Sr. Instructional & Exercise Support Task Lead

Sr. Instructional & Exercise Support Task Lead

Position Summary
DarkStar Intelligence is looking for a highly motivated, mission-focused professional to lead instructional and exercise-support services for a federal customer within the Intelligence Community. The Task 3 Lead serves as the senior manager for all training, learning, exercises, and professional development activities under the contract, ensuring seamless delivery of instructor-led, virtual, and web-based learning solutions across multiple customer offices. Reporting directly to the Service Delivery Manager, the Task 3 Lead oversees a team of instructors and instructional systems designers, manages the full training lifecycle, and ensures alignment with customer requirements, learning objectives, and security standards. This role is central to workforce readiness, instructional quality, and continuous improvement of learning products and methodologies supporting the customer.

Location: McLean, VA
Schedule (FT/PT): Full-Time
Travel Required: No
Shift: Day
Remote Type: No Remote
Security Clearance: TS/SCI
Polygraph: CI Poly

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Leadership and Oversight
• Provide day-to-day leadership, direction, and mentorship to instructors, instructional systems designers, and support staff.
• Ensure training and exercise activities meet quality, timeliness, and security standards established by the customer and the contract.
• Implement performance metrics and continuous-improvement initiatives to enhance learning effectiveness and program efficiency.
• Training and Learning Operations
• Lead the design, development, delivery, and evaluation of instructor-led, virtual, and web-based training programs across multiple customer offices and mission areas.
• Oversee curriculum planning, lesson design, and learning-content development to ensure accuracy, relevance, and compliance with tradecraft, policy, and classification standards.
• Manage the full training lifecycle (i.e., training needs analysis, content design, curriculum development, instructional delivery, training evaluation, and annual curriculum reviews) by applying adult-learning principles and evidence-based methodologies.
• Supervise instructional staff and training coordinators to ensure consistent instructional quality and resource coverage.
• Collaborate with the customer to archive and maintain courseware, job aids, and web-based learning modules in approved repositories.
• Ensure all products are consistent with government-approved programs of instructional standards that prioritize accessibility to resources (per EO 14035).
• Exercise Design and Facilitation
• Plan, design, and support the execution of exercises, simulations, and scenario-based learning events when directed by the Government.
• Manage development of exercise objectives, materials, and participant roles, and facilitate after-action reviews to capture lessons learned and performance insights.
• Maintain readiness to reinitiate or expand exercise activities in support of evolving customer mission needs.
• Stakeholder Coordination and Reporting
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), Technical Point of Contact (TPOC), and other Government stakeholders for all Task 3 matters.
• Provide accurate and timely reporting on training throughput, satisfaction scores, risks, and corrective actions.
• Contribute to monthly status reports, Service Level Agreement metrics, and Award Fee evaluations by highlighting achievements, efficiencies, and innovations within Task 3

Minimum Qualifications

• Top Secret/SCI Clearance; CI Poly.
• Degree Requirements: Bachelor's degree in education, Instructional Systems Design, Organizational Leadership, Intelligence Studies, or a related field.
• 12+ years of combined experience, including 6 years of management-level responsibility.
• Experience working with federal civilian agencies, departments, or the Intelligence Community.
• Demonstrated experience leading instructor-led, virtual, and web-based training programs with measurable performance outcomes.
• Proven ability to supervise instructors, instructional designers, and training coordinators while managing multiple concurrent learning activities.
• Expertise in adult-learning principles, curriculum development, and instructional-delivery methodologies.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with senior Government stakeholders.
• Proficiency with learning management systems (LMS), virtual-learning platforms, and collaboration tools.
• Familiarity with security and accessibility requirements applicable to classified and unclassified learning environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education, Instructional Systems Design, Organizational Leadership, Intelligence Studies, or a related field.
• Professional certification in training, learning, or performance management (e.g., ATD CPLP, Kirkpatrick, or equivalent).
• Experience designing and developing web-based and blended learning solutions, including interactive training modules and digital courseware.
• Working knowledge of the ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) instructional-design model or similar methodologies.
• Demonstrated success supporting the design and facilitation of exercises or simulations for Government or Intelligence Community programs.
• Familiarity with integrating training materials into knowledge-management systems (e.g., SharePoint, LMS repositories).
• Experience leading training initiatives in classified environments, ensuring compliance with all security, privacy, and accessibility requirements

Salary Range
$130,000 - $165,000 per year
This pay range is a general guideline and not a guarantee of specific compensation or salary. When extending an offer, DarkStar Intelligence considers various factors, including (but not limited to) the job's responsibilities, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, market data alignment, applicable bargaining agreements (if any), and other relevant laws.

About DarkStar Intelligence

DarkStar Intelligence is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) committed to advancing national security through mission support and tradecraft development. We prioritize both client satisfaction and employee retention, delivering high-quality, intelligence-based solutions grounded in our “Core Four” values:

• Humility: We place mission success above personal recognition.
• Passion: We bring enthusiasm and dedication to every challenge.
• Agility: We adapt quickly to evolving operational needs.
• Ownership: We hold ourselves accountable for results and uphold the highest standards of excellence.

We are mission-driven and results-oriented, striving to make our country safer through every task we undertake.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Commitment

At DarkStar Intelligence LLC, we are committed to maintaining a professional and legally compliant work environment where individuals are treated with respect and fairness. We adhere strictly to all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations.

Employment decisions at DarkStar are made solely on the basis of individual qualifications, performance, and business needs. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment—including hiring, compensation, promotion, training, discipline, and termination—on the basis of: Race or color, Religion, Sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), National origin, Age, Disability, Genetic information, Veteran status. Or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law

Our EEO standards are embedded in all employment practices to ensure compliance, fairness, and accountability. We enforce a zero-tolerance policy for unlawful discrimination or harassment and encourage employees to report concerns without fear of retaliation.

EEO Flyer: shorturl.at/abpNX

Employee Benefits

DarkStar Intelligence provides a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to support the health, financial stability, and personal well-being of our team members.

Core Benefits for employees:

• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Income Protection: Life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• Retirement Planning: 401(k) plan with employer contributions
• Work-Life Support : Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and legal services
• Paid Leave: Generous PTO, 11 paid federal holidays, and one floating holiday

Voluntary Benefits:

• Legal & Identity Protection: LegalShield and IDShield
• Additional Insurance: Whole life, accident, and critical care coverage

We believe in recognizing and supporting the professionals who make our mission possible. Your well-being is an investment in our collective success.