Courageous Leadership Alliance, Inc Instructional Designer (Senior) Washington, DC · Full time

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At Courageous Leadership Alliance, we empower organizations to achieve mission excellence through innovative training solutions, strategic organizational design, and data-driven performance improvement. With deep expertise in federal, Department of Defense, and Air Force operational environments, we specialize in transforming real-world requirements into effective learning systems that enhance readiness, decision-making, and team performance. Our approach blends mission focus, instructional rigor, and enterprise insight. We work collaboratively with government partners and subject matter experts to design scenario-based training, performance measurement frameworks, and scalable solutions that reflect how teams operate in complex, high-stakes environments. What sets us apart is our dedication to: 1. Operational realism: Our solutions mirror actual workplace challenges and decision points, preparing learners for performance under pressure. 2. Integrated systems thinking: We treat training as an enterprise information system—structured, measurable, and sustainable. 3. Continuous improvement: Through analytics, evaluation, and iterative design, we ensure solutions evolve with mission needs. 4. Federal and DoD expertise: With years of experience supporting readiness evaluations and organizational transformation, we deliver training that matters. At Courageous Leadership Alliance, we don’t just build training—we build capability. Our work ensures people aren’t just trained, but ready.

The Senior Instructional Designer provides expert-level support in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of enterprise-wide training programs for the Department of Defense (DoD) and federal agencies. This role is responsible for creating high-quality learning solutions that align with federal training requirements, financial management regulations, and workforce development objectives. The Senior Instructional Designer ensures that training programs effectively build workforce capability, support mission readiness, and comply with DoD policies and standards.

In this role, the Senior Instructional Designer conducts training needs and gap analyses, evaluates program effectiveness through usage reporting and performance metrics, and provides strategic recommendations for the development, sustainment, and deployment of training programs. The position involves designing and maintaining digital learning content, ensuring Section 508 accessibility compliance, integrating courses into Learning Management Systems (LMS), and troubleshooting across DoD-authorized training platforms. The individual also collaborates with stakeholders, subject matter experts, and leadership to ensure training solutions meet organizational goals and regulatory requirements.

Candidates must possess:

• Bachelor’s degree in a field related to financial management, education and training, instructional design, human capital, business administration, or a related discipline
• Active Secret Security Clearance
• The role requires a minimum of seven (7) years of experience developing, delivering, and maintaining enterprise-wide training programs for the DoD or other federal agencies.

Within that experience, candidates must demonstrate:

• At least seven (7) years of experience conducting training gap analyses, evaluating training effectiveness through usage reporting and performance metrics, and providing strategic recommendations for course development and deployment.
• At least five (5) years of experience in digital course design, including Section 508 accessibility compliance, LMS integration, and troubleshooting across DoD-authorized training platforms.

The Senior Instructional Designer must demonstrate a thorough understanding of key DoD training and financial management policies and regulations.

This position requires strong analytical, instructional design, and communication skills, as well as the ability to develop scalable training solutions that support enterprise-level workforce development within complex DoD environments.