What does an instructional systems specialist do?
An instructional systems specialist is responsible for creating instructional materials and coordinating educational content. Typical duties include developing educational and training programs, developing cooperative and constructive working relationships with others, and developing plans and goals to organize and prioritize your work. As an instructional systems specialist, you will guide, direct, and motivate your subordinates and set performance standards. You are also expected to assist students in achieving their academic goals and provide technical expertise on the application and interpretation of automation training standards.
Instructional systems specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real instructional systems specialist resumes:
- Develop groundbreaking innovative ways to accomplish the commands objectives, using eLearning tools to manage and track instructor training and development.
- Manage the company SharePoint and information distribution program.
- Provide technical expertise on interpretation and application of automation training standards from higher headquarters directives and DOD.
- Implement goals and objectives for math course curricula using innovative, non-traditional, technology-base learning environment engaging learners both academically and socially
- Develop and maintain SharePoint communities of practice.
- Evaluate IMI for instructional effectiveness.
Instructional systems specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Instructional Systems Specialists are proficient in Instructional Materials, Learning Objectives, and Training Programs. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Decision-making skills.
We break down the percentage of Instructional Systems Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Instructional Materials, 13%
Served as an expert in measuring student retention/performance improvement and developed instructional materials; evaluated contract performance and planning efforts.
- Learning Objectives, 13%
Reviewed job and task analyses to produce learning objectives tailored to specific target training population.
- Training Programs, 12%
Project Management: Planned, managed, and coordinated instructional resources for large-scale instructor-led and web-based training programs.
- Training Materials, 12%
Supervised government civilian and contracted personnel engaged in development of resource documents and training materials using ASAT database.
- Instructional Design, 11%
Evaluate contractor-produced proposals and select best contractor to complete the effort based on customer requirements and sound instructional design principles.
- DOD, 9%
Review DoD policies to define and align procedures, and make recommendations to processes for effectiveness and efficiency.
"instructional materials," "learning objectives," and "training programs" are among the most common skills that instructional systems specialists use at work. You can find even more instructional systems specialist responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for an instructional systems specialist to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "instructional coordinators evaluate student test data and teaching strategies." Additionally, an instructional systems specialist resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "analyzed course content and target population to determine learning objectives and develop instructional design plans. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform instructional systems specialist duties is communication skills. Instructional systems specialists responsibilities require that "instructional coordinators need to clearly explain changes in the curriculum and teaching standards to school staff." Instructional systems specialists also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "inspected and operated airborne communication systems on hc-130, an extended range, combat search and rescue airplane. "
Decision-making skills. instructional systems specialists are also known for decision-making skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to instructional systems specialist responsibilities, because "instructional coordinators must be decisive when recommending changes to curriculums, teaching methods, and textbooks." An instructional systems specialist resume example shows how decision-making skills is used in the workplace: "determined learning objectives based on organization mission, critical task, lessons learned and field feedback. "
Interpersonal skills. A big part of what instructional systems specialists do relies on "interpersonal skills." You can see how essential it is to instructional systems specialist responsibilities because "instructional coordinators need to be able to establish and maintain positive working relationships with teachers, principals, and other administrators." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical instructional systems specialist tasks: "demonstrate interpersonal, analytical, organizational, written and problem-solving skills specific to project management/online course development. "
Leadership skills. Another common skill required for instructional systems specialist responsibilities is "leadership skills." This skill comes up in the duties of instructional systems specialists all the time, as "instructional coordinators serve as mentors to teachers." An excerpt from a real instructional systems specialist resume shows how this skill is central to what an instructional systems specialist does: "identified eight organizational roles and mapped them to dod civilian leadership development competencies. "
See the full list of instructional systems specialist skills
The three companies that hire the most instructional systems specialists are:
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Compare different instructional systems specialists
Instructional systems specialist vs. Technology teacher/technology coordinator
A curriculum developer is responsible for managing instructional materials, providing recommendations to the teachers, and making adjustments to the current student's curriculum to adhere to the highest educational standards and policies. Curriculum developers also facilitate and offer assistance for any implemented procedures. They also manage and address concerns regarding the learning standards and consider recommendations for curriculum improvement. A curriculum developer must have extensive knowledge of the education system to plan out the necessary teachers' training and coaching.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, instructional systems specialist responsibilities require skills like "instructional materials," "learning objectives," "training programs," and "training materials." Meanwhile a typical technology teacher/technology coordinator has skills in areas such as "mathematics," "technology curriculum," "computer lab," and "k-12." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, technology teacher/technology coordinators reach similar levels of education than instructional systems specialists. Technology teacher/technology coordinators are 1.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Instructional systems specialist vs. Curriculum developer
Curriculum writers are professionals who are responsible for developing new academic instructional materials, lessons, and activities to be used by teachers or instructional staff from school districts, media companies, and other businesses. These writers are required to conduct professional development sessions for all staff about the design and changes in the new curriculum. They must produce instructional videos to help educators and coaches in preparing educational and instructional materials. Curriculum writers must also head a pilot project to evaluate potential opportunities for extended learning through virtual classroom and distance learning strategies.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, instructional systems specialist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "instructional methods," "gs," "sme," and "evaluates." Meanwhile, a curriculum developer has duties that require skills in areas such as "java," "cloud computing," "technical training," and "sql." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Curriculum developers may earn a lower salary than instructional systems specialists, but curriculum developers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $65,147. On the other hand, instructional systems specialists receive higher pay in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $62,656.curriculum developers earn similar levels of education than instructional systems specialists in general. They're 4.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Instructional systems specialist vs. Curriculum writer
A curriculum coordinator facilitates the development and implementation of curriculums at schools, colleges, and other organizations that offer learning services. They primarily assist teachers in improving school curriculums by conducting research and assessments, monitoring students' academic progress, developing learning resources and materials, coordinating with internal and external parties, promoting educational programs, and securing the supplies that the curriculum requires. Additionally, a curriculum coordinator participates in implementing school policies and recommends new policies based on research findings.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, instructional systems specialists are more likely to have skills like "training programs," "instructional design," "dod," and "instructional methods." But a curriculum writer is more likely to have skills like "assessment items," "student achievement," "language arts," and "science curriculum."
Curriculum writers typically earn higher educational levels compared to instructional systems specialists. Specifically, they're 8.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Instructional systems specialist vs. Curriculum coordinator
Types of instructional systems specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
