Senior Curriculum & Instructional Design Consultant

 Where Designing Expertise Meets Purpose-Driven Impact
Use your knowledge to build the curriculum that helps employees across the country build financial independence.   

 At Blue Ridge Associates, we don’t just administer retirement plans — we help people build lasting financial security. Through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and 401(k) services, we empower employees across the country to take ownership of their financial futures. We’re proud to be one of the top ESOP administration firms in the nation, serving a diverse range of companies that believe in sharing success with their people.

Whether remote or based in one of our seven offices across the country, our team members work together with a shared mission: to make it easy for retirement plan professionals and sponsors to provide wealth-building benefits to business owners and their employees.

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Curriculum and Instructional Design Consultant to lead the design and development of advanced learning programs for mid- to high-level ESOP and 401k administrators.  This 1-year contract role will focus on creating rigorous, practical, and scalable curriculum that supports professional mastery.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in adult learning, curriculum architecture, and instructional design, along with the ability to translate complex regulatory, financial, and operational concepts into engaging and effective learning experiences for experienced professionals.

Key Responsibilities

Curriculum Strategy & Design

1. Design and develop comprehensive, end-to-end curricula for mid- to senior-level ESOP administrators (Primary focus) and 401k administration (Secondary), including learning pathways, course frameworks, and competency models
2. Translate complex topics (e.g., compliance, governance, valuation, fiduciary responsibilities, and plan administration) into structured, learner-centered educational experiences
3. Align curriculum to clearly defined learning outcomes, professional standards, and real-world application

Instructional Design & Development

1. Create high-quality instructional materials, including facilitator guides, participant workbooks, assessments, case studies, and scenario-based learning
2. Apply adult learning theory and best practices (e.g., experiential learning, problem-based learning, and assessment-driven design)
3. Design content for multiple delivery modalities, including instructor-led training, virtual learning, blended programs, and self-paced learning

Stakeholder Collaboration

1. Partner closely with subject matter experts (SMEs), ESOP/401k practitioners, and internal stakeholders to ensure technical accuracy and relevance
2. Facilitate design sessions and content reviews with SMEs and leadership
3. Incorporate stakeholder feedback while maintaining instructional integrity and learning effectiveness

Quality & Continuous Improvement

1. Establish and maintain instructional design standards, templates, and style guidelines
2. Evaluate learning effectiveness using assessments, learner feedback, and performance outcomes
3. Continuously refine curriculum based on learner needs, industry changes, and program goals

Qualifications & Experience

Required

1. 5+ years of experience in curriculum design and instructional design, preferably in professional, financial, legal, or regulatory education
2. Proven experience designing advanced-level curriculum for experienced professionals (not entry-level learners)
3. Strong grounding in adult learning theory and instructional design methodologies (e.g., ADDIE, backward design, competency-based learning)
4. Exceptional ability to synthesize complex content into clear, engaging, and instructionally sound learning materials
5. Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines in a contract environment

Preferred

1. Familiarity with ESOPs, retirement plans, financial services, accounting, or legal/regulatory education
2. Experience working with professional associations, certification programs, or continuing education initiatives
3. Experience designing assessment strategies aligned to professional competency and applied practice

Contract Details

1. Type: 1-Year Contract (Full-Time or Near Full-Time Engagement)
2. Location: Remote or Hybrid (as applicable)
3. Reporting Relationship: Learning & Development or Program Leadership
4. Compensation: Competitive, commensurate with experience

Success in This Role Looks Like

1. Delivery of a cohesive, high-quality curriculum that meets the needs of experienced ESOP and 401k      administrators
2. Strong adoption and positive feedback from learners and stakeholders
3. Clear, well-structured learning experiences that elevate professional capability and confidence

You’ll join a company that works hard and supports one another — while doing work that truly matters.

We offer:

· Remote-first work culture with in-office options (VA, MD, OH, IL, CA, MN)

· Competitive compensation

· Company culture built on community: happy hours, social events, committee opportunities, and volunteer opportunities to make a difference

Join Us as We Build Wealth for Generations

Everything we do is driven by our vision. We see a future where more people achieve financial independence, enjoy meaningful retirement, and leave a legacy.

To get there, we live by our values every day:

· Precision – Accurate records, timely and error-free service.

· Efficacy – We ensure compliance, support communication, and guide participants toward retirement readiness.

· Advocacy – We champion regulatory and legislative change that benefits employers and employees.

· Collaboration – Trusted partners to clients, advisors, and teammates alike.

· Excellence – We bring personalized, proactive, high-touch service to everything we do.

Apply now and make a career out of making a difference!

Blue Ridge is committed to equal pay and pay transparency.

The hourly base compensation range for this position is $45 - $69. This range represents the anticipated pay for this role across multiple U.S. labor markets and is intended as a general guideline.

Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the role, relevant experience, work location, education and training, key skills, internal equity, external market data, and current business considerations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Must be authorized to work in the US.