Instructional Design Specialist

Constructive Dialogue Institute constructivedialogue.org Open

Remote New York Full-time Mid-level Other

At a glance

Mid-level role at Constructive Dialogue Institute. Remote, United States · full-time · $75,000–$85,000 base.

SalaryStated by Constructive Dialogue Institute

$75,000 – $85,000

Base salary for this role, in USD per year, as published in the posting.

RoleOther

SeniorityMid-level

LocationNew York

WorkplaceRemote

EmploymentFull-time

Base pay$75,000–$85,000

PostedSep 30, 2026

Role brief

remoteroles summary, based on the employer's posting.

What you'll do

Coordinate approved updates to established live programs, scheduling releases with the Live Programs team
Keep facilitator guides, slides, handouts and surveys aligned with the source content
Track Perspectives versions, preserve prior releases and recreate a cohort’s materials when requested
Draft learning modules, prompts, activities and assessments for review by the education director
Run pre-release platform checks and turn feedback from learners and facilitators into a tracked list of fixes

What you bring

At least three years of professional experience, including a year building or maintaining learning content
You understand instructional design methods such as backward planning, measurable objectives and adult learning
You have used an LMS or course-authoring platform and can apply digital accessibility standards
You bring careful writing, a repeatable quality-check process and strong documentation and version-control habits

Who this fits

This role suits an early- to mid-career instructional designer who enjoys precise content maintenance, building systems and applying learning science. The position is remote, but you must live in the U.S.; the full-time schedule is flexible within U.S. time zones.

From the employer

Who We Are

The Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) is a non-partisan, non-profit dedicated to equipping the next generation of Americans with the skills to communicate and collaborate across lines of difference. We work with U.S. colleges and universities by providing co-curricular programming for students, professional development for faculty and staff, and strategic guidance to leadership. Our goal is to foster constructive dialogue at every level of the institution and to create the conditions for lasting organizational change. CDI was co-founded by psychologist Jonathan Haidt, the bestselling author of The Righteous Mind and The Anxious Generation.

The Role

The Instructional Design Specialist keeps CDI's growing catalog of learning experiences accurate, accessible, and current. Reporting to the Senior Director of Education, this role independently manages maintenance and version control for Perspectives, our flagship online program, and our established live programs.

You'll work closely with the Education team and serve as a key link to the Live Programs team, turning feedback from facilitators, partners, and learners into clear, tracked content updates. You'll also partner with Product on platform QA and support Senior Curriculum Designers on partner-facing design projects. This is a hands-on role with a clear growth path. It's well suited to someone early to mid-career in instructional design who is exceptionally precise, enjoys building systems as much as applying learning science, and wants their work to help campuses bridge divides.

What You’ll Do

Content Maintenance & Version Control

Plan and implement approved revisions to established live programs, managing the release schedule in coordination with the Live Programs team.
Keep supporting materials in sync when source content changes, including facilitator guides, slide decks, participant handouts, and survey items.
Support version control for Perspectives: including maintaining the changelog, archiving superseded versions, and making sure any cohort's content can be reconstructed on request.

Content Development & Design Support

Draft and revise module text, discussion prompts, activities, and assessments grounded in CDI's research base and instructional design standards, for review by the Senior Director of Education.
Support Senior Curriculum Designers on partner-facing design projects, with room to take on more design ownership over time.

Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement

Run pre-release QA for Perspectives in partnership with Product: proofread, verify links and media, check accessibility (alt text, captions, plain language, WCAG conformance), and test the learner experience end to end before content goes live.
Own the content feedback backlog, working with the Live Programs team to consolidate input from facilitators, partners, learner surveys, and support tickets into one tracked queue. Categorize requests, flag recurring issues, and recommend fixes.

Who You Are

Required

3+ years of professional experience
- At least 1+ years of experience building or maintaining learning content in instructional design, curriculum development, ed tech, or a related role. Graduate assistantships, practicums, and substantial volunteer work count.
Grounding in instructional design fundamentals, such as backward design, measurable learning objectives, and adult learning principles.
Hands-on experience with an LMS or course-authoring tool (e.g., Canvas, Moodle, Articulate Rise/Storyline, or similar).
Working knowledge of digital accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 508) and the habit of applying them consistently.
Exceptional attention to detail and strong systems skills, including a repeatable QA process and comfort with version control and documentation.
Clear, accessible writing that makes complex ideas simple without making them thin.
Genuine interest in constructive dialogue, viewpoint diversity, and higher education

Preferred

Higher education experience, such as a center for teaching and learning or online program design
Experience facilitating for adult learners or designing for sensitive, values-laden topics

What We Offer

A Mission-Driven Culture — our work culture genuinely reflects our mission, characterized by intellectual humility, continuous improvement, and open-mindedness
Unlimited PTO — recharge on your own schedule with unlimited paid time off, in addition to 13 company holidays
Health, Vision & Dental — health, vision, and dental plans, with CDI contributing toward your premiums each month
401(k) Match — invest in your future with a 100% match on your contributions, up to 3% of your pay
Professional Development — a generous annual budget to invest in your growth: build new skills, deepen existing ones, and stay inspired in your work
Remote Work Support — up to $500 reimbursed for home office equipment and up to $50/month reimbursed for home internet or cell phone expenses