Instructional Designer

Solar Energy International was founded in 1991 as a non-profit educational organization.  Through the years, we've seen trends and technologies come and go, but our mission remains the same today as it was when we began: to empower people around the world through the education of sustainable practices.

SEI works cooperatively with grassroots and development organizations in the Americas, Africa, Micronesia and the Caribbean. SEI staff have delivered services to the Pan American Health Organizations, Non-Governmental development organizations (NGOs), foreign, national and state governments, universities and individuals seeking the benefits of renewable energy.

Position Overview:

Solar Energy International (SEI), a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to help others to use renewable energy and environmental building technologies through educational and technical assistance, seeking to hire a full-time Instructional Designer based out of our Paonia, Colorado campus. 

The Instructional Designer oversees the development and enhancement of SEI's academic programs through technical curriculum review and updates, innovative delivery methods and facilitation of SEI's instructor curriculum presentations, feedback and edits. The Instructional Designer works in collaboration with the appropriate departments to ensure SEI online campus and in person curriculum is consistent.

The Instructional Designer assures SEI students receive the highest quality education in photovoltaic energy systems and other renewable energy technologies. This position is key to affirming SEI offers superior, technically accurate curriculum through the use of innovative delivery methods with emphasis on student comprehension, up-to-date examples, and safe practices.

Responsibilities:

Program Development:

• Coordinates PV staff review of curriculum for compliance with ISPQ (Institute for Sustainable Power Quality) and NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) standards.
• Authors ongoing curriculum updates to guarantee SEI's PV curriculum is current.
• Creates electrical schematics for in-person workshops and online courses.
• Incorporates new delivery methods such as interactive learning objects, voice over PowerPoints, and webcast presentations.
• In collaboration with the Marketing Department, writes PV workshop descriptions for SEI's course catalog, website, and marketing collateral.
• Verifies all images and content are OSHA and NEC compliant and reflect SEI's current PV course work and adheres to copyright and fair use guidelines.
• Oversees SEI's copyright process for in-person curriculum to be formally registered with the national copyright office.
• Develops instructional materials such as lesson plans, handouts, or examinations to be used by facilitators and other learning professionals.
• Collaborates with staff members, subject matter experts, graphic designers and advisory groups to obtain knowledge of subject areas and to relate content to specific subjects, individual learners, and occupational areas, adapting instructional content or delivery methods for different levels of learners.
• Develops measurement tools to evaluate the effectiveness of instruction or training interventions.
• Edits instructional materials such as books, simulation exercises, lesson plans, instructor guides, and tests.

In-Person/Online Coordination:

• Solicits and compiles curriculum feedback, improvements, and changes from instructors.
• Confirms online and in-person workshops maintain similar content so students will have the same knowledge base.

Textbook:

• Coordinates textbook updates and reprinting in collaboration with the Marketing Department.
• Compiles suggestions from students, instructors, and staff for required updates.
• Provides textbook content and schematic updates.
• Accurately incorporates PV staff edits.
• Instructor Support for In-Person Workshops.
• Responsible for providing SEI's Workshop Coordinator with required curriculum for all PV in-person instructors.
• Presents completed curriculum edits in standardized format and distributes to instructors.
• Updates lab week group information sheets for instructors and provides to PV Workshop Coordinator to send to instructors.

Workshop Logistics:

• Reviews and make changes to student notebook in collaboration with the notebook processor.
• Assesses the Lab Week Group Boxes at the beginning of each workshop and confirms materials are current and the box is organized for ease of instructional delivery.

General:

• Oversees Curriculum Work Trader.
• Conference attendance to establish industry contacts, educate the public, and keep up-to-date with the rapidly changing renewable energy PV industry.

Qualifications:

• Photovoltaic or other technical industry experience strongly preferred.
• Ability to create and edit electrical schematics.
• Extensive experience in curriculum development in instructional design and support services with a thorough understanding of adult learning principles and the ability to apply those principles to both e-learning and paper-based projects.
• Knowledge of principles and methodology for the measurement of training methods and solutions.
• Proven professional writing capabilities and in-depth knowledge of grammar, writing styles and ability to edit materials for clarity, consistency, style, and instructional soundness.
• Ability to adapt materials to an audio/visual online medium with a high awareness of student needs and deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail applicable to quality control work.
• Knowledge of Adobe media generation software, graphics and photo imaging software, audio/video capture equipment, course authoring applications, and web conferencing applications, including a strong understanding of interactive media and web based learning applications.
• Flexible team player who can adapt to a variety of situations and works collaboratively with diverse groups and individuals.
• Solid customer service and relationship building skills.
• Ability to work in a self-directed environment.
• Commitment to SEI's philosophy, values, and consensus model of decision-making.
• Willingness to travel between SEI's Paonia and Carbondale campuses, with occasional out-of-state travel.

Compensation:  Full-time, year-round position, vacation and sick pay, insurance, and a great working environment.

To Apply:

Please submit an electronic copy of your resume and cover letter via email to the Administrative Team Leader by April 15, 2010. No phone inquiries please. Start date: ASAP