DescriptionThe Senior Manager, Training & Instructional Systems, leads the team responsible for the full life cycle of courseware development, revision, and delivery in support of major U.S. Defense programs. Reporting to executive leadership, this role directs Instructional Systems Designers (ISDs), Curriculum Developers, Multimedia Developers, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and Instructors as they execute every phase of the PADDIE process (Plan, Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) for technical curriculum, deliver classroom and platform instruction, and coordinate with engineering teams on associated training devices and simulators. The Senior Manager ensures the team serves as the architectural authority for the complete training system-owning the training-system concept, defining instructional requirements, and actively participating in the development, review, and validation of training device requirements to ensure alignment with learning objectives and courseware design.
This role is responsible for the technical performance, instructional rigor, and overall coherence of the training solution, ensuring all products meet Navy instructional standards (e.g., NAVEDTRA 130/131-series), contract requirements, and the program's Quality Management System.
Essential Responsibilities:- Lead a multi-disciplinary team of 15+ ISDs, Curriculum Developers, Multimedia Developers, SMEs, and Instructors across concurrent task orders supporting a major NAVAIR program.
- Direct the full PADDIE life cycle - Plan, Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate - for new courseware, revisions, and sustainment of existing curriculum.
- Own delivery of Instructional Media Packages (IMPs), Training Project Plans (TPPs), Front End Analyses (FEAs), Training Path System (TPS) documents, Course Training Task Lists (CTTLs), Trainee Guides, Instructor Guides, Lesson Plans, Tests, and related Navy training products.
- Oversee classroom, lab, simulator, and platform instruction; ensure instructors and SMEs are qualified, current, and meet Navy Master Training Specialist (MTS) and Journeyman Instructor Training (JIT) standards as applicable.
- Coordinate with engineering, simulation, and program management teams to ensure courseware is aligned with associated Training Devices, Operational Flight Trainers, Part-Task Trainers, and Weapon System Trainers.
- Manage cost, schedule, scope, and risk for an annual portfolio of $10M+ across multiple concurrent task orders or contracts; deliver 100% on-time, on-budget products.
- Establish and enforce instructional quality standards, configuration management, and document control consistent with NAVEDTRA 130/131-series, MIL-PRF-29612, MIL-HDBK-29612, and applicable ISO/CMMI processes.
- Serve as the primary interface to the NAVAIR customer, prime contractor PMO, and government technical leads for all instructional systems matters; lead In-Process Reviews (IPRs), Curriculum Control Boards, and milestone reviews.
- Build resource-loaded schedules and Integrated Master Schedules (IMS); apply Earned Value Management (EVM) or equivalent performance metrics to forecast and report program health.
- Recruit, develop, evaluate, and retain instructional staff; build career paths, training plans, and succession depth across all functional roles.
- Lead proposal efforts (technical and cost volumes) for new task orders, recompetes, and ECPs; support BD pursuits with white papers, capability briefs, and oral presentations.
- Champion modernization of training delivery - task-based work planning, blended learning, simulation-based training, and emerging instructional technologies - to improve learner outcomes and program efficiency.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Work Conditions:- Remote-eligible position. Candidate may reside anywhere in the continental United States with reliable connectivity and a suitable home-office environment.
- Travel up to 20% primarily to the company's Oklahoma City, OK headquarters and customer sites.
- Must be able to support occasional non-standard hours during exercises, deliveries, and milestone events.
- Office environment with occasional travel required for site visits or customer meetings.
RequirementsMinimum Requirements:
- Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in instructional systems and technical training operations, with at least 5 years leading multi-disciplinary teams of ISDs, developers, SMEs, and instructors.
- Bachelor's degree in Instructional Systems Design, Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Training & Development, Human Performance Technology, or a closely related field. Equivalent military training and demonstrated experience may substitute on a year-for-year basis.
- Demonstrated, hands-on expertise applying Adult Learning Theory and the PADDIE/ADDIE process to engineer large-scale technical curricula - minimum 500 hours of delivered technical courseware as an individual contributor or design lead.
- Direct experience supporting NAVAIR or U.S. Navy training programs, including production of Navy training products such as Navy Training System Plans (NTSPs), Front End Analyses, Gap Analyses, TPPs, CTTLs, and Trainee/Instructor Guides under NAVEDTRA 130/131-series.
- Track record managing concurrent contracts/task orders with annual portfolio value of $10M or greater, delivering on schedule and within budget.
- Demonstrated experience standing up or modernizing a training organization - process design, QA standards, configuration management, and earning or sustaining ISO/CMMI accreditation.
- Proven leadership of geographically dispersed or asynchronous teams of 15 or more personnel.
- Working knowledge of training device integration - Operational Flight Trainers, Part-Task Trainers, Weapon System Trainers, simulators, or equivalent - and the interface between courseware and hardware/software training systems.
- Strong proposal experience: authoring or leading Technical and Cost volume responses for federal RFPs/RFIs in the training and simulation domain.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills; able to brief senior government and industry stakeholders.
- U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD Secret security clearance. Candidates not currently cleared must be eligible for adjudication at the Secret level or higher.
- US Citizen.
Preferred Requirements:
- Active DoD Secret, Top Secret, or TS/SCI clearance.
- PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
- U.S. Navy Master Training Specialist (MTS) designation, or equivalent military instructor certification (e.g., Air Force MTL/MTS, Army Master Instructor).
- Master's degree in Instructional Systems Design, Education, Adult Learning, or a related field.
- Experience with EP-3E, P-8, MH-60, E-2/C-2, or other NAVAIR fleet platforms and their associated training systems.
- Earned Value Management (EVM) certification or documented practitioner experience.
- Experience implementing LMS platforms (e.g., NeL, MOODLE, Cornerstone, Saba) and SCORM/xAPI-conformant content.
- CAM (Control Account Manager) Experience
- Background in defense aerospace or training development.
- Candidates with experience in fixed wing aircraft (Operation and or Maintenance).
- Instructor experience.
- Experience with US Navy training and curriculum development are preferred.
- Experience working as a Government Contractor or with contracts, DOD experience preferred.
Work Conditions:- Remote-eligible position. Candidate may reside anywhere in the continental United States with reliable connectivity and a suitable home-office environment.
- Travel up to 20% primarily to the company's Oklahoma City, OK headquarters and customer sites.
- Must be able to support occasional non-standard hours during exercises, deliveries, and milestone events.
- Office environment with occasional travel required for site visits or customer meetings.
