Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Faculty Specialist

🎯 Role Definition

As a Faculty Specialist, you will serve as a vital bridge between pedagogy, technology, and our esteemed faculty. You are a consultant, trainer, and thought partner dedicated to enhancing instructional quality and student success across all learning modalities—face-to-face, hybrid, and online. This position involves proactively collaborating with instructors to design engaging learning experiences, integrate innovative technologies, and implement evidence-based teaching practices. You will be a key contributor to the academic vitality of the institution, directly impacting the quality of the educational experience.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Instructional Technologist
K-12 Educator with a Master's Degree
Adjunct or Full-Time Faculty Member
Academic Support Professional

Advancement To:

Director of Faculty Development / Center for Teaching & Learning
Senior Instructional Designer or Learning Architect
Assistant/Associate Dean for Academic Innovation
Academic Technology Manager

Lateral Moves:

Learning Management System (LMS) Administrator
Corporate Learning & Development Specialist
User Experience (UX) Designer for EdTech
Assessment & Accreditation Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Provide expert, one-on-one and small-group consultations with faculty to assist in the design, development, and revision of courses for all delivery formats.
Design, facilitate, and assess a comprehensive suite of professional development workshops, learning communities, and institutes on topics including innovative pedagogy, inclusive teaching, and effective use of academic technology.
Collaborate with academic departments on curriculum mapping, program review, and the development of effective, sustainable assessment strategies for student learning outcomes.
Research, pilot, and promote the adoption of emerging educational technologies and evidence-based pedagogical strategies to enhance student engagement and academic success.
Lead the design and development of exemplary online course templates and learning modules that model best practices in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and digital accessibility (WCAG).
Create and maintain a robust, accessible repository of support resources, including video tutorials, knowledge base articles, and best-practice guides for faculty.
Provide advanced pedagogical and technical support for the university's Learning Management System (LMS) and its ecosystem of integrated academic technologies.
Manage and lead strategic projects related to academic innovation, such as Open Educational Resources (OER) initiatives or the implementation of new teaching platforms.
Conduct confidential, formative classroom observations and provide constructive feedback to faculty members seeking to reflect upon and enhance their teaching practices.
Champion a campus-wide culture of inclusive excellence by developing and promoting resources and workshops focused on culturally responsive pedagogy and creating equitable learning environments.
Partner with the library, IT services, accessibility services, and student success centers to ensure a cohesive and integrated support ecosystem for faculty and students.
Stay current with scholarship and best practices in higher education pedagogy, instructional design, and educational technology through conference attendance and professional networks.
Support the onboarding and mentoring of new faculty by developing and delivering orientation sessions on institutional teaching expectations, resources, and support services.
Consult with faculty on the design of authentic assessment instruments, including rubrics, portfolios, and project-based assignments, and the effective use of assessment technologies.
Provide expert guidance to faculty on copyright, fair use, and intellectual property issues as they relate to the creation and use of instructional materials.
Gather, analyze, and report on data related to faculty development participation and program effectiveness to inform strategic planning and continuous improvement.
Coordinate and promote institution-wide events, such as teaching and learning symposiums, to showcase faculty innovation and foster a community of practice.
Evaluate the pedagogical effectiveness of new and existing academic software, providing data-informed recommendations for procurement and implementation.

Secondary Functions

Support faculty with ad-hoc technical and pedagogical inquiries via email, ticketing systems, and scheduled drop-in consultations.
Contribute to the strategic vision and long-range planning for the Center for Teaching and Learning (or equivalent unit).
Collaborate with Deans and department chairs to identify and address discipline-specific faculty development needs.
Participate in university-wide committees and task forces related to academic technology, curriculum, and student success.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

LMS Mastery: Deep expertise in at least one major Learning Management System (Canvas, Blackboard, D2L, Moodle), including advanced functions and course design.
Instructional Design Models: Practical application of learning theories and design frameworks such as ADDIE, SAM, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Multimedia Production: Proficiency with video creation/editing software (e.g., Camtasia, Panopto, Adobe Premiere) and other multimedia authoring tools.
Web & Collaboration Technologies: Advanced skills in using web conferencing platforms (Zoom, Teams) and other collaborative tools for synchronous learning.
Accessibility Standards: Strong knowledge of WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines and experience using tools to create and evaluate accessible digital content.
Assessment Technologies: Familiarity with online proctoring, plagiarism detection (Turnitin), and survey tools (Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).

Soft Skills

Consultative Communication: Ability to listen actively, ask insightful questions, and provide tailored, actionable advice to a diverse faculty audience.
Empathy & Relationship Building: A genuine desire to support faculty, build trust, and foster collaborative and collegial relationships across the institution.
Adaptability & Learning Agility: Enthusiasm for learning new technologies and pedagogical approaches quickly and the flexibility to navigate a constantly changing environment.
Presentation & Facilitation: Exceptional skill in designing and delivering engaging, interactive, and effective training sessions and workshops for adult learners.
Project Management: Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, from conception to completion, while meeting deadlines.
Diplomacy & Tact: Skill in navigating sensitive conversations and complex interpersonal dynamics with professionalism, respect, and a solutions-oriented mindset.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Master's Degree from an accredited institution.

Preferred Education:

Doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Curriculum & Instruction
Higher Education Administration, or a related academic discipline with significant teaching experience.

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-5 years of relevant professional experience.

Preferred: 5+ years of direct experience in faculty development or instructional design within a higher education setting, combined with experience teaching at the university level. A demonstrated record of leading successful projects and collaborating effectively with diverse academic stakeholders is highly desirable.