Contract Lead Instructional Designer

Story Arc Learning; United States; Remote; USD 83,000 - 103,000; Part time

Job summary

Story Arc Learning is seeking a Contract Lead Instructional Designer to drive learning strategy and oversee content development from concept through delivery. This remote contract role emphasizes leadership, collaboration with clients and SMEs, and overseeing timelines across multiple projects.

You will create engaging, learner-centered experiences using Storyline, Rise, and other tools, ensuring accessibility and quality while supporting potential full-time opportunities after the initial

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Instructional Design, or related field.
• 6–8+ years of professional instructional design experience, leading projects for adult learners.
• Client-facing or consulting experience in instructional design projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the instructional design approach for projects and collaborate with clients/SMEs.
• Develop high-quality learning solutions including e-learning, ILT, and blended formats.
• Create design documents, blueprints, storyboards, facilitator guides, and learner guides.
• Manage multiple projects with scope, budget, and timelines; communicate risks.

Skills

Project leadership

Client-facing communication

Instructional design

Needs assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Education/Instructional Design

Tools

Articulate Storyline

Rise 360

Captivate

Camtasia

Vyond

Job description

Contract Lead Instructional Designer Application Form

Thank you for your interest in our Contract Lead Instructional Designer opportunity.

Location: Remote (Preference given to those with permanent residency in Kentucky); MUST BE LOCATED WITHIN THE US

Employment Type: 3-month 1099 contract with opportunity for development into full-time W2 role; initially up to 20 hours per week.

Story Arc Learning is a woman-owned small business located in Northern Kentucky. We provide custom learning solutions committed to transforming learning through the power of storytelling. Our clients span the globe and industries. We often work closely with local, national, and global NGOs tackling major issues, such as the solving the climate crisis, supporting the unhoused, or healing survivors of abuse. We are committed to creating learning content that matters, positively impacting organizations, communities, employees.

We’re seeking a highly skilled Lead Instructional Designer to join our growing team. This role is ideal for someone who can confidently move between high-level learning strategy and hands-on content development. One day you're wearing your high-level strategist hat, one day you're reviewing client designs, and one day you're managing timelines.

Overall, you'll lead the instructional design approach for projects, collaborate directly with clients and subject matter experts, guide learning recommendations, and create engaging, learner-centered experiences from concept through delivery.

This is a contract position with flexible hours based on project needs. If after three months, you love the role and we love you, you will be offered the opportunity for full-time employment. We are looking for consistency, though, so if you're just looking for a 3-month gig, this isn't the right spot. We'd prefer someone who is interested in staying on with us.

Candidates must be able to manage multiple projects while maintaining exceptional quality and meeting deadlines.

This role reports to the CEO and does not require personnel management, but it does require leadership, ownership, and excellent client-facing communication.

What You’ll Do

Learning Strategy & Consulting

• Lead the design and development of high-quality learning solutions, including e-learning, instructor-led training, job aids, and blended learning experiences.
• Conduct needs assessments and collaborate with clients to identify learning gaps, goals, and design requirements.
• Create detailed instructional design plans and develop engaging, interactive, narrative-driven learning experiences that reflect best practices in adult learning and storytelling.
• Review instructional materials produced by internal and contract team members to ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with standards.
• Coordinate contract instructional designers and developers to ensure work accuracy, quality, and alignment with project plans.
• Proactively identify scope risks, roadblocks, or design challenges and communicate them to project leadership.

Instructional Design

• Write and develop instructional design documents, design blueprints, storyboards, facilitator guides, learner guides, and supporting materials.
• Write clear, conversational instructional content that is accurate, engaging, and action-oriented.
• Design authentic scenarios, simulations, case studies, practice activities, and assessments.
• Ensure learning solutions align with accessibility standards and learning best practices.

Project Management

• Manage multiple instructional design projects at once—balancing scope, budget, and timelines.
• Collaborate with clients, SMEs, and internal teams to gather content, clarify requirements, and align deliverables to goals.
• Track project progress and make timely adjustments to ensure successful completion.
• Escalate risk, scope changes, or blockers as needed.

E-Learning Development

• Develop polished, interactive e-learning using tools such as Articulate Storyline 360 and Rise 360.
• Create interactions, knowledge checks, branching scenarios, and software simulations.
• Apply visual design principles to create professional learning experiences.
• Test, troubleshoot, and publish SCORM/xAPI packages as needed.
• Ensure accessibility and quality standards are met throughout development.

Qualifications

Required

• Must be located in the United States
• Bachelor's degree in Education, Instructional Design, or closely related field
• 6-8+ years of professional instructional design experience. We value transitioning teachers, but this is not the role for that background. You must have experience leading instructional design projects for internal or external training programs for adult learners outside of education.
• Demonstrated experience leading instructional design projects from analysis through implementation in a client-facing or consulting environment.
• Proven experience developing e-learning, ILT, blended learning, job aids, and other learning assets.
• Strong understanding of adult learning theory, instructional design models (ADDIE, SAM, etc.), and learning science.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with excellent organizational skills.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to translate complex information into engaging, learner-centered content.
• Expert-level experience using authoring tools (e.g., Articulate Storyline, Rise, Captivate, Camtasia, Vyond, and others) and content development software.
• Advanced knowledge of accessibility requirements to meet WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 standards.
• Experience with and comfort working in a fast-paced consulting environment with evolving client needs.
• Ability to give and receive feedback constructively and uphold quality standards.

Preferred

• Experience integrating storytelling frameworks into instructional design (a major plus for Story Arc Learning).
• Experience working with nonprofits, government agencies, or workforce development audiences.
• Advanced degree in instructional design, education, learning sciences, or a related field.

Hourly Rate

The hourly rate range for this contract is $60 - $75 per hour.