Instructional Design Manager

Instructional Design Manager

The Instructional Design Manager is an experienced people leader who has led a design team. This is a player-coach role where you will also be a working instructional designer who is responsible for leading the design, development, and continuous improvement of scalable learning solutions that support Cambridge's business strategies, operational effectiveness, and associate and Financial Professional performance. This role is accountable for instructional design quality, delivery timelines, team performance, and measurable learning outcomes. Success is defined by consistent adherence to TED standards, proactive risk management, effective enablement of change initiatives, and development of instructional design capability across the team.

Key Deliverables and Responsibilities

Instructional Design Strategy & Governance

• Establish and maintain instructional design standards, templates, and quality criteria aligned to adult learning theory and performance-based design principles.
• Ensure all learning solutions align with business objectives, defined learning outcomes, and evaluation measures.
• Oversee design review and quality assurance processes to ensure consistency, accessibility, and learner effectiveness.

Portfolio & Project Leadership

• Manage multiple instructional design projects across divisions, balancing scope, timelines, and resource capacity.
• Lead the design workstream for enterprise initiatives, including operational changes, technology enhancements, and compliance-driven efforts.
• Translate complex or ambiguous business needs into structured learning approaches and prioritized roadmaps.

Stakeholder Partnership & Influence

• Partner with business leaders, subject matter experts, HR, IT, and product teams to assess performance needs and recommend appropriate learning or performance solutions.
• Influence outcomes without direct authority through data-driven recommendations, clear communication, and strong consulting skills.
• Communicate risks, dependencies, and progress proactively to stakeholders and leadership.

Learning Technologies & Digital Enablement

• Lead development of blended and digital learning solutions using enterprise-approved tools, including Articulate 360 (Storyline/Rise) and Camtasia.
• Support technology enhancement rollouts, such as LMS/LXP upgrades, new learning tools, workflow systems, or enterprise platform implementations, with a focus on learner readiness and adoption.
• Ensure effective use of learning technologies, standards (SCORM), version control, and accessibility requirements.

People Leadership & Capability Development

• Coach, mentor, and develop instructional designers to strengthen design rigor, consulting skills, and accountability.
• Establish clear expectations, prioritize work, and enable continuous improvement across the design team.
• Build scalable tools, documentation, and processes that increase team efficiency and consistency.

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate has experience leading or supporting technology enhancement rollouts, including LMS/LXP implementations, system upgrades, or platform integrations, in close partnership with IT and business teams. They bring a strong background working in regulated or complex environments such as financial services, compliance-driven training, healthcare, or higher education. They are familiar with learning evaluation models and use data-driven approaches to measure training effectiveness. Additionally, they have experience working in hybrid or distributed organizational environments and are comfortable leading hybrid teams.

Core Competencies

• Instructional design and adult learning expertise
• Enterprise project and portfolio management
• Change enablement and performance consulting
• Stakeholder influence and executive communication
• Talent development and people leadership
• Continuous improvement and ownership mindset

Certifications:

• The Securities Industry Essential (SIE) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 99 are required within 12 months of being hired.

Why Cambridge?

Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support your health, well-being, and work-life balance. We offer paid time off, paid holidays and floating holidays, medical, dental, and vision coverage, short- and long-term disability, and company-paid life insurance. Associates also enjoy volunteer time off, wellness incentives, and additional benefits that support you both personally and professionally.

Company Overview: At Cambridge, our purpose is simple: to make a difference in the lives of our financial advisors, their clients, and our associates. Founded in 1981, we have nearly 45 years of experience supporting independent financial advisors with industry-leading tools, compliance, and transition services. Guided by our core values—integrity, commitment, flexibility, and kindness—we put financial advisors first in every decision we make.

Cambridge is an internally controlled, growth-focused independent broker-dealer with $254 billion in assets under advisement and $1.97 billion in annual revenues. We rank among the largest and fastest-growing firms in the industry, providing financial advisors with the flexibility, resources, and support to thrive. With home offices in Fairfield, Iowa, and Phoenix, Arizona, and a nationwide reach, our 900 associates maintain a 4:1 advisor-to-associate ratio to ensure personalized service.

Our community of over 4,000 producing financial advisors includes diverse business models—RIA, corporate RIA, hybrid, fee-only, and brokerage—and offers a broad selection of investment solutions with no proprietary products. At Cambridge, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and empowering workplace, where 60% of our associates and 18% of our financial advisors are women, and 17% of our advisors are under 40.

Join us to help financial advisors succeed, make an impact, and discover your Something Wonderful.

Work Environments

This role offers a hybrid schedule, requiring three days weekly in the office. Applicants should be located near one of our hubs (Fairfield, IA or Phoenix, AZ) and must be willing to work this schedule. Cambridge is not considering remote candidates at this time.

Recruiting Agencies: This position is being managed directly by Cambridge's Talent Acquisition team. We will reach out to our preferred agency partners in the rare instance we require additional talent options. Fees will not be paid for unsolicited submissions. Your respect for this process is appreciated.