Year Up United · 15 hours ago
Senior Instructional Designer
Boston, MA
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level
$92K/yr - $105K/yr
5+ years expYear Up United is a national workforce development organization committed to equitable access to economic opportunity for young adults. The Senior Instructional Designer will shape and scale the Learning Experience Design practice, leading the design of inclusive learning experiences for 18–29-year-olds and ensuring these experiences are effective and data-informed.
Non ProfitEducationTraining
Responsibilities
Inform and guide the transformation of Year Up United’s learning experiences by actively aligning them with our andragogical approach, establishing shared design frameworks and standards, and ensuring robust and impactful learning outcomes
Design and own the needs analysis process, including defining diagnostic approaches and success criteria, working with the Learning Excellence team and other key stakeholders to identify what instructional design, content curation, and/or resource organizing activities are needed to drive design and development of training or assessment solutions
Partner with key stakeholders, when designing training and assessment solutions, to make and communicate evidence-based recommendations and navigate trade-off decisions (e.g., buy vs. build, speed vs. depth, consistency vs. customization)
Build out learning experience designs / blueprints that can be consistently applied and scaled, based on needs analysis, design and delivery standards, learnings, and industry-leading research
Manage the planning, execution, and design and development of learning experiences end-to-end, including curriculum, instructional materials, assessments, and multimedia resources, that are engaging, interactive, and effective, and align to organizational goals
Collaborate with subject matter experts, trainers, and other stakeholders to understand learning goals and develop learning objectives, guide content development, and execute user acceptance testing, ensuring alignment to learning strategy, learning goals, and user needs
Use adult learning principles and best practices in instructional design to create learner-centered experiences that are adaptable for hybrid and virtual learning environments, using blended and asynchronous instructional methodologies at scale
Ensure that learning experiences are accessible and inclusive by design, by considering the profiles of Year Up United participants, nature of systems that drive the Opportunity Divide, and historical barriers within traditional educational systems impacting Opportunity Talent
Evaluate the effectiveness of learning experiences and use learning analytics, assessment data, and structured feedback to continuously improve them
Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies (including AI-enabled tools) in learning experience design and incorporate them into the team’s work
Mentor junior instructional designer staff and organizational content contributors by modeling best practices and providing guidance
Manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines
Communicate with senior leadership and other stakeholders about the team’s work, risks, and impact of learning experiences on organizational goals
Participate in special projects and initiatives that support the effectiveness, growth and impact of Year Up United
Live the values of Year Up United and integrate them into one’s work daily
Serve as program participant coach/mentor, and participate in Learning Community activities
Qualification
Required
5–7+ years' experience designing and delivering complex, multi-modal learning experiences for business, technology, and/or professional skills in a secondary, postsecondary, or other equivalent environment; experience with 18–29-year-old Opportunity Talent and competency-based education a plus
4+ years' experience in designing and developing instructional content and leading or guiding instructional designers, user experience researchers, and/or instructional staff to drive research and design efforts for content design and development; virtual instructor-led training (VILT) and/or on-demand training, preferred
Demonstrated experience working with modern learning management systems (LMS) and managing instructional content and learning tools as part of an integrated learning ecosystem; experience with Brightspace a plus
Proficient in e-learning authoring tools such as Brightspace Creator+ (preferred), Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, or similar software
Demonstrated experience applying artificial intelligence to accelerate content development, inform assessment and analytics, and improve instructional effectiveness, with the ability to apply AI responsibly and equitably
Demonstrated ability to design, introduce, and evolve scalable design processes, workflows, or governance models that enable quality and efficiency across teams
Strong knowledge in industry-leading learning experience design, instructional design, e-learning development, assessment design, and universal (accessible, usable, and inclusive) design methodologies and processes; experience applying these consistently at scale; knowledge of human-centered design a plus
Strong knowledge in adult learning theory and historical barriers within traditional educational systems that impact opportunity talent, and the ability to translate this knowledge into design standards and decisions
Exceptional interpersonal skills with extensive demonstrated experience in building stakeholder relationships, consulting with leaders, leading and collaborating across diverse cross-functional projects
Demonstrated experience in complex project management, effective communication with stakeholders and clients across the project lifecycle, and supporting the adoption of new practices, tools, or workflows within an organization
Accepts change as an important part of Year Up United's culture, and inquires how their role can support the change
Ability to work independently and as a team player, to take initiative, and manage multiple tasks and projects at a time
Ability to plan, introduce, and lead scalable operational processes that enable high-quality business outcomes and growth
Willingness to travel as necessary to support project execution (up to 10% typical)
A passion for working with young adults, an unshakable belief in their potential, and a strong commitment to the mission of Year Up United
Mastery of the MS office suite, with exceptional PowerPoint content development and presentation skills
Understanding of the Opportunity Divide and its drivers
Commitment to diversity and inclusion
Preferred
virtual instructor-led training (VILT) and/or on-demand training, preferred
experience with Brightspace a plus
Proficient in e-learning authoring tools such as Brightspace Creator+ (preferred)
Benefits
Comprehensive healthcare options and dental coverage
401(k) match for eligible participants
Earn three weeks paid vacation in first year of employment; four weeks after initial year
Funds available to support staff in achieving career objectives ($2,500 per year)
Company
Year Up United
For more than 25 years, Year Up United has been leading the way in reworking the future — creating a corporate America that works for everyone, not just a select few.
501-1000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Year Up United has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2022 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$10.87MKey Investors
PluralsightNikePluralsight One
2024-06-26Grant
2023-02-15Grant
2022-06-22Grant
Leadership Team
Gerald Chertavian
Founder & Senior Advisor
Recent News
2025-09-17
EIN Presswire
2025-09-02
2024-12-20
Company data provided by crunchbase