Instructional Designer

Vistra Communications

$70K — $95K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years of relevant experience.
  • Experience developing training design plans with clear learning objectives and assessment strategies.
  • Strong curriculum-writing skills across various formats including e-learning.
  • Solid understanding of adult-learning principles and instructional strategies.
  • Exceptional ability to communicate complex ideas into clear, engaging content.
  • Experience collaborating with SMEs to align technical content with training needs.
  • Strong organizational skills for managing multiple projects and documentation.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the creation of training design plans, curriculum, and storyboards for various learning formats.
  • Develop participant and facilitator guides for training sessions.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create cohesive training products.
  • Manage the end-to-end design process ensuring instructionally sound content delivery.
  • Support the evaluation of training effectiveness and make recommendations for improvements.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Life and disability insurance.
  • Employer matching 401(k) retirement plan.
  • Paid Time Off (PTO), Parental, and Bereavement Leave.
  • Opportunities for Professional Development.
Full Job Description
Vistra is seeking an Instructional Designer who will be responsible for designing high-quality, learner-centered training solutions that support mission-critical learning objectives. This position is primarily remote with occasional on-site requirements at the Mark Center or Pentagon. Candidates in the Metro DC area strongly preferred.

Key responsibilities include:
  • Lead the development of training design plans, storyboards, and curriculum for instructor-led, virtual, and e-learning formats.
  • Support the development of train-the-trainer participant guides, facilitator guides, and other accompanying resources.


Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree and at least 3-5 years of directly related experience.
  • Proven experience developing training design plans, including learning objectives, instructional strategies, and assessment approaches. Demonstrated ability to create storyboards, scripts, and detailed content outlines to guide multimedia development.
  • Strong curriculum-writing skills with the ability to produce facilitator guides, participant materials, and e-learning content across modalities.
  • Strong understanding of adult-learning principles, learning science, and evidence-based instructional strategies.
  • Exceptional writing skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into clear, engaging, and instructionally sound content.
  • Experience collaborating with subject matter experts (SMEs) to accurately capture and transform technical content into training.
  • Strong organizational skills, including version control, documentation, and management of multiple concurrent deliverables.
  • Ability to work seamlessly with developers, graphic artists, multimedia teams, and project leads to ensure cohesive end-to-end training products.
  • Public Trust. Secret clearance is preferred.

Additional preferred qualifications:
  • Experience designing and writing training content specifically for leadership development courses, including curriculum, facilitator guides, and performance-based learning activities.
  • Familiarity with e-learning authoring tools (e.g., Articulate Storyline, Rise, Captivate, Vyond).
  • Deep knowledge of ADDIE or similar instructional design methodologies, with the ability to apply each stage effectively.
  • Experience supporting learning evaluation plans or applying models like Kirkpatrick. Exposure to Agile, SAM, LLAMA, or other iterative learning development methods.
  • Experience working in government, defense, or complex, multi-stakeholder training environments.
  • Ability to conduct training needs assessments and recommend appropriate learning solutions.


Vistra provides medical, dental, and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, employer matching 401(k) retirement plan, Paid Time Off, Parental and Bereavement Leave, and Professional Development, among other benefits.

US Citizenship Required: Due to the requirements of the federal contract that this position supports, U.S. citizenship is required. Citizenship will be confirmed via I-9/E-Verify at the start of employment.

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