We're seeking an Instructional Design Intern who brings curiosity about instructional design and a commitment to creating experiences that drive real change. You'll support our work with federal agencies on high-stakes challenges, from organizational onboarding to international development, helping shape how thousands of learners worldwide discover their potential.
NOTE: This DC-based role requires regular in-person work. Coursework samples or a class project are welcome in place of a professional portfolio. If your program allows it, this internship can be set up to fulfill a practicum or capstone requirement. Let us know and we will work with your faculty advisor.
✔️ What You’ll Do
- Help design learning solutions that create lasting behavioral change
- Contribute to needs assessments that uncover what learners actually need to succeed
- Apply learning sciences to design and evaluate experiences, drawing on adult learning theory, cognitive science, and motivation research
- Build accessible resources across modalities: instructor-led sessions, eLearning, simulations, job aids, and multimedia
- Support visual design aligned with client branding and learner engagement
- Assist with onsite training delivery and adapt to learners in real time
- Learn from our design team through hands-on mentorship, and bring fresh ideas to our practice
✔️ What You Bring: You'll work alongside experienced designers, applying learning sciences to real client work and connecting design decisions to measurable outcomes.
Required
- Currently enrolled in an instructional design, ed-tech, or learning-sciences program
- Strong communication skills, translating complex concepts clearly across technical and non-technical audiences
- Ability to juggle multiple tasks in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
- Detail-oriented, measuring success by learner outcomes rather than deliverables
- Sound judgment with confidential and sensitive information
Preferred
- Coursework or class projects showing both strategic thinking and execution
- Familiarity with authoring tools and learning management systems
- Interest in gamification, scenario-based learning, or other strategies that boost motivation and transfer
- Exposure to international development, federal contracting, or foreign assistance work
- Experience designing or delivering learning for multilingual or non-native English audiences