Associate Instructional Designer (maternity cover)

CIPHR Group; Reading; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Family National Trust Membership

Birthday day off

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Volunteering days for 2 days per year

Cycle to work scheme

Pension

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Technology/home improvements Loans

Medical Cover and Dental cover (after 6 months’ service)

Job summary

CIPHR Group is offering a maternity cover opportunity for an Associate Instructional Designer. This role involves leading the design of eLearning solutions and collaborating with clients to ensure high-quality, accessible content. You will work across various projects, combining your expertise with stakeholder collaboration.

This position allows flexible work patterns and can be based anywhere in the UK, with visits to the Reading office approximately once a month. The successful candidate will have extensive experience in instructional design, strong communication skills, and a solid understanding of adult learning principles.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in instructional or digital learning design.
• Strong understanding of accessibility standards and learner-centred design.
• Ability to manage priorities across multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the instructional design of eLearning solutions and produce high-quality materials.
• Translate content into engaging and accessible eLearning.
• Collaborate with clients to shape learning formats and requirements.

Skills

Instructional design expertise

Excellent written communication skills

Understanding of adult learning principles

Experience with eLearning authoring tools

Tools

LMS platforms

eLearning authoring tools

Job description

Associate Instructional Designer (maternity cover)

Associate Instructional Designer (Fixed Term Contract)

Ciphr is delighted to offer a fabulous interim (maternity cover) opportunity for an experienced instructional designer to contribute to driving the design, quality and impact of Ciphr's eLearning offering. This is a 12-month, fixed‑term contract.

Working across client projects, internal product development, marketing and strategic partnerships, you combine instructional design expertise with stakeholder collaboration. As a hands‑on instructional designer, you champion best practice in learning design, accessibility and engagement while developing capability across the team and strengthening Ciphr's position as a trusted learning partner.

Flexibility is key so this role can be based anywhere within the UK if you are happy to attend ad‑hoc meetings. We also have an office in Reading, Berkshire that all Ciphr employees are welcome to utilise.

Location: This role offers a flexible working pattern, collaborating with your team in our Reading office approximately once a month.

What you’ll be doing

Primary responsibilities

• Lead the instructional design of eLearning solutions, producing high-quality storyboards and learning outcomes documents for both bespoke client projects internal course development.
• Translate subject matter content into engaging, accessible and pedagogically sound eLearning, determining appropriate screen types, interactivities, media elements and assessment approaches.
• Collaborate with clients at the discovery stage of the project to shape learning formats, accessibility and other project requirements and features that meet their objectives.
• Maintain and update existing eLearning content, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and alignment with evolving best practice in instructional design.

Secondary responsibilities

• Work closely with the Project Manager to scope, plan and deliver eLearning projects smoothly and to agreed timelines.

What good looks like

• Learning projects consistently delivered on time, within scope, and meeting agreed learning outcomes.
• Positive client feedback on the clarity, engagement, and accessibility of digital learning solutions.
• A library of learning content that reflects consistent instructional design standards and best practice.
• Clear evidence that learners can apply knowledge and skills gained from Ciphr eLearning courses.
• Strong collaboration with project management, marketing, and external partners resulting in joined‑up delivery.

What you’ll need to succeed

• Proven experience in instructional or digital learning design, with the ability to storyboard and design effective eLearning experiences from day one.
• Strong understanding of adult learning principles, accessibility standards, and learner‑centred design.
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to translate complex content into clear, engaging learning materials.
• Experience working collaboratively with stakeholders, including clients, project managers, subject matter experts and designers/animators.
• Confidence in managing priorities across multiple projects and responsibilities.
• Familiarity with learning technologies, LMS platforms and eLearning authoring tools.
• Experience contributing to content marketing, webinars, or thought leadership in learning and development.
• Exposure to partnership working or accreditation processes (e.g. CPD).

What we offer you

• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Family National Trust Membership
• Birthday day off
• Family forming support - e.g., time off for family forming appointments or to support your partner
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Work from Anywhere for 4 weeks per year
• Volunteering days for 2 days per year
• Cycle to work scheme
• Pension
• Health cash plan
• Life assurance
• Technology/home improvements Loans
• Perks at Work – access to exclusive discounts, cinema tickets, etc.
• Regular training
• £1,500 employee referral scheme
• Medical Cover and Dental cover (after 6 months’ service)