Ascension is seeking highly specialized Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in leadership development, organizational psychology, and workforce assessment to support the design, development, and delivery of training curricula and leadership evaluation programs.

This role is critical to advancing the client’s goal of building a high-performing, data-driven leadership culture through structured training, certification programs, and evidence-based assessments such as DiSC, CliftonStrengths, Hogan Assessments, Emotional Intelligence (EQ), and Leadership 360 frameworks.

The ideal candidate brings deep domain expertise in leadership science and adult learning, combined with hands-on experience developing certifiable training programs and assessment-driven development strategies. This role directly impacts workforce effectiveness, leadership readiness, and organizational performance outcomes.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The SME will serve as a thought leader and technical expert responsible for designing and delivering leadership development programs aligned with industry-recognized assessment tools and best practices.

The client requires a professional who can:

• Translate leadership frameworks into practical, scalable training programs
• Integrate assessment tools into measurable development pathways
• Provide insights and recommendations based on assessment results
• Support certification-based learning models and evaluation strategies

The ideal candidate is:

• A self-driven expert who thrives in ambiguous environments
• Skilled in connecting theory to real-world application
• Able to design, facilitate, and evaluate training programs
• Comfortable advising senior stakeholders on leadership performance and development strategies

This role will leverage tools and methodologies such as:

• Leadership assessment platforms (DiSC, Hogan, CliftonStrengths)
• Learning Management Systems (LMS)
• Survey and analytics tools
• Microsoft 365 tools (PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint)
• Data visualization tools for reporting insights

Ascension’s experience in training curriculum development, leadership training facilitation, and performance analytics supports this role, including development of COR training programs and leadership-focused learning environments for federal agencies .

Day-to-Day Activities

• Design and develop leadership training curricula and course materials
• Conduct leadership assessments using DiSC, Hogan, CliftonStrengths, EQ, and 360 tools
• Analyze assessment results and provide actionable development insights
• Facilitate virtual and/or in-person leadership training sessions
• Develop certification programs and evaluation frameworks
• Create training guides, facilitator manuals, and participant materials
• Collaborate with stakeholders to align training with organizational goals
• Develop and administer surveys and feedback mechanisms
• Produce reports, dashboards, and executive briefings on leadership performance
• Support continuous improvement of training programs based on feedback and outcomes