Lead Instructional Systems Designer

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Maryland, +1 more state.

📋 Description

• Act as the main instructional design and technical liaison to Government stakeholders.

• Oversee the analysis, design, development, revision, and quality assurance of instructor-led, virtual, technology-enhanced, and blended training products.

• Evaluate and improve existing courseware to ensure instructional effectiveness, organization, learner engagement, technical accuracy, and alignment with educational goals.

• Create new courses and instructional modules utilizing Government-provided information, technical source materials, and input from subject matter experts (SMEs).

• Establish and refine measurable Terminal Performance Objectives and Enabling Objectives.

• Perform audience, task, content, and instructional analyses to determine course structure, instructional sequencing, and learning strategies.

• Design course outlines, lesson plans, facilitated discussions, icebreakers, scenarios, group activities, exercises, and other adult-learning activities.

• Create and update PowerPoint-based instructional materials along with supporting Word/PDF documents.

• Produce comprehensive instructor guides with facilitation instructions, activity guidelines, timing considerations, and slide-level discussion points.

• Generate student syllabi and accompanying curriculum documentation.

• Manage Government and contractor SME reviews, addressing technical feedback before finalizing products.

• Ensure consistency across presentations, instructor guides, student materials, learning objectives, activities, and supporting documents.

• Develop interactive features in PowerPoint, including hyperlinks, reference aids, navigation elements, pop-up information, and instructor support functionalities.

• Support the creation of accessible instructional materials in accordance with Section 508 requirements.

• Oversee the preparation, reintegration, formatting review, and functional quality assurance of translated presentation slides and student syllabi.

• Assist in Government review cycles and incorporate consolidated feedback into final products.

• Conduct quality checks for instructional, editorial, accessibility, functional, and release readiness.

• Collaborate with the Project Manager on schedules, deliverable progress, risks, decisions, and weekly/monthly reporting.

• Participate in up to two international seminar observations and utilize instructor and learner feedback to drive targeted curriculum enhancements.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Education, Training and Development, Educational Technology, Organizational Development, or a related field; equivalent directly relevant experience may be accepted.

• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in instructional design, curriculum development, or training development.

• Proven experience utilizing ADDIE or another recognized systematic instructional design methodology.

• Demonstrated ability to independently lead significant curriculum development or course modernization projects.

• Experience in developing and substantially revising instructor-led training programs.

• Skilled in creating measurable learning objectives, instructor guides, student materials, presentations, activities, and curriculum documentation.

• Proficient in translating complex technical or operational information into clear instructional content tailored for adult learners.

• Experience collaborating directly with Government personnel and technical SMEs.

• Advanced skills in Microsoft PowerPoint and Word.

• Capability to independently manage multiple instructional products through review, revision, and final delivery phases.

• Strong writing, editing, facilitation, organization, and quality control abilities.

• Competence in meeting firm delivery timelines and managing concurrent instructional development tasks.

• Willingness and ability to travel internationally.

• Previous experience developing training for federal government clients is preferred.

• Background in supporting maritime, transportation, infrastructure, emergency management, public safety, security, military, or law enforcement sectors is preferred.

• Experience in international capacity building or training for foreign partners is preferred.

• Familiarity with developing Section 508-compliant instructional materials is preferred.

• Experience in creating interactive or technology-enabled presentations is preferred.

• Background in supporting multilingual or localized instructional products is preferred.

• Understanding of maritime or port security concepts is preferred.

• Experience facilitating curriculum development sessions or working groups with SMEs is preferred.

• Current U.S. passport or the ability to obtain one prior to necessary international travel is preferred.

🏝️ Benefits

• Opportunities for occasional international travel.

• Chance to take part in up to two international seminar observations.

• Access to support from senior instructional design reviewers, maritime and specialty SMEs, translation assistance, and project management resources.