Instructional Systems Specialist Jobs
Instructional Systems Specialist jobs are open across federal agencies, defense contractors, higher education, and corporate learning and development, from entry-level to senior and lead, with specializations in curriculum design, e-learning development, and needs analysis. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 48+ Instructional Systems Specialist jobs
Level: Senior | Part-Time (at least 50%) | Work Location: On-Site – Washington, DC Metro Area
- This position is contingent upon contract award.
Red Carrot is seeking a Senior Instructional Systems Designer to support a national T/TA center that equips health and social service professionals to prevent, identify, and respond to human trafficking. Under the direction of the Program Manager, this role designs, develops, and improves online courses, live trainings, instructor guides, and train-the-trainer materials. This position requires at least 50% of annual work hours dedicated to the contract.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assess audience characteristics, learning needs, and performance gaps to guide development and customization of T/TA products
- Develop and document instructional design plans, learning objectives, instructional strategies, storyboards, learning activities, and assessments
- Lead instructional design support for online courses, live virtual trainings, and other approved T/TA offerings
- Apply adult learning principles and e-learning best practices to face-to-face, virtual, self-directed, and blended learning
- Collaborate with SMEs, the T/TA Specialist, and the Public Health Specialist so learning products are accurate, relevant, and practical for intended audiences
- Develop and maintain instructor guides, Training of Trainers materials, reference materials, and other instructional resources
- Support learning management system implementation and troubleshooting, and ensure products meet accessibility (Section 508), technical, and accreditation requirements
- Work with the Evaluation Specialist to use learner assessments, participant feedback, and other data to improve instructional products
- Bachelor's degree and at least 8 years of relevant experience, or a master's degree and at least 6 years of relevant experience
- An instructional design certification from an accredited institution
- At least 5 years of experience as a facilitator
- Experience in instructional design, including formally documenting instructional design plans and developing project management plans for instructional design projects
- Demonstrated experience identifying performance gaps or learning needs and ensuring instructional solutions address them
- Demonstrated experience using empirical data to make instructional design decisions and identifying and implementing improvements to instruction
- Demonstrated experience designing learner-centered instructional strategies that engage and motivate learners, and designing assessments of learning
- Demonstrated experience using face-to-face, online, and blended learning strategies
- Experience with online learning platforms and tools
- Demonstrated experience collaborating across functional teams
- Prior customer experience developing multidisciplinary T/TA that educates social services, health care, behavioral health, and public health professionals to respond to the needs of impacted populations, including survivors of human trafficking
- Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with technical and nontechnical audiences
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond to evolving needs in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to work on-site at the contractor facility during core hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday
Benefits at Red Carrot:
At Red Carrot, we empower you to be a leader. We attract and develop talent from all backgrounds because we believe there’s strength in diversity, offering different perspectives and skills. Together, we can solve our client’s biggest challenges. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package.
- Training and Development – Tuition reimbursement and professional trainings for eligible employees.
- Healthcare – Top-tier medical, dental, vision, life insurance and long-term disability coverage.
- 401(k) Plan – 401(k)-retirement and Roth plan with company matching and no vesting period.
- Profit Sharing – Discretionary profit-sharing plan to all eligible employees after one year of employment.
- Paid Time Off – Provides flexible work hours, paid time off, and 11 federal holidays.
About Us:
Red Carrot is an award-winning, woman-owned small business built for the complexity of federal government work. We partner with clients to advance their goals — powered by a team fueled by passion, backed by intelligence, and grounded in expertise.
From day one, we've applied industrial engineering principles and data analytics to solve complex problems with precision. Our approach is research-centric, data-informed, and audience-oriented — and it's how we deliver work that actually moves the needle.
We exist to strengthen the organizations and communities we serve through trusted, purposeful communication. That's not a tagline — it's the standard we hold ourselves to on every engagement.
