Job Description:
The Global Instructional Design Manager (Growth Learning) leads the design and delivery of high-impact programs that build business development, sales effectiveness, and client relationship capabilities across the firm. This role partners closely with business leaders, growth teams, and subject matter experts to translate revenue priorities into practical, skill-based learning experiences that drive measurable outcomes.
In this global role, the Instructional Design Manager establishes scalable design approaches while tailoring content to regional market realities—ensuring programs are relevant, actionable, and aligned to growth strategy.
The ideal candidate will be:
A business-minded professional with strong understanding of sales, client development, and revenue growth drivers and progressive instructional design experience in the area of sales and business development.
Highly collaborative and action-oriented, capable of building productive relationships across a matrixed, global organization.
Skilled in designing applied, practice-based learning (e.g., role plays, simulations, deal labs, coaching) that builds real-world business development capability.
A strategic, data-driven designer who uses pipeline, win rate, and client engagement metrics to shape and evaluate learning impact.
Highly consultative; able to challenge and influence business leaders to align learning solutions to growth priorities.
Comfortable working with senior leaders, including partners and client-facing professionals.
Adept at prioritization, delegation, and managing multiple projects and stakeholder needs simultaneously across regions.
Culturally agile, comfortable working across countries, cultures, and time zones, and able to adjust communication and design approaches accordingly.
An effective coach and mentor with an approachable style and proven ability to guide project teams and junior designers.
Confident in ambiguity; able to navigate global alignment with local adaptation needs with initiative and creativity.
The Ideal Candidate Will Possess:
Bachelor’s degree; advanced training or certification in instructional design, adult learning, or learning technologies preferred.
Minimum of 7 years of progressive success in instructional design, learning development, or related project/learning management roles, ideally within a professional services environment.
Experience designing programs for mid- to senior-level professionals focused on business development, sales strategy, or client relationship management.
Demonstrated experience designing blended, virtual, in-person, self-study, and experiential learning solutions across geographies.
Strong consultative skills with the ability to translate business needs into targeted instructional solutions.
Experience working with global and offshore vendors, managing timelines, quality standards, and deliverables.
Strong verbal, written, and visual communication skills with the ability to convey complex ideas in clear, learner-friendly ways.
Solid PC skills with expert proficiency in MS Office 365.
Knowledge of compliance requirements for CPE/CPD and regulatory learning standards.
Ability to travel as needed.
Core Responsibilities:
Growth learning:
Partner with growth leaders to identify capability gaps impacting revenue (e.g., pipeline development, storytelling, pricing, relationship building).
Monitor emerging learning trends and tools and assess the viability of incorporating them into new and existing global growth curriculum.
Translate firm growth strategy into clear, actionable learning experiences tied to client lifecycle moments.
Establish content development plans and lead build/buy/partner decisions; oversee vendor selection and management.
Design and deliver programs that build practical business development skills, including opportunity identification, pursuit strategy, and client conversations, and incorporate real client scenarios, deal simulations, and live opportunity work into learning design.
Align programs to key industry, business and organizational metrics such as pipeline growth, win rates, and cross-selling behaviors to create a program evaluation strategy that measures effectiveness and ROI.
Reinforce learning through on-the-job sales coaching, application, and feedback loops.
Overall:
Demonstrate transparency, build things once and share them, seek advice, feedback, openly and proactively share feedback with others in the moment and across time.
Manage complex learning design projects to meet timelines, budgets, and stakeholder expectations.
Ensure learning solutions comply with global quality standards, regulatory requirements (CPE/CPD), and firmwide design practices.
Leverage analytics to evaluate learning impact and inform continuous improvement.
Coach junior designers and contribute to a collaborative, feedback-rich team culture.
Build an inclusive and collaborative team culture across global and regional teams.
Recognize and articulate the value of one’s own contribution and the contributions of others regularly with appreciation.
Global Teaming & Cross Cultural Expectations
Work effectively with team members and stakeholders located across multiple countries and time zones.
Demonstrate cultural awareness, curiosity, and adaptability when supporting global learners, faculty, and leaders.
Adjust communication and working styles to accommodate the needs of global teammates and diverse participant populations.
Flex schedules occasionally to support global rhythms (e.g., early morning or evening meetings when required).
Foster inclusive collaboration to ensure global alignment while respecting regional differences.
The base salary range for this position is between $104,000 and $156,000. Placement within the pay range is at Grant Thornton’s discretion, and it is based on multiple factors, including but not limited to, job -related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, progression within the role, geographic location, and internal equity. At Grant Thornton, compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.
About UsAt Grant Thornton, we believe in making business more personal and building trust into every result – for our clients and you. Here, we go beyond your expectations of a career in professional services by offering a career path with more: more opportunity, more flexibility, and more support. It’s what makes us different, and we think being different makes us better.
In the U.S., Grant Thornton delivers professional services through two specialized entities: Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services ― and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services.
In 2025, Grant Thornton formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform with Grant Thornton Ireland. The platform offers a premier Trans-Atlantic advisory and tax practice, as well as independent American and Irish audit practices. With $2.7 billion in revenues and more than 50 offices spanning the U.S., Ireland and other territories, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of 12,000 quality-driven professionals enjoying exceptional career-growth opportunities and a distinctive cross-border culture.
Grant Thornton is part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which provides access to its member firms in more than 150 global markets. About the TeamThe team you’re about to join is ready to help you thrive. Here’s how:
- Benefits for internship positions: Grant Thornton interns are eligible to participate in the firm’s medical, dental and vision insurance programs and the firm’s employee assistance program. Interns also receive a minimum of 72 hours of paid sick leave and are paid for firm holidays that fall within their internship period.
- Benefits for seasonal employee positions: Grant Thornton seasonal employees are eligible to participate in the firm’s medical, dental and vision insurance programs and the firm’s employee assistance program. Seasonal employees may also be eligible to participate in the firm’s 401(k) savings plan and employee retirement plan in accordance with applicable plan terms and eligibility requirements. Seasonal employees receive a minimum of 72 hours of paid sick leave.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- Minimum of 7 years progressive instructional design or learning development experience
- Experience designing programs for mid- to senior-level professionals focused on business development, sales strategy, or client relationship management
- Demonstrated experience designing blended, virtual, in-person, self-study, and experiential learning solutions across geographies
- Experience working with global and offshore vendors, managing timelines and deliverables
- Expert proficiency in MS Office 365
- Knowledge of compliance requirements for CPE/CPD and regulatory learning standards
- Skilled in designing applied, practice-based learning (role plays, simulations, deal labs, coaching)
- Ability to use data (pipeline, win rate, client engagement metrics) to evaluate learning impact
- Strong verbal, written, and visual communication and consultative skills; comfortable with senior leaders
- Ability to travel as needed
- Advanced training or certification in instructional design, adult learning, or learning technologies
What We Do
Forget what you think you know about professional services. We go beyond what’s expected and help others do the same. Grant Thornton is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading independent audit, tax and advisory firms. That means our network has more than 60,000 professionals in more than 135 countries who are ready to help public and private organizations of all sizes take on today’s challenges. But what sets us apart isn’t just what we do – it’s how we do it. Here, we believe in making business more personal and building trust into every result. We’re collaborators – obsessed with quality and ready for anything – who understand the value of strong relationships. It’s how we challenge the expectations of business and empower our people and clients to do it, too. One thing we won’t do? Grant Thornton LLP will never request money or any form of payment for services via social media. Please report any concerns at 1-800-810-3503. "Grant Thornton” refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions. Please see grantthornton.com for further details.
