CONTRACT eLearnings Visual Designer and Aborb LMS Producer

Job description

Contract eLearning Visual Designer and Absorb LMS Producer Transforming approved course content into polished, engaging digital learning experiences Primary Point of Contact: Water's Edge HR Director (Internal Course Manager) Course Authorization and Prioritization: Water's Edge HR Director (Internal Course Manager) Classification: Independent Contractor Schedule: Flexible; hours will vary according to approved project workload and organizational priorities Location: Remote, with on-site work as needed for collaboration, photography, video, or audio production Contract Duration: October 2026-May 2027 Estimated Hours: To be determined based on approved course inventory Position Summary Central Church / Water's Edge is seeking a creative, technically capable, and highly organized Contract eLearning Visual Designer and Absorb LMS Producer to turn approved course content into clear, visually compelling, and easy-to-navigate learning experiences in the Absorb Learning Management System (LMS). This is a design and production role, not a course-writing role. Approved Course Content Writers and subject matter experts will supply the course purpose, learning objectives, written content, assessment content, and intended sequence. The contractor will determine how that approved material is best presented visually and technically inside Absorb, while preserving the writer's meaning, voice, and desired learner journey. The role may include graphic design, page and lesson design, multimedia production, video recording and editing, audio capture and cleanup, and the creation of reusable course templates and visual assets. The contractor will collaborate closely with course writers and the Internal Course Manager, but will not decide whether a course should be developed. Course authorization, sequencing within the organizational training portfolio, and project priority remain with the Water's Edge HR Director. Role Scope and Decision Rights The Water's Edge HR Director, serving as Internal Course Manager, authorizes new courses, establishes organizational priority, and identifies the accountable course owner. Approved Course Content Writers and subject matter experts are responsible for the substance of the course, including learning objectives, written copy, theological or policy accuracy, assessments, and required resources. The contractor is responsible for the visual treatment, media production, learner-facing presentation, and technical assembly of approved content in Absorb, subject to review and approval. In this role, the Water's Edge HR Director serves as the primary operational contact, coordinates access and platform standards, and supports final testing and publication workflows. Key Deliverables Visual Learning Design and Absorb Production Build and format approved Online Courses in Absorb LMS and, if licensed and selected for a project, Absorb Create. Translate approved Word, Google Docs, Pages, presentation, video, audio, and other source materials into polished digital learning experiences without rewriting or materially changing the content. Create a coherent visual system for each course, including course thumbnails, course posters, title treatments, chapter and lesson graphics, icons, diagrams, infographics, supporting images, downloadable resources, and video poster frames. Organize approved content into the chapters, Lessons, Learning Objects, and course sequence specified by the course writer, using sound visual hierarchy, pacing, and navigation to support the intended learning flow. Use layout, typography, color, imagery, motion, and interaction consistently so learners can easily understand where they are, what matters, and what to do next. Build or import interactive elements, knowledge checks, quizzes, and assessments from questions and answer logic supplied and approved by the course writer. Prepare and upload web-optimized graphics, documents, audio, video, and SCORM-compatible packages when a project calls for them. Video, Audio, and Multimedia Production Plan the visual and technical production approach for approved video or audio segments in collaboration with the course writer and project owner. Capture high-quality video and audio on site or remotely, including appropriate camera framing, lighting, composition, microphone selection, room setup, and recording quality. Edit video and audio for clarity and engagement, including color correction, audio cleanup and leveling, titles, lower thirds, motion graphics, transitions, music where approved, captions, and final compression for web delivery. Create screen recordings, demonstrations, voiceover-supported sequences, or other multimedia components when they improve the presentation of approved content. Maintain visual and audio consistency across lessons and courses, including reusable intros, outros, graphic packages, and export settings. Course Flow, Usability, and Quality Assurance Implement the course writer's intended flow and recommend visual, pacing, or navigation improvements when they would make the approved content easier to follow; obtain approval before changing sequence, wording, learning objectives, or assessment meaning. Configure and test learner-facing elements such as lesson order, completion behavior, buttons, links, downloads, embedded media, assessments, and navigation before publication. Test courses in both administrator and learner views, and on appropriate desktop, tablet, and mobile screen sizes. Apply practical accessibility standards to the visual build, including readable contrast and type size, descriptive alternative text, captions for video, clear headings, keyboard-friendly interactions where supported, and accessible