Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Instructional System Designer

🎯 Role Definition

The Instructional System Designer (ISD) creates evidence-based, learner-centered training solutions that meet business goals and measurable performance outcomes. The ISD partners with subject matter experts, product teams, and stakeholders to design curricula, develop multimedia eLearning, define assessments, and implement evaluation strategies using adult learning theory, instructional systems design (ADDIE, SAM), and learning experience design (LXD) best practices. This role requires strong project management, technical authoring skills, learning analytics literacy, and a bias for measurable impact and continuous improvement.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Junior Instructional Designer / eLearning Developer
Training Coordinator / Learning Specialist
Curriculum Developer or Training Consultant

Advancement To:

Senior Instructional Designer / Lead ISD
Learning Experience (LX) Lead or Manager of Instructional Design
Director of Learning & Development / Head of L&D

Lateral Moves:

Learning Experience Designer (LXD)
Curriculum Architect
Performance Consultant / Organizational Development Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design end-to-end instructional solutions using ADDIE, SAM, and rapid prototyping methodologies: perform front-end analysis, define measurable learning objectives, design learning architectures, and produce detailed storyboards and prototypes optimized for adult learners and business KPIs.
Partner with business stakeholders and subject matter experts (SMEs) to perform task and gap analyses, translate performance requirements into learning objectives, and prioritize learning interventions based on ROI and impact.
Develop engaging, multimedia eLearning modules and microlearning assets using Articulate Storyline, Rise, Adobe Captivate, or similar authoring tools, ensuring content is SCORM- or xAPI-compliant for LMS deployment.
Create instructor-led training (ILT) and virtual instructor-led training (vILT) materials, including facilitator guides, participant workbooks, slide decks, hands-on exercises, and job aids aligned to learning objectives and classroom/virtual best practices.
Design and implement assessment strategies: formative and summative assessments, scenario-based evaluations, knowledge checks, simulations, and skills-based rubrics that measure transfer of learning and behavior change.
Apply evidence-based adult learning principles, cognitive load theory, and microlearning strategies to optimize retention, transfer, and learner engagement across modalities.
Build interactive simulations, branching scenarios, and decision-based learning experiences that reflect real-world tasks and accelerate on-the-job performance.
Conduct usability testing and pilot runs with target learners; collect qualitative and quantitative feedback to iterate on instructional materials, scripts, and user experience.
Ensure all learning content meets accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1, Section 508), designing with universal design for learning (UDL) principles, closed captioning, alt text, and accessible navigation.
Collaborate with multimedia teams (video producers, designers, animators, voice talent) to scope and produce high-quality video, animation, and audio assets that reinforce learning outcomes and maintain brand standards.
Author and maintain comprehensive storyboards, scripts, style guides, and documentation for handoffs to development, localization, and QA teams.
Configure, upload, and maintain course packages in the LMS; manage course metadata, enrollment rules, completion criteria, and reporting dashboards to support continuous learning operations.
Integrate learning experiences with performance systems, job aids, and on-the-job workflows to support behavioral change and performance support (learning in the flow of work).
Use learning analytics and evaluation frameworks (Kirkpatrick, Phillips ROI) to measure program effectiveness, identify performance gaps, and recommend improvements based on data-driven insights.
Lead training needs assessments and stakeholder workshops to align learning strategy with business objectives, compliance requirements, and product launches.
Manage multiple design & development projects concurrently, creating schedules, resource plans, and risk mitigation strategies while ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery.
Support localization and global rollouts by adapting content for culture, language, and regional regulatory requirements and coordinating with translation vendors and localization engineers.
Mentor junior instructional designers and eLearning developers, provide constructive design reviews, and contribute to continuous improvement of design standards and templates.
Maintain a content repository and version control for templates, storyboards, and assets to ensure reuse, consistency, and rapid assembly of new learning modules.
Stay current with industry trends in learning technology, learning science, and authoring tools; evaluate and pilot new technologies (xAPI, adaptive learning platforms, virtual reality) to enhance learner outcomes.
Design competency models and learning paths that map to career ladders, performance metrics, and certification programs, enabling measurable skills development and workforce planning.
Coordinate with product management and customer success teams to build customer-facing enablement programs, onboarding learning journeys, and technical training that reduce time-to-value for new customers.
Create and maintain evaluation reports and dashboards for senior leaders that tie training investments to business outcomes, adoption metrics, and performance improvements.
Facilitate train-the-trainer programs to scale knowledge transfer to regional trainers and the field, enabling sustainable internal capability building.

