include a Master's degree and familiarity with UDL and Quality Matters standards.

Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA

Compensation: $56000 - $56000 / Annually

The University of Northern Iowa’s Online Education & Individual Studies department is growing rapidly, offering a wide range of flexible, accredited programs - including many in-demand master’s degrees. With an Individual Studies major and customizable degree-completion options, the department empowers learners to shape their education around personal and professional goals. It’s a student-centered, innovative team committed to expanding access and impact.

Primary Function: Provides instructional support services for online faculty, the Instructional Development (ID) team, and students; assists faculty with accessible content creation/editing and emerging online learning technologies; leads faculty support with digital video recording creation, management, captioning, audio descriptions, and transcripts; supports online faculty with content creation and technologies for online education, including assisting with webinars, Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) integrations with Blackboard Ultra, and Open Educational Resources (OER content); collaborates with online faculty to design, develop, edit, and build instructional materials and content in the learning management system (LMS) as assigned; and stays abreast of emerging technologies–including Artificial Intelligence (AI), OER, Lightboards, educational applications, and digital accessibility checkers–to support growth and digital accessibility compliance in online education courses.

Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree; at least two years of substantive online instructional development and/or course design; demonstrated practitioner-level experience building course content directly in a learning management system (e.g. Blackboard Ultra), including hands-on collaboration with subject matter experts or faculty to implement instructional materials; demonstrated practitioner-level experience in digital accessibility remediation of online course content, with a solid understanding of WCAG 2.1 compliance standards and implementation of best practices; experience providing support for accessible content creation/editing, video conferencing, lecture and video capture software, and digital video editing; strong project management and organizational skills; and excellent team-based and collaborative interpersonal skills required.

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in educational technology, instructional design, or related field; online instructional development and/or course design experience at the college/university level; certificate in digital accessibility compliance, with demonstrated knowledge of WCAG 2.1 standards and practical experience applying accessibility principles to online course content; experience applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to online course development, with demonstrated ability to integrate flexible learning strategies that support diverse learner needs; teaching experience in a higher education online environment; and familiarity with Quality Matters (QM) Rubric Standards and QM certification preferred.

Application Instructions: All application materials received by October 26, 2025, will be given full consideration. To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. The following materials must be attached when applying:

1) Resume

2) Cover Letter

You will be presented with the opportunity to attach multiple documents when completing the application. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL required materials listed above have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes. If you have questions regarding this application process, please email [email protected] or call 319-273-2422.

UNI is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. The University encourages applications from persons of color, women, individuals living with disabilities, and protected veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or on any other basis protected by federal and/or state law.

The University offers an excellent benefits package including a vacation plan, employer sponsored retirement plans, health and dental insurance, and life and disability insurance. Benefits package details can be viewed at https://careers.uni.edu/benefits . Application materials received by 10/26/2025 will be given first consideration. For more information or to apply, visit https://careers.uni.edu/ . Criminal and other relevant background checks are required. UNI is a tobacco free campus.