Instructional Design Specialist

Thumbtack; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Thumbtack is seeking an Instructional Designer to architect and evolve engaging learning programs for field enablement. You will partner with SMEs, PMs, and frontline leaders to analyze needs, define outcomes, and build scalable solutions that drive performance.

You’ll leverage AI tools like Claude/OpenAI, apply 70/20/10 and Action Mapping, and contribute to governance while producing lightweight multimedia assets to support learning initiatives.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years of experience in instructional design or performance consulting.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating ownership of complex learning programs with various modalities.
• Solid knowledge of instructional design models (ADDIE/SAM) and adult learning theory.
• Hands-on experience using AI tools (Claude/OpenAI) in design workflows.
• Strong project management and stakeholder partnership skills, capable of owning projects end-to-end.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end instructional design for complex, high-impact learning programs across multiple initiatives.
• Design learning ecosystems using 70/20/10, Action Mapping, and performance consulting techniques.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders and SMEs to translate goals into learning strategies.
• Develop assessments and evaluation plans, analyze outcomes across evaluation levels 1-3.
• Maintain content governance and ensure quality, scalability, and alignment with product changes.
• Use AI tools to design and iterate asynchronous learning content; create basic multimedia assets.

Skills

Instructional design

Portfolio ownership

ADDIE/SAM

AI tools (Claude/OpenAI)

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Learner-centric design

Tools

Claude/OpenAI

Job description

Thumbtack helps millions of people confidently care for their homes.

Thumbtack is the one app you need to take care of and improve your home - from personalized guidance to AI tools and a best-in-class hiring experience. Every day in every county of the U.S., people turn to Thumbtack to complete urgent repairs, seasonal maintenance and bigger improvements. We help homeowners know which projects to do, when to do them and who to hire from our growing community of 300,000 local service businesses. If making an impact inspires you, join us. Imagine what we’ll build together.

About The Field Enablement Team

The Field Enablement team at Thumbtack empowers our employees, pros, and customers through impactful learning experiences that drive performance, skill development, and business outcomes. We're a collaborative, cross-functional team made up of three key pillars: Enablement Design, Enablement Delivery, and Content & Communications. Together, we identify learning needs across the organization and create thoughtful, scalable solutions that support every stage of the employee lifecycle. From onboarding to ongoing development, our work is deeply embedded in the success of Thumbtack's frontline teams and plays a vital role in ensuring a consistent, high-quality experience for the pros and customers who rely on us every day

About The Role

As an Instructional Designer on the Field Enablement team, you are a master architect of learning experiences. You will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining engaging and effective learning programs that drive performance and business outcomes. You'll partner closely with subject matter experts (SMEs), project managers, and frontline leaders to conduct needs analysis, outline learning objectives, and build scalable learning solutions. Your work will directly impact the speed at which our frontline teams become proficient and the quality of the experience we deliver to pros and customers.

What You'll Do

• Lead end-to-end instructional design for complex, high-impact learning programs, owning projects from needs analysis through evaluation while balancing scope, sequencing, and tradeoffs to maintain quality and delivery commitments across multiple initiatives.
• Design learning ecosystems that extend beyond formal training through social, experiential, and digital reinforcement aligned with the 70/20/10 model, applying Action Mapping and performance consulting techniques to drive measurable behavior change.
• Partner closely with cross-functional stakeholders and SMEs to translate business goals into effective learning strategies, surfacing performance gaps, reframing solution requests, and articulating tradeoffs to align on the right instructional approach.
• Develop assessments and evaluation plans to measure program effectiveness, analyzing outcomes across Kirkpatrick Levels 1-3 and contributing insights tied to business performance.
• Contribute to content governance, peer review, and instructional design standards to ensure quality, consistency, and scalability, while maintaining and evolving existing learning programs to reflect product updates, process changes, and shifting business priorities.
• Actively use AI tools such as Claude/OpenAI to design, develop, and iterate on asynchronous learning content, applying builder-level fluency to improve speed, quality, and design fidelity.
• Create basic multimedia assets including screen recordings, short-form video, and AI-assisted voiceover content in support of learning programs. Full production capability not required.

In order to be successful, you must bring

• 4-6 years of experience in instructional design, curriculum development, or performance consulting, preferably in a high-growth tech or call center environment.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating ownership of complex learning programs and a variety of instructional modalities.
• Solid expertise in instructional design models (e.g., ADDIE, SAM) and adult learning theory, with working knowledge of Action Mapping or performance consulting approaches.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience using AI tools (e.g., Claude/OpenAI) to build asynchronous learning content. Builder-level fluency preferred - active use in a design workflow, not just familiarity.
• Strong project management and stakeholder partnership skills, with the proven ability to independently own projects from needs analysis through evaluation without requiring manager design direction.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate cross-functionally (e.g., Product, Engineering, Ops) and communicate design rationale clearly to diverse audiences.
• A learner-first mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement, experimentation, and high-quality design standards.

Expected salary ranges

• For candidates living in San Francisco / Bay Area, San Jose, New York City, or Seattle metros, the expected salary range for the role is currently $108,000 - $139,700.
• For candidates living in Austin, TX or Washington DC metros or in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, or Washington states, the expected salary range for the role is currently $96,900 - $125,400.
• For candidates living in all other US locations, the expected salary range for this role is currently $91,800 - $118,800.

Actual offered salaries will vary and will be based on various factors, such as calibrated job level, qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role.

Thumbtack embraces diversity. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, state, or local law. We also will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, consistent with applicable law.

Thumbtack is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation for a medical condition or disability during any part of the application process, please contact: [e-mail].

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