Secondary Functions

Participate in Agile ceremonies, sprint planning, and cross-functional stand-ups to align design work with product delivery timelines.
Support ad-hoc learning analytics requests and produce ad-hoc reports to inform urgent business decisions.
Assist with vendor selection, contract management, and quality assurance for outsourced development and localization partners.
Conduct periodic curriculum audits to retire outdated materials and ensure content accuracy relative to product and policy changes.
Provide subject matter coaching and facilitation support for live training sessions and webinars as needed.
Maintain and update competency libraries, job task analyses, and learning taxonomies to reflect evolving roles and capabilities.
Troubleshoot LMS enrollment, SCORM/xAPI tracking, and content playback issues in coordination with the IT/LMS admin team.
Contribute to the company’s learning strategy by recommending platform upgrades, microlearning initiatives, and lifelong learning programs.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Instructional Systems Design (ADDIE, SAM, Dick & Carey) — ability to translate performance needs into measurable learning solutions and storyboards.
Authoring tools: Articulate Storyline & Rise, Adobe Captivate, Lectora — ability to build interactive, SCORM/xAPI-compliant eLearning.
Learning Management Systems (LMS) administration: Canvas, Moodle, Cornerstone, Workday Learning, Docebo — course packaging, enrollments, reporting.
eLearning standards & tracking: SCORM 1.2 / 2004, xAPI (Tin Can), LTI — packaging, tracking, and analytics integration.
Multimedia production basics: video scripting, storyboarding, editing fundamentals (Camtasia, Premiere Pro), and audio editing for voiceover.
Assessment design and psychometrics: formative/summative evaluations, rubrics, validity and reliability considerations.
Learning analytics & measurement: experience with analytics tools (Tableau, Power BI, Google Data Studio) and evaluation frameworks (Kirkpatrick, Learning Transfer).
Accessibility & compliance: WCAG 2.1, Section 508, closed captioning, alternative text, and accessible content design.
UX and visual design fundamentals: persona creation, learner journey mapping, wireframing, and use of design tools (Figma, Adobe XD) for learning interfaces.
Project management & Agile familiarity: task estimation, backlog grooming, JIRA/Asana/Trello usage, stakeholder management, and timeline ownership.
Scriptwriting and technical writing for learning materials, facilitator guides, and detailed storyboards ready for development and localization.

Soft Skills

Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills — ability to align cross-functional partners with learning priorities and timelines.
Strong written and verbal communication — craft clear learning objectives, facilitator notes, and executive reporting.
Critical thinking and instructional judgment — make evidence-based design decisions and prioritize features that maximize learner impact.
Collaboration and facilitation — lead workshops, SME interviews, and co-design sessions to gather content and reach consensus.
Attention to detail and quality orientation — enforce consistent style, branding, and instructional rigor across deliverables.
Time management and multi-project prioritization — manage competing deadlines and maintain high-quality outputs under pressure.
Empathy and learner-centric mindset — design for diverse learners and accessibility needs with cultural sensitivity.
Adaptability and continuous learning — quickly adopt new tools, iterate on feedback, and evolve design practices.
Coaching and mentoring — guide junior designers and foster a team culture of constructive feedback and skills growth.
Persuasive presentation skills — present learning strategies, pilot results, and ROI to senior leadership and stakeholders.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Learning & Development, Education, Human Performance Technology, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Instructional Design, Learning Sciences, Adult Education, Educational Technology, or Organizational Psychology.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Instructional Design & Technology
Learning Sciences / Educational Psychology
Adult Education / Adult Learning Theory
Human Performance Technology / Organizational Development

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–8 years designing and developing curriculum and eLearning for corporate, technical, or academic environments.

Preferred:

5+ years as an Instructional Designer or Instructional System Designer with demonstrable portfolio of eLearning modules, ILT/vILT programs, and measurable business impact.
Experience with enterprise LMS management, learning analytics, and accessibility/compliance standards preferred.
Proven track record working with cross-functional teams, leading SME engagements, and delivering scalable learning programs used globally.