Lead Instructional Designer

Department: Learning & Development

Reports to: Director of AssuranceAmerica Academy

Location: Atlanta, GA

Position Summary

The Lead Instructional Designer leads the strategic design, development, and management of AssuranceAmerica’s enterprise learning programs. This role not only designs innovative learning experiences but also manages a small team of learning management specialists and instructional designers, ensuring alignment between instructional initiatives and business outcomes.

As a key member of the Learning & Development leadership team, the Lead Instructional Designer drives continuous improvement through data analysis, strategic planning, and cross-departmental collaboration. This individual plays a pivotal role in advancing AssuranceAmerica’s overall learning strategy and building scalable training systems that elevate the skills, engagement, and performance of associates, agency partners, and leaders across the organization.

The ideal candidate combines strong instructional design expertise with creativity, collaboration, and an understanding of learning technology and pedagogy.

Key Responsibilities

Learning Strategy & Leadership

• Manage and mentor a team of learning management and instructional design professionals, providing direction, feedback, and professional development.
• Lead strategic planning sessions to identify learning priorities, skill gaps, and future workforce needs across departments.
• Create governance standards and design templates to ensure quality, consistency, and scalability across all learning assets.
  
  

Instructional Design & Development

• Design and develop instructor-led, virtual, and blended training materials, including facilitator guides, participant workbooks, slide decks, job aids, and assessments.
• Apply adult learning theory, ADDIE methodology, and best practices in instructional design to produce engaging, results-driven learning experiences.
• Partner with subject matter experts (SMEs) and the core development team to transform technical content into learner-friendly training modules.
• Ensure all training materials reflect AssuranceAmerica’s brand, tone, and commitment to learner engagement.
  
  

Facilitation & Trainer Support

• Conduct Train-the-Trainer (TTT) workshops to equip internal trainers and leaders to deliver content effectively and consistently.
• Develop facilitator toolkits and provide coaching to ensure consistent quality across all training delivery.
• Collaborate with trainers and supervisors to gather feedback and continuously improve course effectiveness.
  
  

Data & Performance Analytics

• Use learning analytics to evaluate program impact and inform continuous improvement.
• Track and interpret engagement metrics, completion rates, assessment scores, and learner feedback to optimize content.
• Present quarterly learning reports and recommendations to leadership, aligning L&D data with key business metrics.
• Develop dashboards that visualize trends in learner performance and program adoption across states and business units.
  
  

Research & Innovation

• Stay current on instructional strategies, emerging learning technologies, and trends in adult learning and pedagogy.
• Research and recommend learning technologies that enhance engagement, retention, and performance outcomes.
• Support the integration of interactive media, microlearning, and mobile learning where appropriate.
  
  

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with the Core Development Team, Talent Development, and Academy Leadership to align learning solutions with business goals and key performance metrics.
• Assist in conducting learning needs analyses and evaluating training effectiveness using data-driven metrics.
• Contribute to project timelines, quality standards, and design documentation to ensure consistency and scalability.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Instructional Design, Education, Learning Technology, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 5 years of experience designing and developing corporate learning content or training programs.
• Strong knowledge of adult learning theory, instructional design methodologies (ADDIE, SAM, etc.), and training evaluation frameworks (Kirkpatrick, Phillips ROI).
• Experience developing facilitator and participant materials for instructor-led and virtual environments.
• Experience in presenting to wide audience including leadership teams.
• Ability to lead projects and initiatives as well as lead direct reports and cross-functional teams.
• Skilled in authoring tools (Articulate 360, Captivate, or similar), Learning Management Systems (LMS), and digital collaboration platforms.
• Excellent writing, organization, and communication skills.
• Strong collaboration mindset — able to work cross-functionally with SMEs, trainers, and leadership teams.
• Passion for continuous learning, innovation, and elevating the learner experience.
  
  

Preferred Skills

• Experience designing programs for insurance, sales, or customer service audiences.
• Background in pedagogy, instructional research, or technology-enhanced learning.
• Familiarity with SCORM, xAPI, and LMS implementation standards.
• Workshop facilitation or coaching certification is a plus.