Instructional Systems Designer - Defense Health Agency

The Instructional Systems Designer will support the Defense Health Agency J7 Education and Training Directorate by designing, developing, delivering, evaluating, and modernizing education and training products for DHA Headquarters, DHA Networks, Military Treatment Facilities, and other Military Health System audiences.

This role will provide full lifecycle instructional systems design support using the ADDIE model and evidence-based adult learning principles. The ISD will create and update instructor-led, virtual instructor-led, hybrid, and eLearning materials; collaborate with subject matter experts; support live and virtual training events; develop assessments and evaluations; maintain training metrics; and ensure instructional products are accurate, engaging, accessible, and aligned with DHA mission requirements.

The ideal candidate will have experience developing and delivering training in Defense, healthcare, or Defense health environments, with strong instructional design, facilitation, stakeholder communication, eLearning development, Section 508, and virtual training platform skills.

Key Responsibilities

Instructional Systems Design and Curriculum Development

• Apply the ADDIE instructional design model to analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate DHA education and training requirements.
• Conduct training needs analyses, learner analyses, and performance gap assessments to support instructional planning and modernization initiatives.
• Create new and modify existing education and training materials, including presentations, student handbooks, assessments, eLearning modules, instructor guides, and related training products.
• Develop and update instructional design documentation, including course outlines, learning objectives, instructional strategies, assessment plans, and storyboards.
• Research, develop, and document training objectives, standards of learning, and requirements for DHA education and training programs.
• Apply adult learning theories and evidence-based instructional practices to the creation of all training materials.
• Translate technical, clinical, leadership, and policy language into audience-appropriate instructional content.
• Develop and maintain instructional design frameworks, templates, standards, and best practices to support consistency and quality across DHA training programs.
• Support annual and periodic content reviews to ensure instructional materials remain current, accurate, effective, and aligned with DHA mission requirements.

eLearning and Multimedia Development

• Design and develop synchronous and asynchronous learning materials using approved instructional technologies.
• Develop interactive eLearning modules and capabilities ranging from basic level 1 modules through advanced level 4 interactive learning products.
• Create, review, and use complex storyboards for eLearning and multimedia production.
• Develop SCORM/xAPI-compliant modules for synchronous and asynchronous learning, as required.
• Convert and modernize outdated, non-compliant, or legacy training materials into interactive and accessible modules.
• Create, modify, and manage multimedia assets, including graphics, audio, video, and interactive media for integration into training materials.
• Support rapid courseware development during surge periods or accelerated timelines.
• Use authoring and creative tools such as Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, Camtasia, Snagit, Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Stock, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Maintain version control, templates, content libraries, and published course materials in Government-approved content and assessment management systems.

Training Delivery and Facilitation

• Deliver in-person live training and virtual instructor-led training ranging from one-hour sessions to multi-day hybrid events.
• Facilitate training in support of DHA programs such as Healthcare Management, Action Officer Courses, leadership training, clinical training, continuing education, and related education and training activities.
• Produce and facilitate live virtual events for large learner groups, including sessions with breakout rooms, chat, whiteboards, polls, Q&A, and other active engagement features.
• Support virtual, hybrid, and in-person training delivery for audiences that may include DHA Headquarters, DHA Networks, Military Treatment Facilities, active duty personnel, civilian personnel, and other Military Health System stakeholders.
• Manage virtual training platform features while presenting and facilitating instruction.
• Support large-scale virtual moderation, including breakout room management, Q&A queues, user engagement, and room producer responsibilities.
• Support hybrid events by coordinating on-site and virtual training delivery requirements.
• Provide qualified instructor and facilitator support during surge delivery periods.

SME and Stakeholder Collaboration

• Collaborate with subject matter experts to translate technical, clinical, and leadership content into engaging and effective learning experiences.
• Coordinate and facilitate meetings with SMEs across DHA and the Military Health System to support design, development, review, and vetting of training materials.
• Serve as an instructional design liaison between DHA stakeholders, content owners, SMEs, development teams, and the ISD project team.
• Ensure references are tracked and meet Government requirements for accuracy and recency.
• Create standardized briefs, documents, and other materials to support coordination with SMEs and stakeholders.
• Gather requirements, provide updates, and present findings related to the impact of learning programs on readiness.
• Support kickoff meetings, design reviews, gate reviews, final evaluation meetings, and other instructional design planning sessions.

