Instructional Systems Design (ISD) Specialist

Team Carney, Inc.; Quantico (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Team Carney, Inc. seeks an Instructional Systems Design (ISD) Specialist to develop classroom, eLearning, and blended materials for the JCITA curriculum in Quantico, VA. The role operates in a secure SCIF environment and uses ADDIE and adult learning theory to address performance gaps in CI and SECOPs.

You will collaborate with SMEs, maintain COE accreditation compliance, and manage design milestones for timely delivery of courseware and assessments.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Curriculum Development, Instructional Design, Human Resource Development, Education (or equivalent).
• 5+ years experience developing DoD course materials.
• Professional certificate in Instructional Design with 7+ years DoD experience (Path B).
• Expert knowledge of adult learning theory and evaluation principles.
• Strong written and verbal communication with a portfolio of instructional design plans.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop instructor-led training (ILT), virtual classroom materials, interactive practical exercises, scenario props, narrative scripts, storyboards, and comprehensive instructor guides (CDRL A009, A010).
• Collaborate with military and civilian SMEs, course chairs, and government stakeholders to translate complex DoD topics into learning interventions.
• Conduct needs analyses, job-task analyses, and performance gap analyses to shape objectives.
• Ensure all designs conform to COE accreditation standards and JCITA policies.
• Provide quality assurance and peer review across design plans and courseware.
• Partner with multimedia programmers and e-Learning developers for engaging visuals and modules.
• Maintain milestones to finalize and submit course materials within 1 day of new course development or updates (CDRL A008/A009).

Skills

Domain Mastery

Communication Skills

Adult Learning Theory

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Curriculum Development / Instructional Design / HRD / Education

Professional certificate in Instructional Design

Tools

SCORM

DoD LMS integration

Job description

Position Title: Instructional Systems Design (ISD) Specialist
Location: Quantico, VA (Russell Knox Building)
Work Modality: 100% On-Site (SCIF Environment)
Security Clearance: Active Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI)

About Team Carney

Carney is an industry leader in human performance, adult learning, and knowledge architecture across the federal defense sector. We empower national defense professionals by designing scenario-driven, rigorous instructional programs that reflect real-world operational challenges.

Position Overview

Carney is looking for a talented Instructional Systems Design (ISD) Specialist to develop cutting-edge classroom, eLearning, and blended learning course materials for the JCITA curriculum at Quantico, VA. Operating inside a secure SCIF environment, the ISD Specialist applies recognized instructional systems design models (e.g., ADDIE) and adult learning theory to analyze, design, and evaluate training that addresses field-driven performance gaps in Counterintelligence (CI) and Security Operations (SECOPs).

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Design and develop instructor-led training (ILT), virtual classroom materials, interactive practical exercises, scenario props, narrative scripts, storyboards, and comprehensive instructor guides (CDRL A009, A010).

• Collaborate closely with military and civilian Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), course chairpersons, and government stakeholders to translate highly complex, classified DoD intelligence topics into effective learning interventions.

• Conduct formal needs assessments, job-task analyses, and performance gap analyses to shape terminal and enabling learning objectives.

• Ensure all instructional designs and courseware strictly conform to Council on Occupational Education (COE) accreditation standards and JCITA instructional policies and procedures.

• Provide rigorous quality assurance and peer review across design plans, courseware packages, assessments, and presentation materials.

• Partner with multimedia programmers and e-Learning developers to conceptualize engaging visual aids, digital media elements, and distributed learning modules.

• Maintain scheduled milestones to ensure course materials are finalized and submitted NLT one (1) day following completion of new course development or updates (CDRL A008/A009).

Required Minimum Qualifications (Hard Contractual Baselines)

• Security Clearance: Must hold an active, verified Top Secret / SCI (TS/SCI) clearance at the time of proposal and award.

• Education & Experience (Must meet Path A or Path B):

  • Path A: Bachelor’s degree in Curriculum Development, Instructional Design, Human Resource Development, Education, or a directly equivalent degree AND at least five (5) years of experience developing course materials for complex DoD subject matter; OR

  • Path B: Professional certificate in Instructional Design AND at least seven (7) years of experience developing course materials for complex DoD subject matter.

• Domain Mastery: Expert knowledge of adult learning theory, educational evaluation principles, and standard instructional design frameworks.

• Communication Skills: Demonstrated superior written and verbal communication skills with a proven portfolio of instructional design plans, storyboards, and student guides.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience designing curriculum for DoD Counterintelligence, HUMINT, or Special Operations communities.

• Demonstrated familiarity with COE accreditation self-studies and compliance documentation.

• Experience integrating SCORM-compliant distributed learning courseware into enterprise DoD Learning Management Systems.