Instructional Designer, Rail Training (O&M)

At Regional Transportation District (RTD), we make lives better through connections. When you join RTD, you will be among dedicated employees exhibiting RTD's values of passion, respect, diversity, trustworthiness, collaboration, and ownership. RTD is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of our diversity value statement, we encourage our employees to honor diversity in thought, people, and experience.

About the role

This position develops, designs, and implements training programs that build the technical skills and operational knowledge required for RTD’s light rail and commuter rail operations and maintenance workforce. This role creates full courses and curricula covering rail vehicles and systems—including EMUs, cab cars, coaches, light rail vehicles, and their mechanical, hydraulic, propulsion, braking, HVAC, door, safety, and onboard electronic components. This position researches technical content, collaborates with subject matter experts, and develops or refines training materials, scripts, and multimedia elements to ensure clarity, accuracy, and instructional quality. It also evaluates training effectiveness, recommends improvements, and supports instructors in delivering high-quality instruction. This role contributes to training needs assessments, gap analyses, and continuous improvement efforts to keep programs current with operational changes, technology updates, and fleet modifications. This position works closely with rail operations, maintenance, safety, and regulatory partners to ensure training supports operational readiness, workforce development, and compliance.

Success in this role requires strong instructional design expertise, analytical ability, communication skills, and project management capabilities, with a focus on translating complex technical requirements into effective learning solutions that support safe and reliable rail service.

This position is designated as a Disaster Response Worker, which may require night and weekend work during natural disasters and other emergencies (e.g., activation of 24-hour Emergency Operations Center staffing). Regular office hours and work schedules may vary and include weekdays, weekends, and hours outside of 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position may be required to work in any of the following bus-focused functions within operations and maintenance depending on business needs and/or career growth and development: Bus Operations, Bus Maintenance, Regional Operations Center, and Service Planning & Scheduling.

Responsibilities

• Instructional Design
  • Design, develop, and implement engaging learning activities and comprehensive course content for light rail and commuter rail operations and maintenance training programs, including hands-on, classroom, eLearning, blended, and simulation-based delivery.
  • Identify learning objectives, performance expectations, skills, and knowledge required for employees to safely and effectively operate and maintain rail vehicles according to operational standards, best practices, and regulatory requirements.
  • Conduct needs assessments and gap analyses to identify learning deficiencies within existing rail courses and recommend, create, or select appropriate learning experiences to close those gaps.
  • Develop and manage full courses and curriculum for rail operations and maintenance programs, including instructional materials, supplemental guides, manuals, resources, activities, assignments, and assessments.
  • Create and test multimedia content, including video, audio, simulations, gamification, and other interactive learning experiences. Write scripts and develop content to optimize knowledge transfer and learner engagement for rail systems, including propulsion, braking, HVAC, doors, safety-critical systems, and onboard electronics.
  • Structure instructional content and activities to support adult learning principles, performance outcomes, and operational competency. Continuously refine materials to address evolving rail operations, technologies, and regulatory requirements.
• Program Evaluation
  • Evaluate training programs and course materials for effectiveness; gather feedback, analyze learning metrics, and recommend improvements to optimize learning outcomes and workforce readiness.
  • Prepare reports, presentations, and recommendations for internal stakeholders and leadership regarding course development, learning effectiveness, and program outcomes.
  • Maintain documentation of course design, materials, assessments, and revisions to ensure accuracy, clarity, compliance with agency standards, and alignment with project timelines and objectives.
  • Conduct research, stay current on industry best practices, and apply tested instructional design methods to continually improve rail training programs.
• Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Collaborate with subject matter experts, operational leaders, and external stakeholders to ensure training content is accurate, relevant, and aligned with current light rail and commuter rail operations, safety standards, and agency policies.
  • Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive learning environment, promoting high-quality instruction, employee engagement, and continuous professional development.
  • Provide guidance and support to instructors on course delivery, effective use of learning technologies, and application of instructional materials to ensure consistent, high-quality rail training.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Transportation, Organizational Development, Education, Instructional Design, or Workforce Development required, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in training, curriculum development, or instructional design, preferably within rail or transit operations and maintenance (light rail and/or commuter rail).
• Demonstrated experience designing, developing, and implementing training programs and learning materials, including classroom, eLearning, blended, and simulation-based formats.
• Familiarity with rail operations and maintenance environments, including light rail and commuter rail vehicles, systems, and support functions.
• Must have a valid Colorado driver's license with no more than 4 moving violations in the past three years; cannot have a violation of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs within the last 5 years.

Skills

• Knowledge of rail operations and maintenance environments, including light rail, commuter rail, and support services.
• Knowledge of instructional design, curriculum development, and adult learning principles, particularly for technical and safety-sensitive rail operations.
• Knowledge of training standards, certification, licensure requirements, and learning management systems applicable to rail operations and maintenance.
• Knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal regulations governing rail operations, maintenance, training, and certification (e.g., FTA, APTA, OSHA).
• Skill in designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating engaging technical training programs, including classroom, hands-on, eLearning, blended, and simulation-based solutions.
• Skill in assessing learning needs, identifying content gaps, and creating solutions that align with operational, technical, and regulatory requirements.
• Skill in applying instructional design theories and best practices to create effective, scalable, and interactive learning experiences.
• Skill in analyzing training outcomes and operational performance data to measure effectiveness and recommend improvements.
• Ability to collaborate with subject matter experts, operational leaders, and external partners to ensure learning programs are accurate, relevant, and aligned with organizational goals.
• Ability to communicate technical and regulatory information clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to plan, organize, and manage multiple curriculum development projects simultaneously with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to conduct needs assessments, identify learning gaps, and create instructional solutions aligned with operational, technical, and regulatory requirements for rail systems.
• Proficient in Learning Management Systems (LMS), instructional design software (e.g., Articulate 360), and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, demonstrate credibility, and work professionally with internal and external stakeholders.

Working Environment and Physical Requirements

• The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Worker is subject to varying inside and/or outside temperatures, which may include extreme heat (temperatures above 100 degrees) or extreme cold (temperatures below 32 degrees).
• Work is performed both inside and outside. Subject to weather.
• Ability to independently travel between multiple locations as required by operational needs.

Career Map

Based on job performance, experience, education and position availability the next step on the career map for this position may be: Manager, Rail Training (O&M) or Manager, Bus Training (O&M).

Pay

Pay Range: $65,177.00 - $92,062.25 Annual