Senior Instructional Designer

Salary: $98,280.00 - $138,320.00 Annually
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Non-Classified
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: P0970-26
Department: Customer Experience & External Affairs
Division: TPU External Affairs
Opening Date: 07/13/2026
Closing Date: 7/27/2026 5:00 PM Pacific


Position Description
Are you passionate about designing learning experiences that help people succeed? Join Tacoma Public Utilities as a Senior Instructional Designer and play a key role in developing innovative training programs that support employee growth, technology adoption, and exceptional customer service. Your work will directly contribute to preparing employees with the knowledge and skills they need to serve our community with excellence.

The Senior Instructional Designer supports Customer Experience & External Affairs (CXEA), Tacoma Power, and Tacoma Water by designing, developing, producing, and managing a variety of engaging in-person and virtual training programs and materials. This role is responsible for creating sustainable learning solutions that support onboarding, technology adoption, policy and procedure training, and the ongoing development of employees across Tacoma Public Utilities.

Using best practices in adult learning, instructional design, and organizational change management, the Instructional Designer develops eLearning, videos, graphics, job aids, assessments, facilitator guides, and other learning resources. The position collaborates with divisions across the organization and external technology vendors to gather requirements, assess training needs, and implement effective learning solutions.
Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct training needs assessments and analyze business requirements to align learning programs with organizational goals and department priorities.
• Design, develop, and maintain eLearning solutions using adult learning principles and agile instructional design methodologies.
• Create instructional materials including online courses, assessments, job aids, facilitator guides, learner workbooks, and reference materials.
• Build interactive eLearning modules using tools such as Articulate 360.
• Produce multimedia learning content, including graphics, videos, animations, and interactive activities.
• Collaborate with Learning Management System administrators to upload, test, launch, and maintain training courses.
• Provide organizational change management support for projects by developing communications, fact sheets, job aids, and training resources.
• Ensure all training materials meet accessibility standards and incorporate evidence-based learning design practices.
• Partner with subject matter experts, technology teams, and vendors to gather content, validate materials, and evaluate training effectiveness.

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree in education, instructional design, curriculum development or directly-related field

Minimum Experience*
4 years of instructional design experience

*Relevant education and experience may substitute for one another on a year-for-year basis.

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements
Instructional Design Certificate from the Association for Talent Development or equivalent

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

The City of Tacoma believes that diversity of thought, background, and experience contributes to our success and innovation. If you're passionate about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply. If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.
Apply

Interested individuals should apply online by completing the application and attaching a resume and cover letter by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process.
Compensation & Benefits
Pay Details:
Hourly Rate: $47.25- $66.50
Annual Salary: $98,280.00- $138,320.00
Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at View phone number on click.appcast.io by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the NEOGOV system, call the applicant support line at View phone number on click.appcast.io between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at or by calling View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
01


Do you have an equivalent combination to a bachelor's degree in education, instructional design, curriculum development or directly-related field AND 4 years of instructional design experience?*Relevant education and experience may substitute for one another on a year-for-year basis.

• Yes
• No

02


Please list any instructional design certifications you possess, such as an Instructional Design Certificate from the Association for Talent Development or similar certification. If you do not have a certification, please put N/A.
03


Describe your experience designing and developing instructor-led and/or eLearning training programs. If you have a portfolio link, please provide it at the end of your response.
04


One of the City's Principles that guides us is Equity. Describe what equity means to you and describe any experience you have working with diverse groups of people.
05


Describe your experience using Articulate 360 (or similar authoring tools) to create online learning.
06


Please tell us how you learned about this job opening.

• Job Interest Card notification
• Professional organization
• Military organization
• City of Tacoma employee
• Online job board posting
• Word of mouth
• LinkedIn
• Tacoma Training & Education Program (TTEP)
• Indeed
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Careers in Government
• Government Jobs
• Outreach Event
• National Diversity Network
• African American Job Network
• Disability Job Network
• Asian Job Network
• Latino Job Network
• Retirement Job Network
• LGBT Job Network
• Veteran Job Network
• Other

07


Please provide specific information regarding how you learned about this job opening. Thank you, your feedback will be used to evaluate our success reaching the public and refine our methods for future job postings.
Required Question