Lead Instructional Designer

Job Description

Lead Instructional Designer Department: Learning DesignReports to: Learning Design ManagerSummaryWe are seeking a highly skilled and independent Lead Instructional Designer (Freelance) to spearhead the content development for a key clients online program. This role is a critical leadership position, demanding a proactive individual who can quickly assimilate detailed project requirements and manage the quality and timely delivery of all course materials. The Lead ID will coordinate a multidisciplinary team (SMEs, media designers, graphic designers, course builders, and copyeditors) while working directly with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to design innovative, engaging, and high-quality online courses with an AI-first approach.Key ResponsibilitiesContent Design & Development: Directly partner with SMEs to design and build comprehensive online course content, ensuring alignment with learning objectives and client specifications.Team & Workflow Coordination: Serve as the content lead, coordinating the work of SMEs, media/graphic designers, course builders, and copyeditors to maintain content quality and project velocity.Deliverable Creation: Own the creation of all key instructional deliverables, including:o Developing detailed briefs and module manifests.o Defining and creating both summative and formative assessments and knowledge checks.o Scripting and storyboarding videos and custom infographics.o Designing and creating artifacts for live lessons.o Ideating AI chatbot interactions and training AI chatbotso Working closely with SMEs to record instructional Loom videos.Platform & Tool Proficiency: Build course content directly in Articulate Rise (experience is a plus).AI Integration & Strategy: Apply an AI-first mentality, leveraging generative AI extensively for ideation, developing course plans, creating detailed briefs, and drafting scripts and storyboards.Project Management & Quality Control: Act as the final gatekeeper for quality, ensuring all content is accurate, consistent, and delivered on time, meeting the projects demanding schedule and quality standards.Required QualificationsExperience: 510 years of experience in instructional design within higher education, workforce development, or corporate L&D settings.Skills: Demonstrated experience in designing and creating online courses, including expertise in scripting and storyboarding videos.Availability: Minimum availability of 20 hours per week for the 6-month project duration. Availability of 40 hours per week is welcomed.Meetings: Must be available to attend at least one weekly meeting during regular business hours, despite the flexibility of other working hours.Education: Bachelors degree in a relevant field (Instructional Design, Educational Technology, English, Writing, Humanities, Education, Communication, etc.).Preferred QualificationsTool Experience: Direct experience building courses in Articulate Rise.AI Proficiency: Proven experience and comfort using generative AI tools, such as Gemini, Claude, or ChatGPT, for ideation, content development, briefing, and scripting/storyboarding.Productivity Tools: Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite (SharePoint, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Google Workspace tools (Google Docs and Sheets).Freelance Role DetailsEngagement Length: Approximately 6 months once the project begins.Schedule Flexibility: While most work can be accomplished outside of normal business hours and on weekends, the candidate must be available for one meeting per week during regular business hours.Communication & Deadlines: The candidate must maintain consistent communication and meet all deadlines.

Keyskills :
curriculum developmentinstructional designcurriculum designadult learning methodologiesarticulate storylinehigher education