Instructional Designer Project Manager Jobs in California

MSX has been a trusted partner to leading vehicle manufacturers, their retailers, and mobility organizations globally for more than 30 years. Our unwavering commitment is to help our clients transform their businesses and effectively manage operations in the areas of: Sales Performance; Repair Optimization and Compliance; Parts and Accessories Sales Performance; and Consumer Engagement. With our global teams, industry expertise, and the power of technology, we design and deliver tailored, sustainable, and innovative solutions and services that help our clients optimize their operations and captivate their customers.

The Instructional Designer is responsible for the analysis, design, development, and continuous improvement of learning content that drives measurable performance outcomes in an automotive retail environment. This role sits at the intersection of learning science, creative production, and business performance - translating client objectives and subject matter expertise into structured, engaging, and pedagogically sound learning experiences across multiple modalities. 

Operating within MSX's Learning & Development team, the Instructional Designer works collaboratively with project managers, facilitators, creative strategists, evaluation personnel, and client stakeholders to ensure that every piece of learning content is grounded in defined learning objectives, aligned with adult learning principles, and designed for the context in which it will be consumed. This individual is expected to exercise professional judgment in selecting instructional strategies, sequencing content, and choosing delivery formats that optimize learner engagement and knowledge transfer. 

This is a design-and-build role. The Instructional Designer is not simply assembling content - they are architecting learning experiences. They must balance instructional rigor with creative execution, client expectations with pedagogical best practice, and speed of delivery with quality of output. The role requires both the analytical discipline to define clear learning objectives and assessment strategies, and the creative fluency to bring those objectives to life through compelling storyboards, eLearning modules, facilitator guides, job aids, and blended learning solutions. 

Key Responsibilities 

Instructional Design & Content Development (40%) 

• Design and develop comprehensive learning content across multiple modalities - including eLearning modules, virtual instructor-led training (vILT) facilitator guides, participant workbooks, job aids, quick-reference guides, and blended learning curricula - aligned with defined learning objectives and adult learning principles. 

• Create detailed storyboards that translate learning objectives into structured, sequenced instructional narratives, specifying content flow, interaction design, visual direction, assessment placement, and media requirements for each learning asset. 

• Apply systematic instructional design methodologies (e.g., ADDIE, SAM, backward design) to ensure all content progresses logically from analysis and objective definition through design, development, implementation, and evaluation. 

• Write clear, concise, and engaging instructional copy that is appropriate for the target audience, consistent with client brand standards, and optimized for the intended delivery format (screen-based, facilitator-led, or self-directed). 

• Design learner interactions, practice activities, scenarios, and case studies that promote active learning, knowledge application, and behavioral transfer to the workplace - moving beyond passive information delivery to performance-focused design. 

• Ensure all content meets accessibility standards and is designed for diverse learner populations with varying levels of prior knowledge, technical proficiency, and learning preferences. 

• Manage content version control, file organization, and project documentation in accordance with team protocols and shared workspace standards. 

Needs Analysis & Learning Architecture (20%) 

• Participate in discovery and needs analysis activities - including stakeholder interviews, subject matter expert (SME) consultations, document review, and audience analysis - to define the learning problem, identify performance gaps, and establish measurable learning objectives. 

• Collaborate with program managers, project managers, and client stakeholders to translate business requirements and client briefs into learning design documents that specify scope, objectives, audience, modality, assessment strategy, and success criteria. 

• Recommend instructional strategies, delivery formats, and content architectures based on analysis of learner needs, content complexity, available technology, and program constraints - providing evidence-based rationale for design decisions. 

• Develop curriculum maps and learning pathways that sequence content logically across multi-session or multi-module programs, ensuring progressive skill building and appropriate scaffolding. 

• Interview and collaborate with subject matter experts to extract, organize, and validate technical content, translating domain expertise into instructionally sound and learner-accessible materials. 

• Conduct research on industry best practices, emerging instructional methodologies, and competitive learning approaches to inform design recommendations and maintain best-in-class output. 

eLearning Development & Multimedia Production (20%) 

• Build interactive eLearning modules using industry-standard authoring tools (e.g., Articulate Storyline, Articulate Rise, Adobe Captivate, or equivalent), translating approved storyboards into fully functional, visually polished digital learning experiences. 

• Design and implement interactive elements including branching scenarios, knowledge checks, drag-and-drop activities, simulations, and multimedia integrations that enhance engagement and reinforce learning objectives. 

• Collaborate with the Creative Learning Strategist and graphic designers to ensure visual design, layout, typography, and multimedia elements meet brand standards and enhance - rather than distract from - the learning experience. 

• Optimize eLearning content for deployment within the client's Learning Management System (LMS), ensuring SCORM/xAPI compliance, proper tracking configuration, and seamless learner experience across devices. 

