Subject Matter Expert for Systems Design and Innovation
Western Governors University (WGU) is seeking a Subject Matter Expert to participate in our Systems Design and Innovation design project. This position is 100% remote. Subject Matter Experts provide valuable real-world knowledge and experience in the design and development of the degree programs and courses we offer our students. This is a part-time/project-based position in which you would work with WGU as an Independent Contractor. Must reside in the United States. Subject Matter Experts should meet the following criteria:
Qualifications
Minimum five years of professional industry experience in UX design or a closely related field. Related fields include product design, service design, experience design, interaction design, design research, design strategy, design operations, design leadership, human-centered design, information architecture, design systems, and visual or communication design. Experience must be practitioner experience, not exclusively academic. Current or recent practice. Active practice within the last three years.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree or terminal degree in design, business, human-computer interaction, or a related discipline. Graduate-level teaching, mentoring, or curriculum development experience. Working fluency with the program's tool stack. Figma, FigJam, Adobe Express, Firefly, an AI coding agent, a portfolio publishing platform, or a survey tool. Applied AI-enabled design practice Business or enterprise design experience. Project Information Tentative Dates: 11/02/26 to 01/29/27 (Subject to slight change) Location: Remote Time commitment: Approximately 6 hours per week Compensation: $3,600 Other compensation and benefits: This position is for an independent contractor and is not eligible for other compensation or benefits. Scope of work: Meet with design team twice a week in a synchronous, 1-hour workshop. SMEs will also work 2-4 hours a week asynchronously to validate and review deliverables. Meetings/Workshops: Two 1-hour synchronous workshops per week Application Deadline: 10/25/26 How to Apply: LinkedIn job posting If you are selected, you will receive an email with the next steps to join the project. If you do not hear from us, it is because we have either filled the position or your experience/degree did not match the criteria. Thank you for your interest.