Sr. Instructional Design Manager

Your opportunity

The Charles Schwab Retail Experience and Sales Operations Wealth Management Learning and Coaching team seeks a full-time Sr Manager, Instructional Design. This role is responsible for creating impactful learning materials and assets for Branch Managers, Financial Consultants, and other retail Advisory levels, while also leading and developing a team of instructional designers and learning professionals.

The Sr Manager, Instructional Design will be focused on overseeing the creation of learning assets for various parts of the business, including but not limited to: Continuous Learning, Wealth Management University, FC Academy, Client Relationship Specialist University, Branch Manager University, and Modern Wealth Management.

The Sr Manager,  Instructional Design, you will inspire transformation by designing remarkable learning experiences as well as delivering and evolving training across all sales channels. You will partner with content managers, business, sales leadership, and internal stakeholders to craft and deliver modern learning approaches that empower our people to realize their full potential.

Key Responsibilities
•    Partner with managers, the Content Center of Excellence, Sales Operations, and business stakeholders to propose learning solutions aligned to business and learner needs.
•    Analyze performance gaps by collaborating with process owners to identify target behaviors and design solutions that drive measurable outcomes.
•    Independently lead the instructional design lifecycle from discovery through delivery, including solution design, development, and evaluation.
•    Influence learning strategy and solution direction through expertise, data‑driven insights, and strong stakeholder partnerships.
•    Evaluate strategic, tactical, and risk considerations when assessing learning trade‑offs and provide fact‑based recommendations to leadership.
•    Create content outlines, Learning Design Documents (LDDs), storyboards, and final learning outputs such as eLearning, blended learning assets, and performance support tools.
•    Review learning deliverables to ensure quality, consistency, and adherence to approved designs and standards.
•    Communicate clearly and concisely with cross‑functional partners, internal teams, and subject matter experts.
•    Establish and maintain productive working relationships with peers, internal clients, and SMEs.
•    Apply accessibility standards and inclusive design principles across all learning deliverables.
•    Demonstrate strong time‑management skills by managing multiple priorities and adhering to delivery schedules.
•    Develop assessment strategies and evaluation methods to measure learning effectiveness and objective attainment.
•    Stay current on instructional design trends, learning technologies, and industry best practices to continuously enhance learning experiences.

What you have

•    6+ years of experience designing blended learning experiences in a complex business environment.

•    1+ year of Schwab domain experience gained as a current or recent contractor or employee
•    Advanced knowledge of instructional design theories, methodologies, and adult learning principles.
•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into clear learning solutions.
•    Advanced proficiency in content development tools such as Articulate Storyline and Captivate; additional Articulate tools a plus.
•    Strong understanding of learning product lifecycles and the ability to independently manage design projects end‑to‑end.
•    Demonstrated experience developing high‑quality informational, process, and sales operations courses.
•    Strong attention to detail and commitment to design quality and learner experience.
•    A passion for learning innovation and the ability to adapt solutions to evolving business needs.
•    Technically savvy, with the ability to evaluate and adopt emerging learning technologies.
•    Experience working within a Learning Management System (LMS).
•    Strong learner‑ and client‑centric mindset.
•    Ability to build trust and credibility quickly with stakeholders and partners.
•    Proven ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams.
•    Strengths in problem solving, influencing without authority, and executing in a fast‑paced environment.
•    Ability to write and edit training content to enhance clarity and learning comprehension.
•    Aptitude or experience in graphic design, video, audio, animation, or visual asset creation a plus.
•    Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Behavior, Education, Communications, Writing, Design, Multimedia, or equivalent work experience.
•    Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), SharePoint, WebEx, MS Teams, Photoshop, and Snagit.
•    Experience designing in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or similar platforms a plus.

Why work with the Schwab team?
Our employees and contractors play a central role in reinventing a multi-trillion-dollar industry, creating a better, more modern way to build and manage wealth. Own your tomorrow embodies everything we do! Schwab is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and contractors without regard to any status protected by law.