(CW) Instructional Designer (Contract)

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.; San Rafael (CA); Hybrid; USD 83,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. is seeking a contract Instructional Designer with a strong aptitude for AI-enabled learning tools to help bring this ecosystem to life.

You will design engaging learning experiences, develop micro‑learnings and AI simulations using Sana Labs and other tools, ensure compliance, and partner with SMEs and stakeholders to deliver measurable business impact across Global Commercial Learning & Capability Transformation.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of instructional design experience.
• Experience with AI-enabled learning tools and building AI-driven experiences.
• Experience building micro‑learnings and e‑learning in a learning experience platform.
• Experience managing content through MLR/compliance review processes.
• Strong project management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design learning that is engaging, memorable, and effective.
• Build micro‑learnings, AI practice simulations, and courses using Sana Labs and other AI‑enabled tools.
• Use AI tools across the design process from drafting to coaching experiences.
• Create engaging learning using storytelling, interactivity, and realistic practice.
• Ensure retention-focused design with spaced practice and scenario-based learning.
• Collaborate with SMEs to translate disease-state and product knowledge into learning.
• Stay current on emerging AI tools and pilot new ideas while maintaining compliance.
• Ensure programs are compliant and audit-ready through regulatory reviews.
• Prepare content for MLR review and manage approvals to keep schedules.
• Maintain training materials and documentation for audit readiness.
• Manage course assignments and content uploads in the LMS/LEP and troubleshoot issues.
• Lead with discovery and business partnership, aligning scope and timelines.
• Translate insights into clear learning solutions and development plans.
• Collaborate with global teams to reuse successful approaches.

Skills

Instructional design

AI-enabled learning

E-learning development

LMS management

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in instructional design, education, learning and development

Tools

Rise

Articulate 360

Sana Labs

Arist

Synthesia

Job description

Who We Are

BioMarin is a leading rare disease biotechnology company focused on genetically defined conditions.

Guided by our purpose to develop medicines that make a profound impact on people’s lives, our global teams have delivered a portfolio of therapies since our founding in 1997.

Our revolutionary treatments for conditions like achondroplasia (the most common form of dwarfism), PKU (phenylketonuria), CLN2, a form of Batten disease, and a number of forms of MPS (mucopolysaccharidosis) offer new possibilities for patients and families who previously had few, if any, available options.

More recently, with the close of the Amicus acquisition, our portfolio has expanded to include therapies for Fabry disease and Pompe disease, expanding our ability to reach more people living with rare genetic conditions.

Our success comes from our unwavering commitment to excellence, our deep understanding of patient needs, our scientific expertise, and our world-class manufacturing capabilities.

At the heart of BioMarin is a dedicated team of the brightest minds in the industry working together to deliver innovative therapies to patients and families around the world.

About Commercial

Be part of the worldwide infrastructure that gets our drugs to underserved patients around the world. Our global sales force solidifies BioMarin’s commercial presence in the United States and Europe and is rapidly growing in other regions, such as South America, EuMEA, and Asia-Pacific.

About the Team

Our global sales force is the worldwide infrastructure that gets our medicines to underserved patients, and our Commercial Learning & Capability Transformation team ensures our people have the skills, confidence, and tools to make that happen.

We are building a future‑ready learning ecosystem that blends science, creativity, and technology to elevate the capability of every commercial team member, everywhere in the world. Our vision is to be the most innovative commercial learning team in biopharma, using AI‑powered learning experiences to set a new standard for how our people learn and perform.

About the Role

CONTRACT ROLE ***Hybrid role: Tues. and Thursday onsite in San Rafael***

Instructional Designer, AI-Enabled Learning

Global Commercial Learning & Capability Transformation

We are seeking a contract Instructional Designer with a strong aptitude for AI-enabled learning tools to help bring this ecosystem to life.

In this role, you will leverage our AI-enabled learning technology stack to create learning experiences that are engaging, memorable, and built for retention. You will develop micro‑learnings, AI practice simulations, and courses using our learning experience platform, Sana Labs, and other AI-enabled tools, and every program you build will be designed to meet our compliance standards. You will partner with business stakeholders to understand what is driving performance needs and work closely with our learning leads to focus on the initiatives with the greatest business impact. As needed, you will also provide coordination support for live and virtual learning programs.

