Lead Instructional Designer

This position utilizes instructional design knowledge, learning technologies, and project management expertise to lead complex learning and enablement initiatives focused on building leadership, selling, and technical skills. This role collaborates with senior leadership to implement first-class development programs that support CDW’s strategies and business goals. Scope includes the identification, design, development, implementation, and measurement of training solutions utilizing various learning tools and participation on project teams to design, develop, and implement organizational improvement solutions.

The Lead Instructional Designer excels in leading complex projects, identifying and implementing innovative learning solutions, leveraging emerging technologies, and coaching peers on instructional design best practices and modern learning tools.

• Lead program management for complex learning and enablement initiatives from needs assessment through implementation and evaluation, including prioritization, instructional design, stakeholder communications, and measurement of outcomes.
• Consult, collaborate, and partner with cross-functional stakeholders to define business requirements and translate needs into organizational improvement solutions.
• Research and apply instructional design, enablement, AI-enabled learning, project management, and industry best practices to improve team processes and organizational effectiveness.
• Lead multiple concurrent initiatives, applying project management best practices to drive stakeholder alignment, governance, resource coordination, risk and dependency management, accountability, and successful delivery of business outcomes.
• Effectively measure and assess learner skills, client satisfaction and business impact related to provided services.
• Establish strategies for addressing gaps.
• Advise on methods and approaches to reinforce skills.
• Write and present recommendations, project proposals and business reviews for internal executive audiences.
• Mentor and coach instructional design team members while providing thought leadership on instructional design best practices, AI-enabled workflows, and innovative learning technologies to build organizational capability.
• Evaluate, select, and partner with external vendors or contractors to build or tailor materials to meet CDW-specific needs when necessary.
• Continuously develop instructional design and project management skills based on leading edge concepts and technology.
• Design and develop innovative learning experiences using modern learning technologies, AI-enabled development tools, and emerging design approaches to increase development efficiency while maximizing learner engagement, skill development, knowledge retention, and business impact.
• Manage and maintain curriculum review, content governance, and lifecycle management processes with subject matter experts to ensure content remains current, relevant and aligned to business priorities.
• Identify opportunities for continuous program improvement and establish business case recommendations for changes.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience.
• 7 years’ experience as a CDW coworker or 7 years’ work experience in instructional design or related field.
• Current, in-depth knowledge of learning technologies, AI-enabled development tools, instructional design best practices, adult learning theory, evaluation methodologies, and industry trends.
• Depth and/or breadth of expertise in instructional design, adult learning theories and evaluation methodologies.
• Demonstrated instructional design and project management experience with a successful track record of increasing learner knowledge, performance, effectiveness, and business outcomes.
• Proven ability to lead multiple complex initiatives, balancing competing priorities, adapt to changing business needs, and meet project timelines and stakeholder expectations.
• Interpret internal and external business challenges and recommend best practices to design training solutions to solve issues.
• Impact the achievement of customer, operational, project, or service objectives; work…