Subject Matter Expert for Technology Value & Capability

Summary

Western Governors University (WGU) is seeking a Subject Matter Expert to participate in our Technology Value & Capability 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 .What you will doConsult on skills and competencies needed in a master's level course to prepare students for the workplace.Author realistic, original case scenarios for performance assessments in which learners analyze technology cost and delivered value, evaluate sourcing and operating model alternatives, and recommend a technology capability and funding plan.Build the exhibits those scenarios require, such as cloud consumption and cost data, contract summaries with pricing tiers and exit terms, technical-debt and modernization estimates, and chargeback or showback reports.Make the numbers in each scenario internally consistent and verified. Check every carried-forward calculation (growth projections, tier thresholds, total cost of ownership comparisons).Include consumption-based cloud or AI costs and at least one sourcing case that begins from a vendor already under contract, so learners face lock-in and exit realistically.Write model reasoning for each scenario: what a strong answer concludes, what assumptions it states, what a weak answer ignores, and where genuine ambiguity remains.Review and correct draft formative scenarios and learning-resource selections prepared by the design team. Treat them as starting points. Flag generic or textbook-style cases, outdated cost or pricing assumptions, and anything traceable to a real company or publicly reported case.Verify the currency of cost and pricing assumptions, especially fast-moving ones such as cloud pricing and AI inference cost. Cite sources with URL and retrieval date, and flag anything recent, numerically specific, or resting on a single source.Advise on how scarce-technical-skills strategy (build, buy, or borrow, and retention cost) should be represented in scenarios, limited to scarce technical skills.Work with the assessment team and instructional designers to confirm that scenarios elicit the evidence the evidence statements require, and to give feedback on rubric language.Subject Matter Experts should meet the following criteria:QualificationsBachelor's degree in an IT/CS field.5 or more years of experience in technology leadership, technology finance, IT sourcing or vendor management, or technology operating-model design, including ownership of or direct responsibility for a technology budget.Direct experience negotiating or evaluating technology contracts (licensing, managed services, cloud commitments) and reasoning about lock-in, exit, and portability.Working knowledge of technology unit economics, such as total cost of ownership, cloud cost management, and cost allocation methods.Ability to write clear, original case material for adult learners, and to explain the reasoning behind a judgment call.Willingness to work from a defined course structure and assessment standard, and to revise on feedback.Preferred QualificationsExperience as a CIO, CTO, VP of technology finance, head of IT sourcing, or technology portfolio or strategy lead.Experience building a funding case for a technology function and defending it to a finance leader or executive committee.Prior experience writing case studies, assessments, or curriculum for graduate or professional learners.Experience with competency-based education.Project InformationTentative Dates: 11/09/26 to 12/16/26 (Subject to slight change)Location : RemoteTime commitment: Approximately 6 hours per week.Compensation: $1,950Other 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 weekApplication Deadline: 10/25/26If 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.#J-18808-Ljbffr

Job Description

Western Governors University (WGU) is seeking a Subject Matter Expert to participate in our Technology Value & Capability 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 .What you will doConsult on skills and competencies needed in a master's level course to prepare students for the workplace.Author realistic, original case scenarios for performance assessments in which learners analyze technology cost and delivered value, evaluate sourcing and operating model alternatives, and recommend a technology capability and funding plan.Build the exhibits those scenarios require, such as cloud consumption and cost data, contract summaries with pricing tiers and exit terms, technical-debt and modernization estimates, and chargeback or showback reports.Make the numbers in each scenario internally consistent and verified. Check every carried-forward calculation (growth projections, tier thresholds, total cost of ownership comparisons).Include consumption-based cloud or AI costs and at least one sourcing case that begins from a vendor already under contract, so learners face lock-in and exit realistically.Write model reasoning for each scenario: what a strong answer concludes, what assumptions it states, what a weak answer ignores, and where genuine ambiguity remains.Review and correct draft formative scenarios and learning-resource selections prepared by the design team. Treat them as starting points. Flag generic or textbook-style cases, outdated cost or pricing assumptions, and anything traceable to a real company or publicly reported case.Verify the currency of cost and pricing assumptions, especially fast-moving ones such as cloud pricing and AI inference cost. Cite sources with URL and retrieval date, and flag anything recent, numerically specific, or resting on a single source.Advise on how scarce-technical-skills strategy (build, buy, or borrow, and retention cost) should be represented in scenarios, limited to scarce technical skills.Work with the assessment team and instructional designers to confirm that scenarios elicit the evidence the evidence statements require, and to give feedback on rubric language.Subject Matter Experts should meet the following criteria:QualificationsBachelor's degree in an IT/CS field.5 or more years of experience in technology leadership, technology finance, IT sourcing or vendor management, or technology operating-model design, including ownership of or direct responsibility for a technology budget.Direct experience negotiating or evaluating technology contracts (licensing, managed services, cloud commitments) and reasoning about lock-in, exit, and portability.Working knowledge of technology unit economics, such as total cost of ownership, cloud cost management, and cost allocation methods.Ability to write clear, original case material for adult learners, and to explain the reasoning behind a judgment call.Willingness to work from a defined course structure and assessment standard, and to revise on feedback.Preferred QualificationsExperience as a CIO, CTO, VP of technology finance, head of IT sourcing, or technology portfolio or strategy lead.Experience building a funding case for a technology function and defending it to a finance leader or executive committee.Prior experience writing case studies, assessments, or curriculum for graduate or professional learners.Experience with competency-based education.Project InformationTentative Dates: 11/09/26 to 12/16/26 (Subject to slight change)Location : RemoteTime commitment: Approximately 6 hours per week.Compensation: $1,950Other 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 weekApplication Deadline: 10/25/26If 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.#J-18808-Ljbffr