Senior Instructional Designer

Year Up • Boston, MA

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting directly to the Director of Learning Experience Design, the Senior Instructional Designer serves as a senior individual contributor responsible for shaping and scaling Year Up United’s Learning Experience Design practice and leading the design of high-impact, accessible, and inclusive learning experiences for 18–29-year-olds. This role involves engaging with students to foster a positive educational environment, building trust among students, faculty, and site leaders. This role is accountable for developing frameworks, standards, and design approaches that enable consistent, high-quality learning experiences across Year Up United’s training catalog. The Senior Instructional Designer leads complex design efforts end-to-end, partners closely with cross-functional stakeholders, and ensures learning experiences are data-informed, equitable, and ready to scale. They continuously evaluate learning effectiveness and drive iteration to align with evolving learner needs, organizational goals, and labor market demands. Salary Range: $92,200 - 105,400

Requirements

• 5–7+ years’ experience designing and delivering complex, multi-modal learning experiences for business, technology, and/or professional skills in a secondary, postsecondary, or other equivalent environment; experience with 18–29-year-old Opportunity Talent and competency-based education a plus
• 4+ years’ experience in designing and developing instructional content and leading or guiding instructional designers, user experience researchers, and/or instructional staff to drive research and design efforts for content design and development; virtual instructor-led training (VILT) and/or on-demand training, preferred
• Demonstrated experience working with modern learning management systems (LMS) and managing instructional content and learning tools as part of an integrated learning ecosystem; experience with Brightspace a plus
• Proficient in e-learning authoring tools such as Brightspace Creator+ (preferred), Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, or similar software
• Demonstrated experience applying artificial intelligence to accelerate content development, inform assessment and analytics, and improve instructional effectiveness, with the ability to apply AI responsibly and equitably
• Demonstrated ability to design, introduce, and evolve scalable design processes, workflows, or governance models that enable quality and efficiency across teams
• Strong knowledge in industry-leading learning experience design, instructional design, e-learning development, assessment design, and universal (accessible, usable, and inclusive) design methodologies and processes; experience applying these consistently at scale; knowledge of human-centered design a plus
• Strong knowledge in adult learning theory and historical barriers within traditional educational systems that impact opportunity talent, and the ability to translate this knowledge into design standards and decisions
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with extensive demonstrated experience in building stakeholder relationships, consulting with leaders, leading and collaborating across diverse cross-functional projects
• Demonstrated experience in complex project management, effective communication with stakeholders and clients across the project lifecycle, and supporting the adoption of new practices, tools, or workflows within an organization
• Accepts change as an important part of Year Up United’s culture, and inquires how their role can support the change
• Ability to work independently and as a team player, to take initiative, and manage multiple tasks and projects at a time
• Ability to plan, introduce, and lead scalable operational processes that enable high-quality business outcomes and growth
• Willingness to travel as necessary to support project execution (up to 10% typical)
• A passion for working with young adults, an unshakable belief in their potential, and a strong commitment to the mission of Year Up United
• Mastery of the MS office suite, with exceptional PowerPoint content development and presentation skills
• Understanding of the Opportunity Divide and its drivers
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Responsibilities

• Inform and guide the transformation of Year Up United’s learning experiences by actively aligning them with our andragogical approach, establishing shared design frameworks and standards, and ensuring robust and impactful learning outcomes
• Design and own the needs analysis process, including defining diagnostic approaches and success criteria, working with the Learning Excellence team and other key stakeholders to identify what instructional design, content curation, and/or resource organizing activities are needed to drive design and development of training or assessment solutions
• Partner with key stakeholders, when designing training and assessment solutions, to make and communicate evidence-based recommendations and navigate trade-off decisions (e.g., buy vs. build, speed vs. depth, consistency vs. customization)
• Build out learning experience designs / blueprints that can be consistently applied and scaled, based on needs analysis, design and delivery standards, learnings, and industry-leading research
• Manage the planning, execution, and design and development of learning experiences end-to-end, including curriculum, instructional materials, assessments, and multimedia resources, that are engaging, interactive, and effective, and align to organizational goals
• Collaborate with subject matter experts, trainers, and other stakeholders to understand learning goals and develop learning objectives, guide content development, and execute user acceptance testing, ensuring alignment to learning strategy, learning goals, and user needs
• Use adult learning principles and best practices in instructional design to create learner-centered experiences that are adaptable for hybrid and virtual learning environments, using blended and asynchronous instructional methodologies at scale
• Ensure that learning experiences are accessible and inclusive by design, by considering the profiles of Year Up United participants, nature of systems that drive the Opportunity Divide, and historical barriers within traditional educational systems impacting Opportunity Talent
• Evaluate the effectiveness of learning experiences and use learning analytics, assessment data, and structured feedback to continuously improve them
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies (including AI-enabled tools) in learning experience design and incorporate them into the team’s work
• Mentor junior instructional designer staff and organizational content contributors by modeling best practices and providing guidance
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines
• Communicate with senior leadership and other stakeholders about the team’s work, risks, and impact of learning experiences on organizational goals
• Participate in special projects and initiatives that support the effectiveness, growth and impact of Year Up United
• Live the values of Year Up United and integrate them into one’s work daily
• Serve as program participant coach/mentor, and participate in Learning Community activities

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare options and dental coverage
• 401(k) match for eligible participants
• Earn three weeks paid vacation in first year of employment; four weeks after initial year
• Funds available to support staff in achieving career objectives ($2,500 per year)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed