Job Description

MedCerts – a Stride Inc. company (NYSE: LRN) – is a national online training provider dedicated to strengthening the workforce through innovative eLearning solutions. Focused on certifications in high-demand areas such as allied healthcare and IT, MedCerts serves individuals from diverse backgrounds, including military members and their families, career changers, and those seeking new opportunities. MedCerts delivers career training through high-quality, video-based instruction, virtual simulations, interactive learning experiences, and hands-on training through experiential learning solutions. The company partners with workforce organizations, healthcare providers, and academic institutions to help build talent pipelines and provide pathways to career advancement, including opportunities for articulated college credit. MedCerts is part of Stride, Inc., a leader in transforming the teaching and learning experience through innovative, technology-enabled education solutions. Stride provides high-quality curriculum and programs to learners across primary, secondary, and post-secondary settings, as well as to military and enterprise partners. For more information, visit medcerts.com.

The Senior Instructional Designer will be a key member of the Curriculum and Learning Team.

The Senior Instructional Designer plays a critical role in advancing high-quality, learner-centered course design across MedCerts healthcare and IT programs. This role is responsible for leading the design and development of asynchronous, instructor-led, and microlearning experiences that improve learner persistence, course completion, and certification outcomes.

As a senior member of the Curriculum & Learning team, this individual serves as a strategic thought partner to leadership, mentors others through best practices, refines instructional design standards, and collaborates cross-functionally to ensure learning solutions align with learner, partner, and organizational, partner needs.

General Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design and development of new and redesigned online courses, with a focus on asynchronous learning experiences.
• Apply evidence-based instructional design principles, including adult learning theory, Cognitive Load Theory, and the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning.
• Design assessments and learning activities that support mastery, certification readiness, and applied skill development.
• Integrate digital tools and AI-enhanced strategies thoughtfully to improve learner outcomes, not for novelty, but for instructional impact.
• Align course materials with accessibility and usability best practices (WCAG familiarity a plus).
• Partner with subject matter experts (SMEs) to analyze complex content, ensure accuracy and relevance, and translate specialized knowledge into clear, instructionally sound learning experiences aligned to program outcomes.
• Collaborate with contracted resources and third-party vendors to support instructional design and development efforts, including course builds, multimedia production, and learning asset creation, ensuring deliverables meet established standards for quality, consistency, and timelines.
• Collaborate cross functionally with internal teams including Curriculum & Learning, Student Success, Operations, Career Services, and Sales to support interorganizational goals, understand partner needs (e.g., hospital systems and universities), and provide instructional design insight to inform course build and customization decisions.

Senior Level Contributions

• Serve as a trusted thought partner to Curriculum & Learning leadership.
• Lead instructional design initiatives that span multiple projects or organizational priorities.
• Refine and strengthen instructional design standards, templates, and processes.
• Model best practices in learning science, digital pedagogy, and UX/UI for learning environments.
• Inform continuous improvement efforts through learner data, feedback, and performance trends.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred in Instructional Design, Education, Learning Sciences, or a closely related field. 
• 3+ years of professional instructional design experience, preferably supporting higher education and/or workforce-aligned programs. 
• Demonstrated expertise in needs analysis and learning solution design, assessment and evaluation design, adult learning theory and learning science, and LMS-based course development with strong attention to UX/UI and learner experience.
• Strong working knowledge of instructional theory and assessment practices with the ability to apply theory to real-world learning challenges. 
• Proven proficiency with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and digital course delivery environments. 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly articulate instructional rationale and provide actionable feedback. 
• High attention to accuracy, consistency, and detail across instructional content and documentation. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities while delivering high-quality work within established timelines. 
• Strong commitment to Quality Assurance, including embedding QA best practices throughout the instructional design and development lifecycle. 
• Ability to think strategically and holistically, considering instructional, operational, technological, and business implications when designing learning content.
• Strong collaboration skills with experience partnering effectively with SMEs, cross-functional teams, and external stakeholders. 
• High comfort level with technology for communication, collaboration, and task completion in a remote work environment. 
• Demonstrated passion for continuous learning and professional growth, with a commitment to pursuing new knowledge, credentials, and certifications over time.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience designing academically grounded courses for healthcare and/or IT programs, including credit-aligned, outcomes-based, or university-partnered learning experiences (strongly preferred, not required).
• Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG).
• Experience with tools such as Articulate 360, Canvas, Moodle, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft tools, and project management or workflow platforms (e.g., Trello) to support course planning, development tracking, and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Comfort working in fast-paced, project-driven environments with multiple stakeholders.
• Certifications (e.g., ATD, CPTD) are a plus.

Success In This Role (6–12 Months)

In the first year, successful performance would include:

• On-time, high-quality launch of redesigned and new course builds.
• Measurable improvements in learner persistence, course completion, and certification pass rates.
• Reduced student support tickets stemming from curriculum or instructional design issues.
• Visible progress toward a scalable, digital- and AI-first content strategy grounded in sound instructional design theory.
• Strong partnerships across teams, vendors, and external partners that support learner success and organizational growth.

Compensation & Benefits:

Stride, Inc. considers a person’s education, experience, and qualifications, as well as the position’s work location, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value when determining a new employee’s salary level.  Salaries will differ based on these factors, the position’s level and expected contribution, and the employee’s benefits elections.  Offers will typically be in the bottom half of the range. 

We anticipate the salary range to be $84,231.00 and $112,308.00. Eligible employees may receive a bonus.  This salary is not guaranteed, as an individual’s compensation can vary based on several factors.  These factors include, but are not limited to, geographic location, experience, training, education, and local market conditions. Stride offers a robust benefits package for eligible employees that can include health benefits, retirement contributions, and paid time off. 

Job Type

Regular

The above job is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor. All employment is “at-will” as governed by the law of the state where the employee works.  It is further understood that the “at-will” nature of employment is one aspect of employment that cannot be changed except in writing and signed by an authorized officer.

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you can request the appropriate accommodation by contacting stridecareers@k12.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

Stride, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants receive consideration for employment based on merit without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Stride, Inc. complies with all legally required affirmative action obligations. Applicants will not be discriminated against because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.