Instructional Designer (CONTRACT)

Instructional Designer

Company: 3M

Employment Type: Freelance

Location: Maplewood, MN (Open to fully remote candidates)

Department: IT Governance Risk & Compliance – USA 3M Company – 1000826901

Category: Design

Duration: Start Date: 05/11/2026 | Estimated End Date: 12/31/2026

Schedule: 40 hours/week, 8 hours/day

3M is seeking a skilled DES Designer III to support an existing project within the IT Governance Risk & Compliance team. This freelance opportunity is ideal for a creative and detail-oriented instructional design professional who is passionate about building engaging, effective learning experiences for technology teams.

In this role, you will collaborate with subject matter experts to identify training needs and create impactful instructional materials aligned with business goals. You will design and develop e-learning courses, instructor-led training materials, job aids, and other resources using modern instructional design methodologies and technologies. The position also requires applying gamification strategies to improve learner engagement, motivation, and retention.

You will help assess learner needs, analyze training data, and implement evaluation strategies to measure the effectiveness of learning content. Success in this role requires the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while delivering high-quality materials on schedule. A strong interest in innovation and continuous improvement in learning design is essential.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with SMEs to identify training needs and define learning objectives.
• Design and develop e-learning courses, ILT materials, job aids, and related resources.
• Create interactive learning experiences using proven instructional design models such as ADDIE and SAM.
• Apply gamification techniques to enhance participation and knowledge retention.
• Support needs assessments and use learner data to inform design decisions.
• Develop evaluation methods to measure training effectiveness and recommend improvements.
• Stay current on trends in instructional design, e-learning technology, and gamification.
• Manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Continuously improve the learning experience for technology-focused audiences.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 3–5 years of instructional design experience, preferably within the technology sector.
• Proficiency with e-learning authoring tools such as Articulate Storyline and Adobe Captivate.
• Experience working with learning management systems (LMS).
• Strong knowledge of adult learning principles and instructional design frameworks.
• Experience implementing gamification in learning and development programs.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with multimedia production, including video and audio editing.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies and trends in instructional design and digital learning.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to 3M’s learning and development efforts by creating innovative, learner-centered training solutions that support business and technology goals.