Senior Instructional Designer

Job Title: Senior Instructional Designer

Duration: 12-Month Contract (Strong Extension Potential)

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Instructional Designer to support a large utility organization in Richmond, VA. This individual will serve as a strategic partner to business leaders, working across multiple departments to understand workforce skill gaps and develop impactful learning solutions that drive employee success.

This is not a traditional instructional design role focused solely on developing presentations or training materials. The ideal candidate will act as an internal consultant, conducting needs assessments, engaging stakeholders, and creating comprehensive learning programs that align with operational objectives. Utility industry experience is highly preferred.

• Partner with department leaders and subject matter experts to identify training needs and workforce development opportunities.
• Evaluate existing processes, skillsets, and performance gaps across business units.
• Design, develop, and implement instructor-led, virtual, and eLearning training programs.
• Create competency-based learning paths, curricula, and training content tailored to business objectives.
• Lead discovery sessions, workshops, and stakeholder meetings to gather requirements and define learning strategies.
• Manage instructional design projects from concept through implementation and evaluation.
• Measure training effectiveness and continuously improve learning initiatives based on feedback and performance metrics.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on learning and development best practices.

• 10+ years of experience in Instructional Design, Learning & Development, Training Management, Organizational Development, or related fields.
• Proven experience conducting training needs assessments and developing enterprise-wide learning solutions.
• Strong consultative and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading projects and driving initiatives across multiple business units.
• Ability to translate complex operational processes into effective learning content.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.

• Experience supporting a utility, energy, power generation, transmission, or regulated industry environment.
• Background as a Training Manager, Learning & Development Consultant, Organizational Development Consultant, or Project Manager with a strong instructional design focus.
• Experience with learning management systems (LMS), eLearning development tools, and adult learning methodologies.

The ideal candidate is a strategic learning professional who enjoys partnering directly with business leaders, diagnosing training needs, and building solutions from the ground up. They are proactive, consultative, and capable of influencing stakeholders rather than simply creating presentations upon request.