Headquartered in Miami, Florida, with a strong and growing presence in Washington, D.C., our team works with clients across the country. Distance doesn't dilute our service. We build capacity where our clients need it, delivering Strategic Communications, Customer Experience, Management Consulting, and Human Capital Solutions that fit their mission — and their moment.
We're the partner organizations turn to when communication challenges are real, the stakes are high, and the work has to matter.
mw5YiT2BeN
Level: Senior | Part-Time (at least 50%) | Work Location: On-Site – Washington, DC Metro Area
- This position is contingent upon contract award.
Red Carrot is seeking a Senior Instructional Systems Designer to support a national T/TA center that equips health and social service professionals to prevent, identify, and respond to human trafficking. Under the direction of the Program Manager, this role designs, develops, and improves online courses, live trainings, instructor guides, and train-the-trainer materials. This position requires at least 50% of annual work hours dedicated to the contract.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assess audience characteristics, learning needs, and performance gaps to guide development and customization of T/TA products
- Develop and document instructional design plans, learning objectives, instructional strategies, storyboards, learning activities, and assessments
- Lead instructional design support for online courses, live virtual trainings, and other approved T/TA offerings
- Apply adult learning principles and e-learning best practices to face-to-face, virtual, self-directed, and blended learning
- Collaborate with SMEs, the T/TA Specialist, and the Public Health Specialist so learning products are accurate, relevant, and practical for intended audiences
- Develop and maintain instructor guides, Training of Trainers materials, reference materials, and other instructional resources
- Support learning management system implementation and troubleshooting, and ensure products meet accessibility (Section 508), technical, and accreditation requirements
- Work with the Evaluation Specialist to use learner assessments, participant feedback, and other data to improve instructional products
- Bachelor's degree and at least 8 years of relevant experience, or a master's degree and at least 6 years of relevant experience
- An instructional design certification from an accredited institution
- At least 5 years of experience as a facilitator
- Experience in instructional design, including formally documenting instructional design plans and developing project management plans for instructional design projects
- Demonstrated experience identifying performance gaps or learning needs and ensuring instructional solutions address them
- Demonstrated experience using empirical data to make instructional design decisions and identifying and implementing improvements to instruction
- Demonstrated experience designing learner-centered instructional strategies that engage and motivate learners, and designing assessments of learning
- Demonstrated experience using face-to-face, online, and blended learning strategies
- Experience with online learning platforms and tools
- Demonstrated experience collaborating across functional teams
- Prior customer experience developing multidisciplinary T/TA that educates social services, health care, behavioral health, and public health professionals to respond to the needs of impacted populations, including survivors of human trafficking
- Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with technical and nontechnical audiences
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond to evolving needs in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to work on-site at the contractor facility during core hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday
Benefits at Red Carrot:
At Red Carrot, we empower you to be a leader. We attract and develop talent from all backgrounds because we believe there’s strength in diversity, offering different perspectives and skills. Together, we can solve our client’s biggest challenges. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package.
- Training and Development – Tuition reimbursement and professional trainings for eligible employees.
- Healthcare – Top-tier medical, dental, vision, life insurance and long-term disability coverage.
- 401(k) Plan – 401(k)-retirement and Roth plan with company matching and no vesting period.
- Profit Sharing – Discretionary profit-sharing plan to all eligible employees after one year of employment.
- Paid Time Off – Provides flexible work hours, paid time off, and 11 federal holidays.
About Us:
Red Carrot is an award-winning, woman-owned small business built for the complexity of federal government work. We partner with clients to advance their goals — powered by a team fueled by passion, backed by intelligence, and grounded in expertise.
From day one, we've applied industrial engineering principles and data analytics to solve complex problems with precision. Our approach is research-centric, data-informed, and audience-oriented — and it's how we deliver work that actually moves the needle.
We exist to strengthen the organizations and communities we serve through trusted, purposeful communication. That's not a tagline — it's the standard we hold ourselves to on every engagement.