• Produce supplementary multimedia assets as needed, including screen recordings, audio narration scripts, video storyboards, and motion graphic specifications, coordinating with production resources for final output. 

• Test all digital learning assets for functionality, usability, and technical performance prior to deployment, including cross-browser/cross-device testing and LMS integration verification.

Quality Assurance, Assessment Design & Evaluation Support (10%) 

• Design assessment instruments - including knowledge checks, pre/post-tests, scenario-based evaluations, and performance assessments - that are aligned with learning objectives and provide valid, reliable measures of learner achievement. 

• Conduct internal quality reviews of all instructional content prior to client submission, verifying accuracy, instructional integrity, brand compliance, accessibility, and alignment with the approved learning design document. 

• Collaborate with the Learning Solutions Strategist and program managers to integrate evaluation touchpoints into learning design, supporting data collection for training effectiveness measurement at appropriate Kirkpatrick or LTEM levels. 

• Participate in post-deployment content reviews, analyzing learner feedback, assessment results, and completion data to identify content that requires revision, enhancement, or retirement. 

• Maintain and apply a working knowledge of quality standards, editorial conventions, and client-specific style guides to ensure consistency across the content portfolio. 

Stakeholder Collaboration & Professional Development (10%) 

• Collaborate effectively with project managers, program managers, facilitators, creative strategists, evaluation personnel, data analysts, and client stakeholders throughout the content lifecycle - from discovery through deployment and revision. 

• Present design concepts, storyboard walk-throughs, and prototype demonstrations to internal teams and client reviewers, incorporating feedback constructively while advocating for instructional integrity. 

• Participate in cross-functional ideation and planning discussions, contributing the instructional design perspective to curriculum strategy, program architecture, and content roadmap conversations. 

• Stay current with developments in instructional design, learning science, eLearning technology, and the automotive retail industry through self-directed professional development. 

• Share design best practices, templates, and process improvements with team members to strengthen collective capability and maintain consistency across the content portfolio. 

• Perform other duties or special assignments as directed by program or organizational leadership, in accordance with business needs and team priorities. 

Education 

• Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Instructional Technology, Educational Technology, Curriculum & Instruction, Learning Sciences, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience in lieu of degree. 

Professional Experience 

• Minimum 3-4 years of experience in instructional design, curriculum development, or eLearning development in a corporate, consulting, or professional services environment. 

• Demonstrated portfolio of instructional content across multiple modalities (eLearning, ILT/vILT, blended, job aids) showing range in design approach, visual execution, and instructional strategy. 

• Experience applying systematic instructional design methodologies (ADDIE, SAM, backward design, or equivalent) to develop content from analysis through deployment. 

• Experience collaborating with subject matter experts to extract, organize, and translate domain knowledge into instructionally sound learning materials. 

• Track record of delivering content on time and to quality standards within a multi-project, deadline-driven environment. 

Technical Proficiency 

• Proficiency with at least one industry-standard eLearning authoring tool (Articulate Storyline, Articulate Rise, Adobe Captivate, or equivalent); experience with multiple tools strongly preferred. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook) for storyboarding, content drafting, and stakeholder communication. 

• Working knowledge of LMS platforms and SCORM/xAPI standards for content packaging, deployment, and learner tracking. 

• Familiarity with graphic design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, Figma) for creating visual assets, layout mockups, and multimedia specifications. 

• Comfort operating within SharePoint, Teams, and collaborative digital workspace environments. 

Core Competencies 

• Strong analytical and systems thinking - the ability to decompose complex business and performance problems into structured learning solutions with clear objectives, logical sequencing, and measurable outcomes. 

• Exceptional written communication skills, including the ability to write clear, concise instructional copy and detailed storyboard specifications that translate seamlessly into developed content. 

• Creative problem-solving and design sensibility - the ability to envision how content will look and feel in its final form, and to make design decisions that balance instructional effectiveness with visual engagement. 

• Detail orientation with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, maintain version control, and deliver consistently high-quality output under deadline pressure. 

• Learner empathy - a genuine orientation toward understanding how the target audience thinks, learns, and applies knowledge, and designing accordingly. 

• Collaborative team orientation with the ability to incorporate feedback from diverse stakeholders (PMs, SMEs, creative, evaluation) without losing instructional integrity. 

• Professional maturity and discretion in managing client feedback, competing priorities, and cross-team dynamics. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master's degree in Instructional Design, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Learning Technologies, Educational Psychology, or a related field. 

• Experience designing learning solutions for automotive retail, dealership operations, or OEM-affiliated learning environments. 

• Familiarity with evaluation methodologies and their implications for design (e.g., Kirkpatrick Model, Phillips ROI, LTEM) - particularly the ability to design content with built-in measurement touchpoints. 

• Experience with video production, audio recording, or motion graphics in a learning content context. 

• Certification from the Association for Talent Development (APTD/CPTD), the International Society for Performance Im...