Training Specialist

The Training Specialist is a seasoned instructional design professional responsible for leading the end-to-end design and development of high-impact training programs for the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA). This role functions as an internal instructional design consultant, partnering closely with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), regulatory personnel, and PDA staff to transform complex technical content into engaging, learner-centered experiences. The ideal candidate is an independent, self-driven professional with deep expertise in instructional design methodology, e-learning development, adult learning theory, and project management. This person must also be a certified instructor capable of facilitating training courses and traveling to course locations on a semi-regular basis.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Instructional Design & Content Development

• Lead the design and development of training materials from scratch on behalf of instructors and subject matter experts, including facilitator guides, participant workbooks, job aids, assessments, and multimedia content.
• Apply established instructional design models (e.g., ADDIE) and adult learning principles to develop effective, engaging, and measurable learning experiences.
• Develop realistic, scenario-based case studies that reflect real-world challenges in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry.
• Design and develop interactive, hands-on learning activities for both in-person and virtual training environments that reinforce key concepts and drive knowledge retention.
• Create web-based training (WBT) modules and e-learning courses using authoring tools (e.g., Articulate Storyline, Rise, Adobe Captivate, or equivalent).
• Assess learner needs and align course content with defined learning objectives and performance outcomes.
• Evaluate and revise existing training materials to ensure instructional effectiveness, relevance, and alignment with industry standards.

SME Consultation & Collaboration

• Serve as an instructional design consultant to Subject Matter Experts, guiding them through the content development process and translating technical knowledge into learner-friendly instructional content.
• Facilitate structured SME interviews, content review sessions, and iterative feedback cycles to ensure accuracy and instructional quality.
• Partner with regulatory personnel and PDA staff to ensure training content reflects current industry regulations, guidance documents, and best practices.
• Coach and advise SMEs and instructors on best practices for instructional delivery and learning experience design.

Project Management

• Manage multiple instructional design projects simultaneously, serving as the primary point of contact from needs analysis through final delivery.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, timelines, and milestones to ensure on-time, high-quality course delivery.
• Organize and maintain training course documents, version histories, and development assets.
• Proactively identify and mitigate project risks, escalating issues as appropriate to the Head of Education, TRI.
• Coordinate logistics and resources for course development projects across cross-functional teams.

Facilitation & Instructor Support

• Serve as an instructor and facilitate training courses for PDA members and participants, including in-person sessions requiring semi-regular travel.
• Provide on-site support to PDA staff and trainers during training events, ensuring a productive and engaging learning environment.
• Adapt facilitation approach as needed to meet the needs of diverse adult learner audiences.
• Work outside normal business hours and on weekends prior to and during events, with advance notice.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Instructional Design, Education, Learning & Development, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressive experience in instructional design, with demonstrated expertise in developing training materials from concept to delivery.
• Proven experience developing web-based trainings (WBT) and e-learning modules using industry-standard authoring tools (e.g., Articulate Storyline, Rise, Adobe Captivate, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated experience developing case studies and scenario-based learning activities.
• Experience acting as an instructional design consultant to SMEs in a regulated or technical industry; pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical experience preferred.
• Proven experience as facilitator / instructor both online and in-person.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent instructional design projects with competing deadlines.

Competencies:

• Expert-level knowledge of instructional design principles, models (ADDIE, SAM, Bloom’s Taxonomy), and adult learning theory.
• Highly proficient in e-learning authoring tools and LMS platforms.
• Skilled at consulting with and influencing SMEs and instructors without direct authority.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage timelines, deliverables, and stakeholders independently.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and make sound decisions in ambiguous situations.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly to varied audiences.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills; ability to evaluate instructional effectiveness and recommend improvements.
• Exceptional organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and virtual collaboration tools.
• Ability to travel semi-regularly to support on-site training courses, with advance notice.
• Ability to apply sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive or proprietary information

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to independently ascend and descend stairs
• Ability to independently reach, twist, and bend
• Ability to independently remain stationery for extended periods of time
• Ability to independently lift up to 30 pounds when required by work assignment