Headquartered in Miami, Florida, with a strong and growing presence in Washington, D.C., our team works with clients across the country. Distance doesn't dilute our service. We build capacity where our clients need it, delivering Strategic Communications, Customer Experience, Management Consulting, and Human Capital Solutions that fit their mission — and their moment.
We're the partner organizations turn to when communication challenges are real, the stakes are high, and the work has to matter.
mw5YiT2BeN
Instructional Systems Specialist Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsInstructional Systems Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in instructional systems specialist jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in instructional design, education, or a related field
- Proficiency with Articulate Storyline, Rise, or Adobe Captivate authoring tools
- Experience applying ADDIE or SAM instructional design models to real projects
- Ability to conduct needs assessments and translate findings into learning objectives
- Familiarity with learning management systems such as Cornerstone, Moodle, or similar platforms
- Strong written communication skills for developing scripts, storyboards, and job aids
Tips for Your Instructional Systems Specialist Job Search
Align your resume to ADDIE and SAM
Most job descriptions for instructional systems specialists reference ADDIE, SAM, or both. Name the specific model you used on each project, not just 'instructional design,' so hiring managers can immediately match your experience to their workflow.
Show authoring tool proficiency with output examples
Listing Articulate Storyline or Adobe Captivate means little without proof. Link a portfolio or attach sample modules so reviewers can see your interface design, interactivity, and accessibility compliance rather than just reading a tools list.
Target postings by contract vehicle when going federal
Federal instructional systems specialist roles often sit inside specific contract vehicles like GSA or IDIQ awards. If you have clearance eligibility or prior federal experience, filter for those contract types to find postings where your background is a direct match.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists instructional systems specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare a needs analysis walkthrough for interviews
Interviewers for instructional systems specialist roles frequently ask you to walk through how you identified a performance gap and chose an intervention. Prepare one concrete example with a measurable outcome before your first screen, not after.
Negotiate scope before accepting a title bump
A senior instructional systems specialist title at one organization may carry fewer resources than a mid-level role elsewhere. Before accepting an offer, ask about team size, stakeholder access, and whether you own full project cycles or only execution tasks.
Instructional Systems Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most instructional systems specialists?
The companies hiring the most instructional systems specialists right now include Leidos, Trinzic, and Noblis, with the largest share of openings in Virginia, Florida, and District of Columbia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Defense contractors, federal agencies, and large healthcare systems consistently represent the highest volume of postings.
How many instructional systems specialist jobs are remote?
About 35% of instructional systems specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting strong demand for distributed learning teams. E-learning development and curriculum design sub-roles tend to offer the highest remote availability, while roles requiring in-person facilitation or classified work are more likely to require an on-site presence.
How do you become an instructional systems specialist?
Start by earning a bachelor's degree in instructional design, education technology, or a closely related field, then build hands-on experience with at least one major authoring tool. Develop a portfolio of sample modules or courses that demonstrate your design process from needs analysis through evaluation. Certifications such as the ATD Certified Professional in Learning and Performance can strengthen your candidacy, and a master's degree opens doors to senior federal and academic roles.
Can you get hired as an instructional systems specialist with little experience?
Yes, entry-level instructional systems specialist roles exist, particularly in corporate learning and development and higher education, where employers will train candidates who demonstrate strong design fundamentals. Build a portfolio using free authoring tool trials to create sample modules on any topic, complete a volunteer or freelance project to show real stakeholder collaboration, and target job titles like junior instructional designer or learning content developer as stepping stones.
What does the instructional systems specialist interview process look like?
Most hiring processes include an initial recruiter screen, a hiring manager interview focused on your design process and stakeholder experience, and a practical exercise such as a storyboard review or a live walkthrough of a module you built. Federal and defense contractor roles may also include a panel interview with subject matter experts and a background check phase before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to instructional systems specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to instructional systems specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your background and apply directly to each listing from the page.
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