POSITION TITLE: Manager, Learning Design, Education
STATUS: Full time / Exempt
LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois (Hybrid: 2 days/week on-site, 3 days/week remote)
ABOUT NCSBN
The world leader in nursing regulatory knowledge, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that empowers and supports nursing regulators. The organization protects the public and the trust in nursing through innovative regulatory solutions, insights and expertise. With its NCLEX® Examinations, Nursys® national licensure database and groundbreaking research, NCSBN attracts people who are passionate about what they do and driven by the knowledge that their work protects the public.
JOB SUMMARY
We are seeking a learning design manager to join our Education team. The ideal candidate will bring value to the team by overseeing instructional design within the Education department and leading the development of engaging, accessible e-learning programs for regulatory professionals.
Reporting to the Director, Education, the Manager, Learning Design will lead a team responsible for delivering high-quality internal services, supervise instructional designers, collaborate with development and delivery teams, and provide strategic direction to ensure courses align with adult learning principles, accessibility standards, and the organization’s mission.
This role offers a great opportunity for a senior instructional designer experienced in leading end‑to‑end design projects who is looking to continue growing their leadership and design skills while supporting an organization committed to advancing nursing regulation and policy worldwide.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Leads instructional design for departmental courses, establishing frameworks and templates to ensure consistency across the education portfolio. Supports long-term planning by identifying future course needs, recommending process improvements and design priorities.
- Manages instructional designers, providing coaching, feedback, and professional development support. Sets design goals and expectations, conducts performance evaluations, and fosters a collaborative, learner-centered team culture.
- Partners with learning developers, delivery specialists, SMEs, and internal stakeholders to ensure smooth transitions from course design to build and delivery. Responsible for project planning and facilitating cross-functional reviews to maintain course integrity and learner impact.
- Leads continuous improvement of instructional design practices by applying current research in adult learning, accessibility, and engagement strategies. Promotes high design standards and explores new tools, technologies, and practices to enhance the learner experience.
- Analyzes learner and stakeholder feedback to identify opportunities for course design improvement. Oversees implementation of content and design updates to strengthen clarity, engagement, and accessibility across learning programs.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in instructional design, educational technology, curriculum and instruction, or related field required.
- Minimum of five years of experience in instructional design or curriculum development including at least two years of leadership experience required.
- Strong knowledge of instructional design models, digital learning pedagogy, and curriculum development.
- Ability to lead and coach design professionals with a collaborative approach.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Familiarity with e-learning technologies, platforms, and authoring tools.
- Ability to ensure all content meets accessibility standards and supports diverse learners.
- Ability to establish and maintain design frameworks, templates, and processes.
- Detail-oriented, organized, and able to manage multiple projects and timelines.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The anticipated starting salary for this position is $69,000 – $80,000 annually. Actual compensation will be dependent on a candidate’s relevant experience, skills, training, certifications/licenses, qualifications and geographical location.
NCSBN offers eligible employees a competitive benefits package that provides our team members with plan options to meet their individual needs. Review benefit details here: https://www.ncsbn.org/about/governance-and-staff/careers/ncsbn-benefits.page
TO BE CONSIDERED
Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their resume as soon as possible.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is an equal employment opportunity employer. Decisions affecting employment are considered without regard to disability, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status or any other protected characteristic.
