Instructional Designer (Pro-Bono)

Department: Education & Programs

Reports To: Director of Education

Collaborates With: EDU-AIM Program Lead, Media Director, Web Developer

Location: Fully Remote

Commitment: Project-based volunteer role. Initial course development may require 8-12 hrs/week; ongoing maintenance and updates typically 2-4 hrs/week.

Organization Overview

The United Artists of Animation and Interactive Media (U-AAIM) is a global non-profit built by industry veterans and passionate advocates for a brighter future in entertainment! We believe sustainable creative careers should be the foundation of our global industry, not the exception.

Our mission is to forge an equitable, transnational ecosystem where artists and staff can achieve lifelong financial stability—from their first break, through the peaks and valleys of their career, and into a secure retirement. We drive systemic change across borders by uniting the global workforce with two core tools: actionable industry intelligence to empower collective advocacy, and practical, career-spanning education for professional resilience and growth.

We are more than a resource; we are a mobilizing force—using transparency as a weapon against exploitation, education as a pathway to economic power, and collective action as the mechanism to reshape an entire industry. We exist to empower creators to own their careers, their value, and their future.

Position Summary

We are seeking a learning experience architect to design the educational backbone of our movement. As the volunteer Instructional Designer, you will be responsible for translating industry expertise into accessible, engaging, and effective learning experiences. You will work with subject matter experts (SMEs) from the animation and gaming industries to design courses, workshops, and learning pathways that serve our global community—from absolute beginners to experienced professionals seeking to pivot or level up. This is a role for an educator who believes that great instructional design can democratize access to creative careers and that learning should be practical, inclusive, and empowering.

Key Responsibilities

Curriculum & Course Design (45%)

Design and develop online learning experiences (workshops, self-paced courses, bootcamps, resource guides) aligned with our mission of career-long financial stability.

Create course frameworks, learning objectives, lesson plans, and assessment strategies that ensure measurable skill development.

Develop learner-centered materials including video scripts, slide decks, handouts, activities, and practice exercises.

Design for a global, diverse audience, ensuring content is culturally relevant, accessible, and welcoming to learners from all backgrounds.

Collaboration with Subject Matter Experts (25%)

Partner with industry professionals (animators, game developers, producers, technical artists) to extract and structure their expertise into teachable content.

Translate SME knowledge into clear, scaffolded learning pathways that build skills progressively.

Provide guidance to SME instructors on effective teaching practices, engagement strategies, and adult learning principles.

Learning Platform & Content Management (20%)

Collaborate with the Chief Technology Officer and Web Developer to select and configure our Learning Management System (LMS).

Upload, organize, and maintain course content within the LMS, ensuring a seamless learner experience.

Develop reusable templates and course shells that enable efficient scaling of our educational offerings.

Assessment, Evaluation & Iteration (10%)

Design formative and summative assessments that measure learner progress and skill acquisition.

Develop feedback mechanisms (surveys, quizzes, reflective exercises) to continuously improve course quality.

Analyze learner data and feedback to recommend iterative improvements to content, pacing, and delivery.

Who You Are (Qualifications & Mindset)

Essential:

2+ years of experience in instructional design, curriculum development, or learning experience design. Experience in workforce development, career training, or creative education is highly valued.

Proficiency with instructional design models (ADDIE, SAM, or similar) and adult learning theory (Andragogy).

Experience designing for online delivery (synchronous and asynchronous) and familiarity with common LMS platforms (Canvas, Moodle, Teachable, Thinkific, or similar).

Strong writing and communication sk…