POSITION TITLE: Instructional Design Specialist
LOCATION: Remote
CLEARANCE: Must be able to obtain a High-Risk Public Trust
COMPANY OVERVIEW
At APV, we’re more than a technology company — we’re a mission-driven powerhouse transforming organizations through advanced technology and human ingenuity. Our expertise spans AI/ML, data architecture, low-code/no-code development, Agile DevSecOps, and cloud services, delivering scalable and meaningful solutions.
In our Emerging Technology Lab, innovation drives progress. Our teams create intelligent chatbots, AI-powered assistants, robotic process automation (RPA), essay graders, and data analytics platforms. If you’re passionate about solving complex challenges and shaping the future, APV is the place for you. Since 2007, we’ve partnered with federal and state agencies to deliver IT, training, and consulting solutions that achieve mission-critical outcomes. Built on accountability, integrity, and quality, we go beyond expectations. With 70+ prime contracts and a proven record of client success, APV continues to grow — and we’re looking for exceptional talent to grow with us.
At APV, we Always Provide Value
POSITION SUMMARY
The Instructional Design Specialist will design, develop, modernize, and evaluate learning products for professional, regulatory, scientific, and technical audiences. The specialist will apply structured instructional systems design methods, including ADDIE and the Systems Approach to Training, to create instructor-led, virtual instructor-led, blended, and digital learning solutions. Working with stakeholders, subject matter experts, facilitators, learning technology personnel, and quality specialists, this role will produce accurate, accessible, LMS-ready materials that are reusable across current and future learning platforms.
DUTIES
- Analyze business, performance, competency, audience, and learning needs; clarify desired outcomes, constraints, delivery modalities, and measures of success.
- Apply ADDIE, the Systems Approach to Training, adult learning principles, and other appropriate instructional methods throughout the learning product lifecycle.
- Write measurable learning objectives and align content, realistic practice activities, case studies, scenarios, knowledge checks, and assessments to those objectives.
- Design and develop instructor-led, virtual instructor-led, blended, eLearning, microlearning, learning pathways, facilitator guides, participant guides, job aids, multimedia, simulations, and other instructional resources.
- Partner with regulatory, scientific, technical, and program subject matter experts to translate complex source material into clear instruction and obtain validation of technical, scientific, and regulatory accuracy before delivery.
- Develop relevant cases and exercises that strengthen critical thinking, analytical reasoning, regulatory writing, decision consistency, communication, and application to job responsibilities.
- Create or tailor client-specific training and, when authorized, adapt Government-furnished or commercial learning resources with terminology, policies, processes, examples, and supplemental materials without unnecessarily redeveloping existing content.
- Prepare LMS-ready course descriptions, learning objectives, metadata, assessments, and content packages; coordinate with learning systems personnel to support deployment, testing, reporting, and content lifecycle management.
- Structure source files and final deliverables for enterprise reuse, maintainability, version control, platform independence, and conversion among in-person, virtual, blended, and self-paced formats.
- Coordinate with eLearning, multimedia, graphics, quality assurance, and Section 508 specialists to ensure instructional quality, technical compatibility, accessibility, and compliance with client standards.
- Facilitate design sessions and courseware reviews with Government stakeholders and internal team members; document decisions, incorporate feedback, and identify mismatches among requirements, objectives, content, activities, and assessments.
- Support pilot delivery, facilitator preparation, Level 1 participant evaluation, and other approved evaluation activities; analyze results and recommend evidence-based revisions.
- Maintain and modernize existing learning products through policy and regulatory updates, assessment revisions, accessibility remediation, metadata changes, and quality reviews.
- Monitor relevant instructional design, accessibility, interoperability, and learning technology practices and recommend practical improvements to the Task Lead or Program Manager.
- Perform other duties within the scope of the position and contract requirements.
EDUCATION
Master's degree in instructional design, instructional systems design, education, adult learning, educational technology, or a closely related field is required. Years of experience may be substituted for the Master’s degree.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- At least six years of professional experience designing, developing, and evaluating instructor-led, virtual, blended, or digital training solutions.
- Demonstrated experience using a structured instructional systems design methodology such as ADDIE or the Systems Approach to Training.
- Ability to develop measurable learning objectives, instructional strategies, facilitator and participant materials, applied activities, and aligned assessments for professional adult learners.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with subject matter experts and stakeholders to analyze requirements, organize complex content, resolve gaps, and conduct structured courseware reviews.
- Experience developing reusable, maintainable learning products for deployment through a learning management system.
- Working knowledge of Section 508 accessibility requirements and accessible document and digital learning practices.
- Familiarity with SCORM, xAPI, or comparable learning content interoperability standards and with LMS course metadata, packaging, testing, or deployment workflows.
- Strong writing, editing, facilitation, communication, organization, and quality-control skills, with close attention to technical accuracy and document configuration.
- Ability to work independently in a primarily remote, multidisciplinary federal delivery environment while meeting deadlines and responding to changing priorities.
- Ability to obtain and maintain the security and system access approvals required for a Tier 2 Sensitive Moderate Risk position, including completion of required security, privacy, records management, and role-based training.
- Authorization to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience supporting federal agencies, particularly in a scientific, technical, public health, regulatory, or similarly complex environment.
- Experience developing regulatory reviewer, scientific, technical, leadership, professional development, or certification training.
- Experience designing realistic cases, scenarios, simulations, and performance-based activities for professional audiences.
- Proficiency with common learning development tools such as Articulate Storyline or Rise, Adobe Captivate, Camtasia, or equivalent applications, and experience working in one or more enterprise LMS platforms.
- Experience with Kirkpatrick-based evaluation, continuing education or accreditation support, content governance, learning pathways, or enterprise course catalog practices.
- Professional certification in instructional design, instructional technology, accessibility, or a related discipline
ABOUT APV
APV is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or marital status.