Instructional Design Associate

General Information

• Job Code: CAT-ID-03
• Location: Ripple Effect Headquarters - Rockville, MD
• Employee Type: Exempt, Full-Time Regular
• Telework: This role is fully remote
• Salary Range: $77,139 to $88,708.00 per year (how we pay and promote)

Are you passionate about designing learning experiences that engage and empower?

Ripple Effect is seeking an Instructional Design Associate to design, develop, deliver, and evaluate high-quality learning solutions for adult learners across a variety of client and organizational environments. This individual independently executes complex instructional design assignments, collaborates with subject matter experts to ensure content accuracy, and develops engaging training experiences using multiple delivery formats, including instructor-led, online, multimedia, and blended learning approaches.

The Instructional Design Associate serves as a lead contributor on assigned projects, providing informal leadership through quality reviews, coaching, and workflow coordination while operating under general direction. This role contributes to continuous improvement efforts by evaluating training effectiveness, analyzing learner feedback and performance data, and implementing enhancements to improve learning outcomes and client satisfaction.

While not an exhaustive list, the key duties for the position include:

• Design, develop, and deliver training programs and learning solutions for diverse audiences using instructional design best practices and adult learning principles.
• Develop training plans, frameworks, curricula, course materials, and supporting documentation.
• Utilize multiple delivery formats including print, audio, visual, multimedia, eLearning, and instructor-led training.
• Select appropriate instructional methods and technologies based on audience needs and learning objectives.
• Manage course development and design processes from concept through implementation.
• Partner with subject matter experts to gather information and ensure content accuracy, completeness, and relevance.
• Facilitate effective communication through meetings, presentations, status updates, and client interactions.
• Design assessments and feedback mechanisms using qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate learning effectiveness and participant engagement.
• Analyze learner feedback, assessment results, and performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support development of SOPs, instructional processes, and standardized resources that ensure consistent delivery of learning activities.
• Ensure educational content complies with plain-language standards and accessibility requirements.

Requirements

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 4 years of relevant instructional design, learning and development, training development, or related experience.

Basic Requirements

• Experience applying instructional design methodologies and adult learning principles.
• Experience evaluating training effectiveness and implementing continuous improvements.
• Technical writing and editing experience and ability to translate complex technical, research, and policy concepts into learner-friendly materials.
• Experience with quality control of deliverables (consistency, accuracy, etc.).
• Familiarity with AP Stylebook and GPO Style Manual.
• Document template creation, maintenance, and usage.
• Previous experience designing and developing Section 508-compliant online training.
• Strong stakeholder collaboration skills.
• Intermediate experience with Microsoft Office productivity software and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and SharePoint.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and demonstrated ability to execute instructions.

Skills That Set You Apart

• Experience working with federal government clients and contracts.
• Section 508 compliant development and remediation of webpages in WordPress.
• Experience supporting health, science, research or public-sector organizations.
• JavaScript coding experience.
• Intermediate experience with AI tools, including their limitations and risks, and how they can be applied to support project management tasks.

Benefits

At Ripple Effect, we reward our employees for their contributions to our mission. Our comprehensive total rewards package includes competitive pay, exceptional benefits, and a range of programs that support your work/life balance and personalized preferences.

Learn more about our benefits and culture here.

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Ripple Effect is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, political affiliation, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the hiring process, please let us know by contacting our HR department at [email protected] or your recruiter. Eligibility for employment will be verified using E-verify.