This is a hands‑on role for someone who enjoys building, experimenting, and seeing their work make a measurable difference in the field.

What You'll Do

• Design learning that is engaging, memorable, and effective


• Design and build micro‑learnings, AI practice simulations, and courses using Sana Labs and other AI‑enabled tools


• Use AI tools throughout the design process, from drafting and prototyping to building realistic practice scenarios and coaching experiences


• Create fun, memorable learning, using storytelling, interactivity, and realistic practice to make content stick


• Design for retention, applying techniques such as spaced practice, retrieval, scenario-based learning, and reinforcement so learners can recall and apply what they’ve learned long after initial training


• Partner with SMEs to translate disease‑state and product knowledge into clear, engaging, and actionable learning experiences


• Stay current on emerging AI tools and approaches, and pilot new ideas that improve speed, quality, and learner engagement while maintaining compliance standards


• Ensure every program is compliant


• Develop all training in accordance with applicable regulatory, legal, and company requirements, building compliance into the design from the start


• Manage learning programs through the Medical, Legal, and Regulatory (MLR) review process, from initial submission through final approval


• Prepare content and supporting references for review, track feedback, incorporate revisions, and keep projects on schedule


• Maintain accurate training materials, approvals, and documentation so that all learning is audit‑ready


• Manage course assignments and content uploads in our learning experience platform and help troubleshoot learner completion issues


• Lead with discovery and business partnership


• Meet with business stakeholders to understand capability gaps, field needs, and desired outcomes


• Translate those insights into clear learning solutions and development plans


• Work in close coordination with team leads to prioritize projects and align on scope, timelines, and success measures


• Collaborate with global learning colleagues to share ideas and reuse successful approaches across therapeutic areas and regions


• Support live and virtual learning


• Provide coordination support for live and virtual learning programs as needed, including logistics, materials, scheduling, and facilitation support


• Help ensure every session runs smoothly for learners and facilitators

What You'll Bring

• 7+ years of instructional design experience, ideally in a commercial, sales training, or life sciences setting


• Strong aptitude for AI-enabled learning tools, with hands‑on experience using them to design and build learning (Rise, Articulate 360, Sana Labs, Arist or Synthesia experience is a plus)


• Hands‑on experience building micro‑learnings, simulations, and e‑learning in a learning experience platform


• Demonstrated experience managing content through MLR or a comparable compliance review process, and a strong understanding of the importance of compliant, audit‑ready training


• A track record of designing engaging learning that drives retention and application, not just completion


• Working knowledge of assigning and uploading content in an LMS or learning experience platform, and troubleshooting learner completion issues


• Comfort leading stakeholder discovery and translating business needs into learning solutions


• Strong project management and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects independently


• A growth mindset and enthusiasm for learning new tools quickly and sharing what works with the team


• Ability to work effectively in a global, cross‑functional environment


• Authorization to work in the US without sponsorship

Preferred

• Rare disease or biopharma commercial training experience


• Familiarity with commercial enablement needs, such as launch readiness, onboarding, and field skills development


• Experience with authoring tools such as Articulate Storyline, Rise, or similar


• Experience coordinating or supporting virtual instructor‑led training


• Bachelor’s degree in instructional design, education, learning and development, or a related field, or equivalent experience

What Success Looks Like

• Learning is delivered on time, approved through MLR efficiently, and fully compliant and audit‑ready


• Programs are aligned to real business priorities and make a measurable difference in the field


• Learners enjoy the experience, remember what they learned, and apply it on the job


• Stakeholders view you as a trusted partner who understands their needs


• You use AI tools to build learning faster and better, and you help the team discover new ways to do the same


• Our continuous learning ecosystem becomes more engaging, innovative, and impactful because you were part of it

Note: This description is not intended to be all-inclusive, or a limitation of the duties of the position. It is intended to describe the general nature of the job that may include other duties as assumed or assigned.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Ireland Safety Responsibility Support the organisation’s commitment to environmental protection, injury prevention, and continual improvement of EHS management systems. Actively contribute to a safe and environmentally responsible workplace by identifying hazards, reporting incidents and participating in EHS initiatives and training.