Location: Atlanta, GA preferred; remote U.S. considered for highly qualified candidates.
Travel: Approximately 25% travel. Team members are expected to work from their nearest Cox office 1-2 days per month.
About the Role
The Senior Manager, Instructional Design leads a team of instructional design professionals responsible for developing innovative learning strategies and solutions that enable business performance across Cox Automotive. This leader partners closely with business stakeholders to identify capability gaps, prioritize learning investments, and deliver scalable learning experiences that support operational excellence, customer experience, and business transformation.
The ideal candidate is a strategic people leader with deep expertise in instructional design, consulting, stakeholder management, and curriculum development. They are passionate about developing talent, driving continuous improvement, and leveraging emerging learning technologies, including AI-enabled solutions, to improve learner outcomes and business results.
Responsibilities
Lead, coach, and develop a team of instructional design professionals, fostering engagement, accountability, and career growth.
Partner with business leaders to assess learning needs and align learning strategies to organizational goals and priorities.
Drive the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of instructor-led, virtual, digital, and blended learning solutions.
Oversee learning portfolios, project prioritization, resource allocation, and delivery execution across multiple business initiatives.
Serve as a trusted consultant to stakeholders, recommending learning and performance solutions that address business challenges.
Champion innovation and continuous improvement, leveraging learning technologies and AI-enabled development practices to enhance effectiveness and efficiency.
Establish and monitor success metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and business impact.
Ensure learning solutions meet quality standards, support operational objectives, and deliver measurable results.
Build a high-performing team culture focused on collaboration, customer service, creativity, and continuous learning.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in a related field and 8 years of experience in Learning & Development, Instructional Design, Curriculum Development, or a related discipline. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and 6 years of experience; a Ph.D. and 3 years of experience; or 12 years of related experience.
3+ years of people leadership experience.
Experience leading complex learning initiatives across multiple stakeholder groups.
Strong consulting, coaching, communication, project management, and relationship-building skills.
Experience managing competing priorities and influencing decision-making across all levels of the organization.
Preferred
Master's degree in a related field.
Experience supporting operational, technical, field, or customer-facing organizations.
Experience leading instructional design teams within a large, matrixed organization.
Experience with learning technologies, vendor management, and AI-enabled learning development practices.
PMP, Agile, Lean Six Sigma, ATD, or other relevant professional certifications.
Drug Testing:
To be employed in this role, you'll need to clear a pre-employment drug test. Cox Automotive does not currently administer a pre-employment drug test for marijuana for this position. However, we are a drug-free workplace, so the possession, use or being under the influence of drugs illegal under federal or state law during work hours, on company property and/or in company vehicles is prohibited.
Compensation:
Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $111,500.00 - $185,900.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.
Benefits:
The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company’s needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.
Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.
Application Deadline: 09/20/2026
EOE, including disability/vets
