Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Faculty Trainer

🎯 Role Definition

As a Faculty Trainer, you will be the cornerstone of our faculty development initiatives, serving as a key resource, consultant, and educator for our academic staff. You will be responsible for creating a supportive and engaging learning environment for faculty, helping them integrate technology seamlessly into their curriculum and adopt evidence-based teaching practices. Your work will directly impact the quality of education we provide by fostering a culture of continuous improvement, pedagogical innovation, and excellence in teaching. This position requires a unique blend of technical expertise, instructional design knowledge, and exceptional interpersonal skills to effectively guide faculty from diverse disciplines and technical backgrounds.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Instructional Designer
K-12 Technology Integration Specialist or Teacher
Adjunct or Full-Time Faculty Member with a passion for technology
Corporate Trainer with an interest in academia

Advancement To:

Senior Faculty Trainer or Lead Instructional Technologist
Manager or Director of Faculty Development
Director of Academic Technology
Assistant Dean of Online Learning

Lateral Moves:

Learning Experience (LX) Designer
Curriculum Developer
Academic Technology Manager
Senior Instructional Designer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, develop, and deliver a wide range of engaging, high-impact training programs, workshops, and seminars for faculty on the effective use of academic technologies, including the Learning Management System (LMS), lecture capture, web conferencing, and other instructional tools.
Provide expert, one-on-one consultations and small-group support to faculty members, offering personalized guidance on course design, technology integration, and the implementation of innovative pedagogical strategies.
Create, manage, and maintain a comprehensive library of asynchronous training materials, including video tutorials, step-by-step guides, knowledge base articles, and interactive online modules to provide on-demand support.
Proactively research, evaluate, and pilot emerging educational technologies and digital learning tools, providing recommendations to academic leadership on their potential to enhance teaching and learning.
Collaborate closely with instructional designers, academic departments, and IT staff to ensure that training initiatives are aligned with pedagogical best practices, curriculum goals, and institutional technology standards.
Lead and facilitate new faculty orientation sessions, ensuring new hires are proficient in core academic technologies and aware of available pedagogical support resources from day one.
Develop and implement robust assessment strategies to measure the effectiveness and impact of training programs, using data and faculty feedback to drive continuous improvement of development offerings.
Champion and provide training on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and digital accessibility (WCAG), guiding faculty in creating inclusive and equitable learning experiences for all students.
Facilitate faculty learning communities (FLCs) and communities of practice (CoPs) focused on specific pedagogical topics or technologies to foster peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.
Serve as a primary point of contact and subject matter expert for faculty during the implementation and rollout of new academic software, systems, or institutional technology initiatives.
Conduct thorough needs assessments and gap analyses to identify and anticipate faculty training requirements related to technology, pedagogy, and student engagement.
Partner with librarians and other academic support units to develop and co-facilitate interdisciplinary workshops on topics like digital literacy, open educational resources (OER), and research tools.
Manage the scheduling, promotion, and registration for all faculty development events, utilizing email marketing, internal portals, and other communication channels to maximize participation.
Develop and present showcases of faculty innovation, highlighting exemplary uses of technology and pedagogy to inspire and motivate the wider academic community.
Provide advanced, second-tier support for complex pedagogical and technical inquiries escalated from the help desk, acting as a liaison between faculty and IT.
Maintain a deep understanding of current trends, research, and best practices in higher education, instructional design, and adult learning theory.
Consult with academic departments on program-level curriculum redesign projects, advising on the strategic integration of technology to achieve specific learning outcomes.
Author clear, concise, and user-friendly documentation for institutional technology platforms, ensuring faculty have the resources they need for self-service support.
Act as a faculty advocate within technology governance and planning committees, ensuring the faculty perspective is considered in institutional decision-making.
Design and deliver custom-tailored training sessions for specific departments or colleges based on their unique disciplinary needs and pedagogical goals.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory analysis related to technology adoption rates and training effectiveness.
Contribute to the organization's long-term academic technology strategy and roadmap by providing insights from faculty interactions.
Collaborate with business units, such as the Registrar's Office or Student Services, to translate cross-functional needs into faculty-facing training and communication.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies if working within a larger Academic Technology or IT team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Learning Management Systems (LMS): Expert-level proficiency in administering and training on at least one major LMS (Canvas, Blackboard, D2L Brightspace, Moodle).
Instructional Design Models: Strong practical knowledge of instructional design frameworks such as ADDIE, SAM, and Backward Design.
Multimedia Production: Proficiency with video creation and editing software (e.g., Camtasia, Adobe Premiere), screen-casting tools (e.g., Loom, Screencast-O-Matic), and lecture capture platforms (e.g., Panopto, YuJa).
Web Conferencing & Collaboration: Advanced skills in facilitating and training on synchronous online tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Workspace.
Accessibility & UDL: Deep understanding of WCAG 2.1 AA standards and practical experience using accessibility checkers and creating accessible content (documents, videos, web pages).
Content Authoring: Experience with e-learning authoring tools such as Articulate Storyline/Rise 360 or Adobe Captivate.
Basic Web Technologies: Foundational knowledge of HTML and CSS for troubleshooting and customizing content within the LMS.

Soft Skills

Exceptional Communication: Superior ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences with clarity, patience, and empathy.
Public Speaking & Facilitation: Dynamic and engaging presentation skills, with the ability to command a room and facilitate interactive group discussions both in-person and online.
Consultative Problem-Solving: A collaborative and analytical approach to understanding faculty needs and co-creating effective solutions.
Adaptability & Resilience: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities, and adapt to changing technologies and institutional needs.
Relationship Building: Excellent interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build trust and rapport with faculty, staff, and administrators from diverse backgrounds.
Project Management: Strong organizational skills to manage multiple training projects from conception to completion, meeting deadlines and quality standards.
Active Listening: The capacity to listen carefully to faculty concerns and feedback to provide targeted and meaningful support.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Higher Education, Adult Learning, or Curriculum and Instruction.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Educational Technology
Instructional Design & Technology
Adult Education and Corporate Training
Curriculum and Instruction
Higher Education Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-5 years of relevant experience in training, faculty development, instructional design, or technology support, preferably within an academic setting.

Preferred: Direct experience training higher education faculty on learning technologies and pedagogical best practices. Experience teaching at the college level is a significant asset.