downloadable resources. Identify and resolve visual, functional, media-playback, or responsive-design issues before final review. Brand, Templates, and Asset Management Ensure each course reflects the appropriate Central Church or Water's Edge brand, visual identity, audience, and ministry context. Develop and maintain reusable course templates, graphic systems, production checklists, and media standards that create consistency while allowing appropriate variation between course types and audiences. Maintain organized source and final files for graphics, video, audio, captions, downloadable resources, and course packages, using agreed naming and version-control practices. Design assets so future updates can be made efficiently by authorized staff or contractors. Collaboration and Project Management Receive assignments only after the Water's Edge HR Director, serving as Internal Course Manager, has authorized and prioritized the course. Partner with the Internal Course Manager, Approved Course Content Writers, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders to confirm the audience, approved source materials, desired learner experience, deliverables, timeline, review points, and acceptance criteria. Develop a visual concept or prototype when appropriate and secure direction before completing a full course build. Manage multiple approved projects from intake through design, production, review, revision, testing, and publication readiness. Estimate effort, track time and deliverables by project, and provide regular visibility into completed work, work in progress, upcoming decisions, and risks to schedule. Proactively identify missing assets, conflicting instructions, technical limitations, or dependencies and route them to the appropriate course writer or Internal Course Manager rather than making unapproved content decisions. Incorporate feedback accurately and deliver polished work within agreed timelines and review cycles. This Role Is Not Responsible For Deciding whether a course should be created, when it should be prioritized, or who should be required to complete it. Writing the substantive course content, defining the curriculum, establishing learning objectives, creating theological or policy positions, or serving as the subject matter expert. Changing approved copy, learning objectives, course sequence, or assessment meaning without the course writer's approval. Giving final approval for policy, legal, theological, ministry, or compliance accuracy. Publishing a course as final or assigning it to learners without the authorization required by the Internal Course Manager and the established LMS publication process. Ongoing learner administration, enrollment management, reporting, or LMS governance unless those duties are separately assigned in writing for a specific project. Qualifications Required A portfolio demonstrating strong visual design for digital learning, web content, multimedia, presentations, or comparable learner-facing experiences. Proficiency with relevant Adobe Creative Cloud applications, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and/or Audition, with the ability to select the right tool for the work. Demonstrated ability to transform supplied content into an attractive, coherent, and intuitive visual experience without assuming authorship of the content itself. Practical video-production capability, including camera operation, lighting, composition, high-quality audio capture, editing, audio cleanup, captioning, and web-ready export. Strong understanding of typography, layout, image selection, visual hierarchy, pacing, brand consistency, and responsive digital design. Strong project and time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, stakeholders, and review cycles. Clear communication, reliable follow-through, receptiveness to feedback, and excellent attention to detail. Ability to work independently while knowing when a content, priority, or approval decision must be returned to the responsible owner. Preferred Experience administering or building courses in Absorb LMS and/or Absorb Create. Experience with eLearning authoring tools such as Articulate 360, Storyline, Rise, Adobe Captivate, Camtasia, or comparable platforms. Familiarity with chapters, Lessons, Learning Objects, course posters, video poster images, Curricula, assessments, and completion settings in an LMS environment. Working knowledge of SCORM, xAPI, HTML5 course delivery, media optimization, and common browser or device compatibility issues. Knowledge of accessibility practices for digital learning, including captions, alternative text, color contrast, readable layouts, and WCAG-informed design. Experience producing training for staff, volunteers, members, customers, or other mixed internal and external audiences. Experience in a nonprofit, ministry, church, or multi-location organization is helpful but not required. What Success Looks Like The successful contractor will establish a recognizable, scalable visual standard for Central Church / Water's Edge learning while giving each approved course the treatment its audience and purpose require. Courses will look polished, feel intuitive, function reliably, and preserve the course writer's intended content and flow. Video and audio will meet an agreed professional standard, learner-facing assets will be accessible and optimized for online use, and course builds will pass review and testing before publication. Success will also be evident in disciplined collaboration: authorized projects move forward on schedule; content questions are returned to the appropriate owner; project status and hours remain visible; and templates, assets, and source files are organized so courses can be maintained, refreshed, and expanded over time.