Manager, Instructional Design at American Welding Society

Position Summary

The Manager, Instructional Design, leads the design, development, assessment and deployment of competency-based learning in support of the business and employee development needs. Incumbent manages multiple work streams across a team of instructional designers, content developers, contractors, and vendors. Conducts needs assessments and gap analyses to identify development requirements within stakeholder community. Evaluates participant and course performance and adjusts programs as appropriate, continuously analyzing and evaluating current learning strategies and new trends in training. 

Core Competencies

• Continuous Improvement Mindset - Refusing to settle for the status quo by viewing problems and challenges as opportunities for growth and continuously seeking ways to refine processes, products, and services. 
• Drives Results - Focusing on achieving desired outcomes, optimizing performance, and ensuring that strategic goals and targets are met.
• Sense of Urgency - Understanding that a situation or task is time-sensitive and needs immediate attention or action before an opportunity or deadline passes.
• Excellence Mindset - Striving to be the best we can be in our work, relationships, ideas, and services.  
• Builds Effective Teams - Fostering collaboration, clear communication, shared goals, and a supportive environment where members feel valued and empowered to contribute their skills and expertise to achieve collective success.   
• Communicates Effectively - Exchanging information, ideas, or intentions clearly and concisely, ensuring the recipient understands the intended message

 Essential Duties

• Lead planning and/or implementation of new training products.
• Define project goals, tasks, and resource requirements.
• Maintain project timelines for content developed using ADDIE and/or AGILE methodologies.
• Work with the instructional design team to ensure that projects are completed on time and meet departmental levels of quality.
• Work with the instructional design team to create learning objectives, learning outcomes, and assessments for synchronous and asynchronous online training as well as face-to-face instructor-led courses.
• Gather and research technical information and reference materials, including AWS standards and codes, for use in the development of training. 
• Oversee the creation of engaging training using instructional design best practices.
• Review and edit content written by others and provide suggestions for revision.
• Collaborate with SMEs to create, develop, and revise education and training materials
• Manage 3^rd party contracts for the development of instructional content. 
• Communicate clear expectations with contractors.
• Ensure contractor deliverables are completed on schedule and to expected level of quality.
• Provide mentoring, coaching and direction setting to team members.
• Identify training to ensure instructional design team is up to date with the newest trends in education development.
• Elicit feedback from team members and refine processes to maximize productivity and quality of work. 
• Increase the quality and effectiveness of content and delivery based on end-user feedback.
• Remain current on instructional design best practices and lead the market in the development of innovative learning solutions. 
• Assess IACET compliance of all new and updated course content.
• Ensure that all educational materials adhere to AWS design standards and comply with applicable codes and governing documents.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Supervision Exercised

• Instructional Designers
• Educational Media Developer

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to coordinate multiple projects and produce high-quality work while adhering to deadlines.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Ability to develop creative solutions that address relevant business needs. 
• Ability to build effective relationships and establish trust, respect, and confidence.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong understanding of adult learning theories, current instructional design best practices, and eLearning.
• High technical aptitude/acuity; ability to effectively convey complex technical concepts and information through multimedia.
• Ability to work well in a collaborative environment. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Articulate 360 (Storyline and Rise), and Adobe (Acrobat, Captivate) product suites.
• The following knowledge and skills are strongly preferred:
• Proficiency with digital layout and design tools (e.g., Adobe InDesign). 
• Proficiency with multimedia creation/editing software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, Final Cut Pro, Audacity).
• Working knowledge of the welding industry and/or other related fields or technical trades.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Curriculum Design & Instruction, Writing, Education, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in technical writing and/or instructional design.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in team leadership.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in project management.
• Experience with Learning Management System (LMS) administration (e.g., designing courses, organizing/managing content, generating reports) preferred.