Manager, Instruction and Program Design

Merit America

. Lead the full instruction and learner support workplan within the integrated College workplan, maintaining projects, milestones, owners, timelines, and statuses .

Posted 10/6/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $113,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in instructional design and course development for online, competency-based programs, with a strong focus on accessibility and learner-centered approaches. Proven ability to manage projects, collaborate with subject matter experts, and implement effective course design standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Instructional DesignLearning Management SystemsProject ManagementCourse DevelopmentTeam Leadership

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Course DesignAssessment DesignCompetency-Based LearningOnline Learning DevelopmentAI-Enabled Instructional Tools

Soft Skills

Organizational SkillsCollaborationInclusive Workplace CultureContinuous LearningJudgment for Non-Traditional Learners

Tools & Technologies

Learning Management SystemsAuthoring ToolsMedia ToolsAccessibility Standards

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor's DegreeMaster's Degree in Higher Education or Related Field

Industry Keywords

Workforce-Aligned ProgramsAdult LearningCourse Build TimelinesAccreditation ReviewSubject Matter Experts

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the full instruction and learner support workplan within the integrated College workplan, maintaining projects, milestones, owners, timelines, and statuses
Facilitate weeklies, key meetings, and internal reviews; set agendas; document decisions and next steps; ensure follow-through
Translate priorities into actionable plans, track commitments, follow up with owners, and unblock issues
Represent the program and learning design function in Functional Lead syncs, raising progress, asks, dependencies, decisions needed, and wins
Support hiring and capacity planning recommendations as enrollment and course volume grow
Design and build college courses in the learning management system, including course structure, sequencing, activities, assessments, media, and learner-facing materials
Translate competencies and learning outcomes into instructional design for working adult learners in an online environment
Create and maintain course design standards, templates, and style guides
Design assessments, activities, and materials incorporating AI-enabled tools and academic-integrity safeguards
Ensure courses meet accessibility requirements and learner-facing materials are clear, usable, and aligned with catalog and syllabus promises
Partner with contract subject matter experts and adjunct faculty on new course builds
Manage course build timelines and dependencies, flagging risks when builds are at risk of slipping
Review SME-produced content for instructional quality, outcome alignment, and readiness; provide direct feedback
Use learner performance, coach and support observations, and LMS data to drive course revisions
Maintain course and design documentation for accreditation review with the Compliance team
Identify gaps in process, tooling, or ownership and build practical solutions

Requirements

What you’ll need

Committed to Merit America’s mission to pave pathways to family-sustaining careers, break the poverty cycle, and create upward mobility for low-wage workers
Demonstrated history of embodying Merit America’s values
Shared sense of responsibility and ownership for collective work
Committed to continuous learning and growth in advancing inclusive excellence and closing gaps across lines of difference
Passionate about fostering an inclusive workplace culture
Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in higher education, counseling, or a related field preferred
5+ years in instructional or learning design, with a portfolio of courses personally built
Experience designing for online, competency-based, or workforce-aligned programs serving working adults strongly preferred
Experience managing people or leading a team, formally or as a project lead
Experience partnering with subject matter experts
Strong technical fluency with learning management systems, authoring and media tools, AI-enabled instructional tools, and accessibility standards
Comfortable learning new tools quickly
Highly organized with strong project management instincts
Comfortable in a start-up environment, creating templates, standards, and processes where none exist
Learner-centered judgment for working adults and non-traditional learners

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, Dental and Vision insurance (100% Paid Employee Only Coverage)
Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account
Dependent care Flexible Spending Account
Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Merit
Education & personal development reimbursement
Catalog of courses for professional learning and development
Short and long-term disability
Flexible PTO (after a 90-day introductory period)
Paid Parental Leave and Adoption benefits (after 1 year of employment)
11 federally recognized holidays
2 week holiday office closure in December/January
401(k) retirement plan with automatic Merit contribution
Wellness Benefits/Wellness Resources
Discount perks at work program
Phone/technology stipend
Home office setup stipend
Affinity groups and community building via virtual, in-person, and/or regional meetups