Subject Matter Expert

Overview

National Louis University's LE3 Program is currently seeking Adjunct Faculty to join our Undergraduate Innovation - LE3 Program team for our 2026 Terms.

About the LE3 Program

The Learn and Earn in 3 (LE3) program is a bold reimagining of the undergraduate experience for full-time working adults. In this new model, students complete a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Development in just 2.5-3 years while working full-time. 

We are currently designing Competency-Based Elective courses for the LE3 program. These fully online courses will blend self-paced, competency-aligned learning with opportunities for students to demonstrate mastery. Designed to go beyond knowledge acquisition, the courses help students immediately develop and apply leadership skills in real-world professional contexts. The ideal candidates for this program are experienced professionals who bring practical expertise and are eager to guide emerging leaders in achieving measurable, workplace-relevant competencies.

Position Overview

The Subject Matter Expert (SME) will support the design and development of Competency-Based Education (CBE) courses across one (or more) of the following areas:

• Personal Finance Basics
• Human Resource Basics
• Project Management Basics
• Coaching & Mentoring Skills
• Time Management Skills
• Negotiation Skills
• Digital Tools & Workplace Change

The SME will collaborate closely with LE3 Curriculum Designers and other content experts to ensure each course is relevant, clear, accessible, workplace-connected, and aligned to the LE3 pillars and competency expectations.

Essential Responsibilities
Subject Matter Expert (SME)

• Provide deep, practical knowledge of one or more of the following areas: personal finance, human resources, project management, coaching/mentoring, time management, negotiation, or digital workplace tools.
• Translate professional experience into clear learning outcomes, workplace scenarios, authentic assessments, and competency-based demonstrations.
• Ensure all content is accessible, inclusive, and aligned to LE3's focus on durable skills, leadership development, and work-integrated learning.
• Develop learning materials (case studies, examples, micro-lectures, activities, assessments) that help students connect theory to real-world contexts immediately.
• Offer guidance on industry trends, best practices, and emerging tools relevant to the course topic.
• Collaborate with a course designer to ensure content coherence and quality across the curriculum.

Collaborative & Administrative 

• Work closely with the LE3 Curriculum Team, course designers, and fellow SMEs to maintain consistency and high-quality student experiences.
• Reflect on learner performance trends and share insights that support continuous course and program improvement.
• Participate in virtual meetings, curriculum reviews, and quality assurance processes as needed.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in a relevant field (e.g., Finance, Human Resources, Business, Organizational Leadership, Project Management, Education, Communication, Digital Transformation, or a related area).
• 3+ years of professional experience in one or more of the course topic areas.
• Ability to connect course concepts to real-world organizational and leadership contexts.
• Comfort with digital tools (Zoom, Google Suite, Slack, etc.)

Preferred

• Familiarity with competency-based education (CBE) models or CBE course design is a strong plus.
• Experience with work-integrated learning or experiential education models.
• Professional experience outside of academia in fields such as HR, management, finance, project management, coaching, negotiation, or digital transformation.
• Relevant industry credentials (e.g., SHRM-CP/SCP, PMP, financial counseling certification, coaching certificate).

Time Commitment

• Project-based contract work aligned to course development timelines.
• Estimated 10-15 hours per week during active development periods (may fluctuate based on project scope and deliverables).
• Participation in virtual meetings, content reviews, and SME advisory discussions as needed.
• Occasional availability during standard business hours for collaboration with the LE3 curriculum and design teams.
• Flexible scheduling with the understanding that deadlines for content development, review cycles, and quality assurance must be met.

Why Join LE3?

• Be part of a movement redefining college for working adults.
• Join a collaborative, future-focused faculty team.
• Support students to thrive: academically, professionally, and personally.
• Engage in meaningful work that blends teaching and mentorship.
• Contribute to a pioneering model of higher education that integrates learning, earning, and leadership development.

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued.  We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

Compensation and Benefits

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact.  Our institution values Adjunct Faculty's role in advancing our teaching mission and preparing our students for successful careers.  Adjunct Faculty have access to training resources for professional development, access to shared governance as a part of our Adjunct Council, retirement plans, educational opportunities, and paid time off.  A more complete list of Adjunct Faculty Benefits can be found here.

Adjunct Faculty are paid by course or assignment each term.  These rates vary by college and number of credit hours for the course/assignment.  While the specific amount will be indicated in an electronic contract that is issued to the Adjunct Faculty member when the course is assigned, an overview of standard rate structure is available below:

2025 Adjunct Faculty Rate Structure

Application Instructions

Please Include the following with your Application:

• Curriculum Vitae, required
• Transcripts (Official or Unofficial)
  • Official Transcripts for all related degrees, licenses/certificates will be required upon hire

Optional Additional Attachments:

• Teaching Philosophy
• Sample Syllabus
• Additional Licenses/Certifications
• Course Evaluations

---