Instructional Designer - Retail

About the role

The Instructional Designer - Retail is the learning architecture and design lead within the L&D team for our RaceTrac Stores. This role is accountable for translating business needs and performance gaps into structured, evidence-based learning solutions.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business leaders, operations, HR, and SMEs to conduct thorough needs analyses — distinguishing training problems from performance or process problems before design begins.
• Translate identified performance gaps and business objectives into clear, measurable learning objectives that drive instructional design decisions.
• Define the appropriate learning modality, format, and delivery approach (eLearning, ILT, blended, microlearning, job aids) for each initiative based on audience, context, and complexity.
• Develop and maintain a learning design framework and standards that guide the work of the full L&D team.
• Design learning experiences using established ID models (e.g., ADDIE, SAM, backward design) and adult learning principles — not just content delivery.
• Create and maintain RaceTrac's instructional design standards, templates, and content maturity frameworks to ensure quality and consistency across all programs.
• Serve as the primary instructional consultant for business stakeholders and SMEs — managing scope, setting expectations, and guiding the content development process from kickoff through final review.
• Lead design review sessions with SMEs, synthesizing complex operational and technical information into clear learning content without losing accuracy.
• Manage review cycles, feedback integration, and revision processes with professionalism and a bias for action.
• Establish and track learning effectiveness metrics, using data and learner feedback to continuously improve program design and instructional quality.
• Conduct periodic reviews of existing training portfolios to identify gaps, outdated content, and opportunities for redesign or consolidation.
• Contribute to RaceTrac's content maturity matrix, ensuring programs are appropriately classified and maintained throughout their lifecycle.
• Partner closely with Content Developers to hand off design work clearly, answer production questions, and review final content for instructional fidelity.
• Contribute to the L&D team's collective capability — sharing frameworks, templates, and lessons learned to elevate the quality of work across the group.
• Stay current on trends in instructional design, adult learning research, and emerging technologies including AI-assisted design tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Curriculum & Instruction, Psychology, Communications, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of progressive experience in instructional design, with a demonstrated track record of designing learning solutions from needs analysis through deployment — not just content production.
• Strong command of adult learning theory, instructional design models (ADDIE, SAM, backward design), and performance-based learning objectives.
• Proven ability to write clear, production-ready storyboards, scripts, and facilitator guides that others can build from.
• Experience partnering with and managing SMEs through a full content development lifecycle.
• Proficiency in Articulate 360 (Storyline and/or Rise) sufficient to prototype or review eLearning content, even if production is handled by Content Developers.
• Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS) — understanding how content is deployed, tracked, and reported.
• Strong project management skills: ability to manage multiple concurrent design projects, hit deadlines, and communicate status clearly.
• Exceptional written communication skills — storyboards, stakeholder documents, and program materials must be polished and precise.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in retail, convenience, or frontline workforce training environments.
• Knowledge of learning measurement frameworks (Kirkpatrick, Phillips ROI) and experience designing evaluation strategies.
• Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG) for digital learning content.
• Experience with gamification, scenario-based design, or virtual/augmented reality learning applications.
• Exposure to AI-assisted content development tools and an interest in integrating them responsibly into design workflows.