Lead Instructional Media Producer (INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER 3)

The Lead Instructional Media Producer is an experienced learning design professional who specializes in translating teaching expertise into engaging digital learning experiences through thoughtfully designed instructional media. In this role, the Lead Instructional Media Producer's curiosity, creativity, and collaboration skills play a key role in shaping how ideas are communicated and experienced in digital learning environments. By combining creative media production with evidence-based learning design, the position helps to bring complex concepts to life and creates engaging media-based learning content that supports student success.

Working in close partnership with instructional designers, faculty, SME's, and academic program teams, the Lead Instructional Media Producer helps to identify and diversify effective media approaches that support course learning objectives and enhance student learning and engagement. Drawing on multimedia learning principles and cognitive load theory, the role helps instructors adapt their teaching strategies for recorded and asynchronous formats while preserving authenticity in their instructional style. In collaboration with campus media services teams, external vendors, and other instructional media support staff, the incumbent leads and liaises to ensure that instructional media production aligns with course design goals, strict production timelines, and project milestones and deliverables.

The incumbent leads the planning and coordination of instructional media production across multiple course development projects and manages the full production lifecycle, including consultation on pre-production planning, filming and recording, and post-production editing and delivery. The incumbent ensures media assets are produced efficiently, meet accessibility standards, and integrate effectively within course environments. The role also develops and, as needed, trains in effective, scalable production standards, asset management practices, and efficient processes/workflows to support consistent instructional media quality across programs.

Apply By Date June 22, 2026 at 11:59pm, PST

Minimum Qualifications - For full consideration, applicants are encouraged to upload license and/or certification if required of the position

• Bachelor's degree in instructional design, educational technology, digital media, film/media studies, communications, or a related field and/or equivalent experience or training.
• Three (3) to five (5) years of professional experience in media production, instructional design, digital learning development, or related fields. Equivalent experience in professional training organizations, digital learning companies, or media production environments supporting instructional or training content may be considered.
• Demonstrated experience and applied skills in navigating professional studio environments (i.e., green screen, learning glass, podcast, screencast, interview-style, on-location, etc.), including expertise in configuring and operating camera equipment, directing talent, and configuring lighting, A/V, etc. to optimize production and post-production efforts.
• Demonstrated expertise in instructional media production, including recording, editing, and post-production workflows. Proficiency with professional media production software, including Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Photoshop. Demonstrated proficiency in accessibility requirements for instructional media, including captions and transcripts.
• Demonstrated ability in using screen capture and instructional recording tools such as Camtasia, PowerPoint, or ScreenFlow.
• Proficiency in media hosting and distribution platforms such as Panopto, Kaltura, Yuja, Vimeo, Canvas Studio, or similar systems.
• Strong project coordination and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent production timelines and projects. Demonstrated skills and abilities in moving through a start-to-end media production process, including the execution of planning, pre-production, production, post-production, and delivery.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills with the ability to collaborate and liaise effectively with faculty, instructional designers, vendors, and cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education or academic online learning environments.
• Experience supporting the design and development of online or hybrid courses or programs.
• Experience collaborating with instructional designers, faculty, or subject matter experts in educational contexts.
• Proven experience producing scalable instructional media for online courses, MOOCs, or enterprise-level digital learning programs, with an emphasis on quality, consistency, and learner impact.
• Experience in effectively managing and collaborating with external media vendors or cross-functional production teams to deliver high-quality media assets on time and within scope.
• Demonstrated ability to strategically integrate high-quality instructional media within digital learning environments (e.g., Canvas LMS) to enhance learner engagement, accessibility, and outcomes.
• Expertise in leveraging interactive learning technologies (e.g., in-video quizzing, branching scenarios, chaptering) to drive engagement, knowledge retention, and measurable learner interaction.
• Proficiency in utilizing AI-assisted media tools (e.g., HeyGen, Descript, AI voice generation, automated captioning) to increase production efficiency, innovation, and accessibility at scale.
• Proficiency in the application of multimedia learning principles and cognitive load theory in the context of instructional media design.

Key Responsibilities

• 40% - Instructional Media Design, Production, and Asset Management
• 30% - Project Management and Production Standards
• 20% - Collaboration, Consultation, and Mentorship
• 10% - Instructional Media Innovation

Department Overview

UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) is the lifelong learning arm of the university. The division maintains the most diverse portfolio on the campus, with programs spanning pre-college, professional continuing education, workforce development, international academic and cultural exchange, and training services for corporate and agency partners. As a global leader in continuing education, CPE serves learners regionally, nationally and globally, and posts more than 55K enrollments annually making it the third largest UC Extension by enrollment. Beyond its community-facing role, CPE serves as the internal hub for online education in support of other academic units on the campus. CPE employs approximately 180 employees and draws on the expertise of approximately 1,700 instructors.

At the center of CPE's online and digital learning ecosystem is the Learning Innovation Department, a multidisciplinary group of instructional designers, learning systems experts, media professionals, and quality assurance specialists who partner with faculty and program teams to design and deliver engaging, accessible, and scalable learning experiences. LIT serves both CPE programs and the broader UC Davis campus as a hub for online learning expertise, innovation, and continuous improvement.

The Learning Innovation Team is driven by a shared commitment to learner-centered design, accessibility, and educational excellence. The team applies evidence-based instructional design practices, emerging educational technologies, and data-informed decision-making to support a wide range of learning experiences-from fully online courses and certificates to hybrid and innovative program models. LIT values thoughtful experimentation, ethical and purposeful use of AI, and strong project discipline to ensure learning experiences are not only engaging but also delivered on time, within scope, and at scale.

Designers in the Learning Innovation Department work in close partnership with faculty, instructors, and subject matter experts, serving as trusted collaborators who translate instructional vision into meaningful online learning experiences. The team fosters a culture of continuous learning, shared standards, and professional growth, where individuals are encouraged to refine their craft, learn from one another, and contribute to evolving best practices that raise the quality of online education across the organization.

Joining the Learning Innovation Department means contributing to a mission-driven environment where learning experience design is both a craft and a catalyst-supporting equitable access to education, advancing teaching and learning innovation, and helping learners achieve meaningful outcomes at every stage of their educational journey.

POSITION INFORMATION

• Salary or Pay Range: $69,600/annually - $124,200/annually
• Salary Frequency: Annually
• UC Job Title: INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER 3
• Number of Positions: 1
• Appointment Type: Staff: Career
• Percentage of Time: 100% - Fixed
• Shift (Work Schedule): Manager will advise
• Location: Sacramento, CA.
• Union Representation: 99 - Non-Represented (PPSM)
• Benefits Eligible: Yes
• This position is hybrid (mix of on-site and remote work)

Benefits

Outstanding benefits and perks are among the many rewards of working for the University of California. UC Davis offers a full range of benefits, resources and programs to help you bring your best self to work, as well as to help you and your family achieve your health, wellness, financial and career goals. Learn more about the benefits below and eligibility rules by visiting either our handy or and our .

If you are represented by a union, benefits are negotiated between the University of California (UC) and your union and finalized in a contract. Read your bargaining unit's employment contract, stay abreast of current negotiations and learn about collective bargaining at UC: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/index.html

• High quality and low-cost medical plans to choose from to fit your family's needs
• UC pays for Dental and Vision insurance premiums for you and your family
• Extensive leave benefits including Pregnancy and Parental Leave, Family & Medical Leave
• Paid Holidays annually as stipulated in the UC Davis Health Policies or Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Paid Time Off/Vacation/Sick Time as stipulated in the UC Davis Health Policies or Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Continuing Education (CE) allowance and Education Reimbursement Program as