Instructional Designer for Black Belt Academy

Instructional Designer - Black Belt Academy

About Black Belt Academy and Cisco 360 Partner Program

The Black Belt Academy is a cornerstone of Cisco's integrated partner enablement strategy, aligned with the Cisco 360 Partner Program. It delivers tailored, agile training that accelerates partner growth across Cloud & AI, Networking, Collaboration, Security, and Services. The Academy complements Cisco Career Certifications and other enablement initiatives, helping partners enhance their Partner Value Index (PVI) and unlock greater opportunities within the Cisco ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

• Instructional Design & Development
• Design and develop instructional materials (e-learning modules, instructor-led training, virtual courses, and blended learning solutions) tailored to IT topics such as Networking, Cybersecurity, Cloud &AI technologies, Collaboration amongst others.
• Apply adult learning principles, instructional design models (ADDIE, SAM, Bloom's Taxonomy, Kirkpatrick Evaluation Model), and accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) to create engaging content.
• Incorporate emerging technologies and AI-powered tools to enhance learning personalization and interactivity.
• Collaboration & Alignment
• Partner with Subject Matter Experts to analyze training needs, define learning objectives, and ensure alignment with Cisco's strategic initiatives and industry certifications.
• Collaborate across multiple groups like Business Entities, Global Partner Engineering (GPE), Go-to-Market (GTM), and Architectures teams to align training strategy with Cisco's business priorities.
• Map training content to Cisco's Capability Acceleration Framework for Enablement (CAFE) and Partner Learning Journeys across Foundational, Proficiency, and Focus & Depth stages.
• Program Development & Delivery
• Develop assessments and evaluation tools to measure learner progress and program effectiveness.
• Ensure training is delivered in multiple modalities (video-on-demand, virtual/web-based, and adaptable to instructor-led formats).
• Continuously update training content to reflect IT industry trends, Cisco solutions, and evolving partner needs.
• Evaluation & Improvement
• Collect and analyze learner feedback and course metrics to iterate and improve training programs.
• Support ongoing improvements to the Black Belt Academy content catalog to ensure relevance and partner enablement impact.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in instructional design, preferably within IT or technology.
• Strong understanding of IT concepts: networking, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and software development.
• Excellent ability to translate complex technical topics into clear, engaging learning content.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and project management skills.
• Knowledge of AI in learning design and digital skills training is a plus.
• Familiarity with Cisco's Black Belt Academy or Cisco 360 Partner Program is highly desirable.

Required Skills

• Instructional Design Models & Frameworks: ADDIE, SAM, Bloom's Taxonomy, Kirkpatrick Model, Adult Learning Theory (Andragogy).
• eLearning Authoring Tools: Articulate 360 (Storyline, Rise), Adobe Captivate, Camtasia, Vyond.
• Learning Management Systems (LMS): Mindtickle, Moodle, Docebo, Cornerstone, or similar.
• Collaboration & Content Tools: MS PowerPoint, Google Workspace, Figma, Miro.
• Assessment & Analytics: Experience designing knowledge checks, simulations, and using data to refine training.
• Accessibility & Standards: WCAG compliance, SCORM, xAPI.
• Emerging Tech in L&D: AI-powered adaptive learning tools, AR/VR (a plus).

Preferred Skills

• Experience with Cisco Networking Academy or similar IT-focused training programs.
• Knowledge of IT industry certifications and pathways (e.g., CCNA, CCNP, CISSP, AWS, Azure).
• Ability to design for diverse learners, including underserved communities and nontraditional students.