The McChrystal Group Academy team is a cross-disciplinary, research-driven team with a single mission - unleashing the full potential of the individuals and teams at the heart of our partner organizations. The Academy designs and delivers multidimensional, bespoke learning experiences that generate measurable, lasting impact.

The Learning Designer owns end-to-end learning workstreams, translating client challenges and organizational goals into high-impact learning and performance solutions grounded in adult learning theory, behavioral science, and evidence-based design. This role designs experiences that drive measurable behavior change, capability development, and organizational performance through a blend of facilitated, digital, experiential, and workflow-integrated learning approaches.

Beyond core design work, the Learning Designer at McChrystal Group is defined by intellectual curiosity, a drive to lead the industry in learning innovation, and a commitment to AI-informed practice - leveraging emerging tools to accelerate design quality while maintaining the judgment and craft that no tool can replace.

The McChrystal Group Academy team is a cross-disciplinary, research-driven team with a single mission - unleashing the full potential of the individuals and teams at the heart of our partner organizations. The Academy designs and delivers multidimensional, bespoke learning experiences that generate measurable, lasting impact.

The Learning Designer owns end-to-end learning workstreams, translating client challenges and organizational goals into high-impact learning and performance solutions grounded in adult learning theory, behavioral science, and evidence-based design. This role designs experiences that drive measurable behavior change, capability development, and organizational performance through a blend of facilitated, digital, experiential, and workflow-integrated learning approaches.

Beyond core design work, the Learning Designer at McChrystal Group is defined by intellectual curiosity, a drive to lead the industry in learning innovation, and a commitment to AI-informed practice - leveraging emerging tools to accelerate design quality while maintaining the judgment and craft that no tool can replace.

McChrystal Group is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our goal is to embody and embrace a diverse workforce that is representative, at all levels, of the customers we serve. We are committed to cultivating an environment of mutual respect and all employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. We seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool and encourage applications of all backgrounds without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law.

If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or need an alternative method for applying, you may contact team.people@mcchrystalgroup.com for assistance.

Learning Design & Delivery:

Conduct thorough needs analyses to diagnose client challenges and translate them into clear learning objectives, performance outcomes, and program architecture.

Design and develop end-to-end learning solutions across modalities—including in-person workshops, virtual instructor-led training, self-paced digital learning, cohort-based experiences, performance support resources, simulations, and emerging AI-enabled learning environments.

Develop measurement strategies that evaluate learner engagement, behavior change, capability development, and business impact, leveraging qualitative and quantitative data to continuously improve learning effectiveness.

Select, tailor, and iterate on existing McChrystal Group Academy products and frameworks to meet client-specific challenges and audience needs.

Develop high-quality learning assets including facilitator guides, participant workbooks, job aids, visual decks, assessments, and digital content.

Partner with clients and internal teams to align learning design decisions to broader engagement goals, ensuring learning outcomes tie to measurable behavioral change.

Lead execution of learning events - managing logistics, coordinating cross-functional inputs, and serving as facilitator by exception when needed.

Review and refine existing materials based on course evaluations, learner feedback, and outcome data; maintain a continuous improvement mindset across all programs.

Leverage AI and emerging learning technologies to accelerate design, personalize learning experiences, support learner practice and reflection, generate insights from learner data, and enhance overall learning effectiveness—while applying critical judgment to ensure quality, accuracy, and responsible use.

Business Development:

Serve as a subject matter expert for Academy products and capabilities in internal and external sales conversations.

Contribute to proposal development, including learning solution design, pricing support, and client-facing narrative.

Maintain and deepen client relationships; proactively identify emerging learning needs and opportunities within existing accounts.

Thought Leadership & Product Development:

Contribute to thought leadership pieces, white papers, and frameworks that advance McChrystal Group's position in organizational learning and leadership development.

Stay current on research, models, and innovations in learning science, leadership development, skills-based talent strategies, educational technology, and AI-enabled learning ecosystems, translating emerging trends into practical client solutions and Academy offerings.

Proactively identify opportunities to expand or improve Academy product offerings based on market demand and client feedback.

Internal Responsibilities & Development:

Coach and mentor junior team members on learning design craft, client engagement, and professional development.

Contribute actively to team meetings, process improvements, and knowledge sharing.

Pursue continuous skill development, including building proficiency with AI-assisted design tools and emerging learning technologies.

Model McChrystal Group values - Ship/Shipmate/Self, Client First, and Innovation - in all team and client interactions.

Qualifications:

Experience:

Master's degree or Doctorate in a related field (Education, Learning & Development, Organizational Development, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Leadership, Learning and Curriculum Design, or equivalent).

3–5 years of professional experience in instructional design, learning and development, or a related field, including demonstrated ownership of full design-to-delivery workstreams.

Skills:

Strong instructional design skills with practical experience applying ADDIE, SAM, or comparable frameworks across multiple modalities.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, compelling learning narratives for diverse audiences.

Solid analytical and research skills; ability to synthesize learner data and feedback to inform design decisions.

Working knowledge of AI tools relevant to learning design - including generative AI for content development, assessment creation, and research synthesis, and the critical judgment to evaluate and refine AI-generated outputs.

Familiarity with video/multimedia production tools and digital learning platforms is a plus.

Abilities:

Ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously, prioritizing effectively and communicating progress clearly to stakeholders.

Ability to work independently, exercise sound design judgment, and drive workstreams to completion in a fast-paced consulting environment.

Ability to build credibility with clients and senior leaders through expertise, professionalism, and consistent delivery.

Ability to evaluate emerging learning technologies and translate innovation into practical, scalable solutions that enhance learner engagement, capability development, and business outcomes.

Ability and desire to travel up to 30–40% of the time, working on-site with clients as needed.

Jobs in Washington D.C. Metro