Training Events, Logistics and Continuing Education Support

• Coordinate scheduling and logistics for virtual and on-site training events, including invitations, learner communications, facilities, space, and event support.
• Draft registration instructions, general logistics information, and learner-facing communications for selected training sites.
• Coordinate with continuing education program offices to support accreditation requirements for applicable courses.
• Provide closed captioning and other accessibility features for training activities.
• Support webinars, eLearning modules, small conferences, symposia, and other education and training delivery mechanisms.
• Provide administrative support for education and training activity attendees, as required.
• Coordinate with DHA Public Affairs Office for media or PAO review of eLearning and live training materials requiring Government approval.
• Develop targeted event project plans, logistical checklists, and resource allocation estimates for surge events.

Evaluation, Metrics and Reporting

• Design and maintain education and training metrics and related reporting.
• Conduct analyses that measure training and event effectiveness and monitor outcome metrics.
• Develop training evaluations and analytics using Government-identified evaluation models.
• Complete alpha and beta testing of developed materials and interactive modules to ensure functionality and instructional efficacy.
• Produce After Action Reports, Executive Summaries, Monthly Progress Reports, Annual Reports, and ad hoc reports as required.
• Capture attendance metrics, learner evaluations, lessons learned, completed and in-progress projects, expenditures, labor category metrics, and other relevant education and training data.
• Prepare reports that demonstrate the value and impact of targeted education and training activities on training, education, and readiness.
• Make recommendations to improve the structure, content, delivery, marketing, and impact of future training activities.

Quality, Accessibility and Compliance

• Ensure instructional products comply with applicable federal standards and policies, including Section 508 accessibility requirements.
• Provide quality assurance and instructional design review services, including participation in gate reviews and validation of instructional strategies.
• Support Section 508 remediation services for developed materials before delivery.
• Ensure training materials meet quality standards, accessibility requirements, logistical requirements, adult learning principles, and Government expectations.
• Safeguard Government equipment, information, and property provided for contractor use.
• Comply with DHA onboarding, offboarding, CAC, network access, personnel security, NDA, CUI, PII, PHI, procurement-sensitive information, and applicable privacy requirements.
• Ensure all documents and materials developed under the contract are maintained in approved Government cloud applications, such as G Drive or SharePoint.

• 5 to 7 years of experience developing and delivering training, including experience in Defense, healthcare, or similar mission-driven environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in Instructional Design, Education, or a related field.
• Proven experience as a training instructor, preferably in a Defense or Defense health environment.
• Experience with curriculum development and instructional design.
• Experience applying the ADDIE instructional design model.
• Experience delivering both on-site live training and virtual instructor-led training.
• Experience managing virtual platform features such as chat, whiteboards, polls, breakout rooms, and Q&A while presenting.
• Proficiency creating and delivering training via Microsoft Teams or comparable virtual training platforms.
• Strong understanding of instructional design principles and adult learning theories.
• Proficiency with hybrid and virtual training platforms.
• Ability to collaborate with SMEs, stakeholders, training owners, and development teams.
• Ability to translate technical, clinical, leadership, and policy content into learner-centered instructional materials.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to support training metrics, evaluations, reports, and continuous improvement activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Defense Health Agency, Military Health System, Military Treatment Facility, healthcare, clinical training, leadership training, continuing education, or continuing medical education programs.
• Experience supporting CE/CME accreditation requirements.
• Experience developing eLearning, multimedia learning assets, interactive modules, and blended learning products.
• Experience with Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, Camtasia, Snagit, Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Stock, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience developing SCORM or xAPI-compliant courseware.
• Experience supporting Section 508 compliance and accessibility remediation.
• Experience producing After Action Reports, Executive Summaries, Monthly Progress Reports, Annual Reports, training evaluations, and learner analytics.
• Experience facilitating large virtual events, hybrid training, conferences, symposia, webinars, and multi-day training activities.
• Experience with content management, version control, templating, learning management systems, and Government-approved content repositories.
• Familiarity with DHA, DoD, CUI, PII, PHI, HIPAA, and Government training compliance environments.