Lead Instructional Systems Designer

Position Summary

Harkcon, Inc. is seeking an experienced Lead Instructional Systems Designer (ISD) to serve as the primary technical lead for a federal maritime-security curriculum development and modernization effort.

The Lead ISD will be responsible for the end-to-end instructional design and development of existing and new training products, including curriculum analysis, course modernization, development of new instructional content, learning objectives, instructor guides, student syllabi, activities, exercises, and interactive presentation enhancements.

This individual will serve as the primary instructional-design interface with Government stakeholders and technical subject matter experts (SMEs), coordinate technical and instructional reviews, integrate approved changes, and remain accountable for the quality and consistency of instructional products through final delivery.

The Lead ISD will be supported by senior instructional-design review, maritime and specialty SMEs, translation support, and project-management resources.

*** This position is contingent upon award of a contract to Harkcon***

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary instructional-design and technical counterpart to Government stakeholders.
• Lead the analysis, design, development, revision, and quality assurance of instructor-led, virtual, technology-enabled, and blended training products.
• Review and enhance existing courseware for instructional effectiveness, organization, learner engagement, technical accuracy, and alignment with learning objectives.
• Develop new courses and instructional modules using Government-furnished information, technical source material, and SME input.
• Develop and refine measurable Terminal Performance Objectives (TPOs) and Enabling Objectives (EOs).
• Conduct audience, task, content, and instructional analyses to determine appropriate course structure, instructional sequence, and learning strategies.
• Develop course outlines, lesson structures, facilitated discussions, icebreakers, scenarios, group activities, exercises, and other adult-learning activities.
• Develop and revise PowerPoint-based instructional materials and supporting Word/PDF products.
• Develop detailed instructor guides that include facilitation guidance, activity instructions, timing considerations, and slide-level discussion points.
• Develop student syllabi and supporting curriculum documentation.
• Coordinate Government and contractor SME reviews and ensure technical comments are resolved before incorporation into final instructional products.
• Maintain consistency across presentations, instructor guides, student materials, learning objectives, activities, and supporting curriculum documentation.
• Develop interactive PowerPoint features such as hyperlinks, reference aids, navigation elements, pop-up information, and instructor-support functionality.
• Support development of accessible instructional products consistent with Section 508 requirements.
• Coordinate preparation, reintegration, formatting review, and functional quality assurance of translated presentation slides and student syllabi.
• Support Government review cycles and incorporate consolidated comments into final products.
• Conduct instructional, editorial, accessibility, functional, and release-readiness quality checks.
• Coordinate with the Project Manager on schedules, deliverable status, risks, decisions, and weekly/monthly reporting.
• Participate in up to two international seminar observations and use instructor and learner feedback to inform targeted curriculum improvements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Education, Training and Development, Educational Technology, Organizational Development, or a related field; equivalent directly relevant experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible instructional design, curriculum development, or training-development experience.
• Demonstrated experience applying ADDIE or another recognized systematic instructional-design methodology.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading substantial curriculum-development or course-modernization efforts.
• Experience developing and substantially revising instructor-led training.
• Experience developing measurable learning objectives, instructor guides, student materials, presentations, activities, and curriculum documentation.
• Experience converting complex technical or operational information into clear instructional content for adult learners.
• Experience working directly with Government personnel and technical SMEs.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint and Word.
• Ability to independently manage multiple instructional products through review, revision, and final delivery.
• Strong writing, editing, facilitation, organization, and quality-control skills.
• Ability to meet firm delivery schedules and manage concurrent instructional-development activities.
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing training for a federal government customer.
• Experience supporting maritime, transportation, infrastructure, emergency management, public safety, security, military, or law-enforcement environments.
• Experience supporting international capacity-building or foreign-partner training.
• Experience developing Section 508-compliant instructional products.
• Experience developing interactive or technology-enabled presentations.
• Experience supporting multilingual or localized instructional products.
• Familiarity with maritime or port-security concepts.
• Experience facilitating curriculum-development sessions or SME working groups.
• Current U.S. passport or ability to obtain one before required international travel.

Additional Information:

• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Location: Remote within the United States
• Travel: Occasional international travel required; anticipated travel includes observation of up to two overseas training seminars.

Harkcon, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer - Minority / Female / Disability / Veteran / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation / Age