Instructional Designer
5301 Southwest Parkway Suite 200 Austin, TX; US - Central US Region; US - East Coast Region
Company Introduction
WorldStrides is the global leader in educational travel and experiential learning. The company was founded in 1967 to provide middle school travel programs to Washington, D.C. and has grown to provide a wide range of programs for more than half a million students annually to over 100 countries around the world. WorldStrides offers experiential learning programs in educational travel, performing arts, language immersion, career exploration, service-learning, study abroad, and sports. Each of these experiences helps students to see beyond the classroom and to see the world – and themselves – in new ways.
Job Description:
We are seeking a skilled and creative Instructional Designer to design and deliver high-impact learning experiences that build capability, enable performance, and drive measurable business outcomes. This role partners closely with subject matter experts and stakeholders to translate complex concepts into intuitive, engaging, and scalable learning solutions across multiple modalities.
The ideal candidate brings strong instructional design expertise, a learner-centered mindset, and the ability to connect learning strategy to real-world application and behavior change.
This role sits within Human Resources and partners closely with business leaders to translate complex concepts into intuitive, engaging, and scalable learning solutions across multiple modalities.
Responsibilities:
- Design end-to-end learning experiences that are intuitive, engaging, and aligned to defined business and performance outcomes
- Translate complex topics into clear, structured learning journeys that promote understanding, retention, and application
- Build scalable curriculum frameworks, learning pathways, and program structures that support skill progression and long-term capability development
- Ensure alignment and cohesion across courses, programs, and learning assets
- Leverage learning technologies and AI-enabled tools to improve design efficiency, personalize learning, and scale development
- Stay current on emerging learning technologies and instructional design best practices
- Apply established instructional design models (e.g., ADDIE, backward design, adult learning principles) to create impactful learning experiences
- Design learning that drives behavior change and produces measurable outcomes
- Develop engaging learning assets including e-learning modules, facilitator guides, participant materials, job aids, assessments, and multimedia content
- Design experiences that prioritize interaction, practice, and real-world application
- Create detailed storyboards, outlines, and content flows that provide clarity and consistency across all learning materials
- Partner with SMEs to shape and refine content for accuracy, relevance, and learning effectiveness
- Design high-quality learning experiences across live, virtual, self-paced, and blended formats
- Ensure a consistent learner experience regardless of delivery method
- Partner closely with stakeholders and subject matter experts to gather requirements, challenge assumptions, and iterate on designs
- Incorporate feedback through structured review cycles to continuously improve learning solutions
- Use data and learner feedback to inform continuous improvement
- Ensure all learning materials meet high standards for clarity, consistency, accessibility, visual design, and instructional integrity
- Create facilitator materials and implementation guidance to support effective delivery
Qualifications:
- Experience with e-learning authoring tools and learning platforms
- Familiarity with learning analytics and evaluation methods
- Experience incorporating AI or automation tools into learning design workflows
- Strong stakeholder communication and project management skills
Work Perks
- Fun & driven environment.
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage, life, accidental death and dismemberment, accident, critical illness, and disability insurance, FSA healthcare, FSA dependent care, HSA with employer contribution, and generous 401k match.
- 11 paid floating corporate holidays, 1 paid volunteer day & up to 25 PTO days to start – accrue up to 28 over 3 years, 4 mental health days, and 5 bereavement days.
- Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 annually
- $1,000 towards professional certifications annually
- Opportunities for paid and discounted travel.
- Flexible work schedule providing on-site, remote, and virtual office opportunities.
- Encouraged participation in our Employee Resource Groups and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion council.
- Fitness Center and café onsite at select locations.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Paid Parental, Caregiver, and Disability leave.
- Team Member Discount Program
WorldStrides, a global organization, is committed to educate and serve communities worldwide. Our commitment is fueled by the passion of our team members and partners to make experiential learning accessible, while also being socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible. Together, we accomplish this by investing in initiatives to promote inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, WorldStrides is committed to building a diverse workforce, supported by an environment that promotes inclusion and belonging. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
WorldStrides will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, J-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J or TN, or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire. Select seasonal roles may consider students on J-1 or F-1 visas.