Instructional Designer I, Education

POSITION TITLE : Instructional Designer I, Education

STATUS : Full time / Exempt

LOCATION : Chicago, Illinois (Hybrid: 2 days/week on-site, 3 days/week remote)

ABOUT NCSBN

The world leader in nursing regulatory knowledge, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that empowers and supports nursing regulators. The organization protects the public and the trust in nursing through innovative regulatory solutions, insights and expertise.

With its NCLEX® Examinations, Nursys® national licensure database and groundbreaking research, NCSBN attracts people who are passionate about what they do and driven by the knowledge that their work protects the public.

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking an instructional designer to join our Education team. The ideal candidate will bring value to the team by supporting the design and development of high-quality, learner-centered e-learning courses for regulatory professionals.

Reporting to the Manager, Learning Design, the Instructional Designer I will apply adult learning principles and best practices in instructional design to create accessible, engaging, and clearly structured educational experiences. They will also work closely with subject matter experts (SMEs), developers, and delivery teams to translate content into meaningful learning outcomes and interactive experiences.

This role is an excellent opportunity for a skilled instructional designer who thrives in a collaborative, team-centered environment and is eager to continue growing their design skills while supporting an organization dedicated to advancing nursing regulation and policy worldwide.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Designs e-learning courses and learning materials using backward design, learning outcomes, and assessment alignment. Organizes content for clarity and impact using storyboards, scripts, and course maps
• Works closely with subject matter experts to analyze content, extract key ideas, and structure information into instructionally sound learning experiences. Facilitates working sessions and iterative feedback loops to ensure alignment with learning goals
• Applies accessibility guidelines and adult learning principles to ensure all courses meet usability and accessibility standards. Recommends instructional strategies that support knowledge transfer, engagement, and real-world application. Stays current on trends in e-learning, instructional design, and digital learning tools. Recommends updates to templates, design standards, and workflows to improve learning outcomes and efficiency.
• Reviews course builds and media components for fidelity related to the instructional design plan. Provides feedback to developers and supports revision cycles to ensure consistency, accuracy, and instructional integrity.
• Assists in developing formative and summative assessments, learner surveys, and feedback tools that evaluate the effectiveness of courses and inform iterative improvements

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in instructional design, education, education technology, curriculum development, or related field required.
• Minimum of two years of experience in instructional design, curriculum development, or learning experience design required.
• Strong knowledge of adult learning theory, instructional design models (ADDIE, SAM), and evaluation strategies.
• Proficiency in developing learning outcomes, assessments, and instructional scripts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of authoring tools (e.g., Articulate Rise/Storyline) and collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft365).
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and learner-focused.
• Experience designing for e-learning platforms and learning management systems (LMS).
• Experience working with SMEs.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The anticipated starting salary for this position is $63,000 - $72,000 annually. Actual compensation will be dependent on a candidate’s relevant experience, skills, training, certifications/licenses, qualifications and geographical location.

NCSBN offers eligible employees a competitive benefits package that provides our team members with plan options to meet their individual needs. Review benefit details here: https://www.ncsbn.org/about/governance-and-staff/careers/ncsbn-benefits.page

TO BE CONSIDERED

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their resume as soon as possible.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is an equal employment opportunity employer. Decisions affecting employment are considered without regard to disability, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status or any other protected characteristic.