The role: 

• Newsela is looking for a Learning Experience Designer who is able to build high-quality curricula at scale.
• This role requires extensive knowledge of state framework-aligned curriculum creation, significant experience working at a respected core curriculum provider, & a proven ability to provide & implement their expert input on assessments, lesson plans, training, & documentation, all at scale.
• A bias for action & a judicious eye for quality are both key.
• Experience working on content aligned to the California ELA/ELD framework, creation of resources for MLLs & scaffolds for striving readers are also highly valued.

Why you'll love this role:  

• ELA Curriculum & Subject Matter Expertise:
  • Serve as a primary subject matter expert on curriculum creation within Newsela
  • Offer expertise on ELA curriculum & content, especially within middle school & high school.
  • Provide guidance & collaborate on the integration of Newsela's unique content, lessons & assessment, ensuring all materials are culturally responsive, equitable, & accessible for diverse learners.
• Curriculum Collaboration & Review:
  • Collaborate closely with curriculum writing teams, instructional designers, content developers, & assessment writers, both internal & external, offering deep insights into state frameworks & pedagogical best practices.
  • Create or update guidelines for vendors to use when creating lessons & units aligned to specific state frameworks & standards.
  • Review & provide thorough feedback on various curriculum components, including units, lessons, activities, lesson plans, & instructional strategies, ensuring strong alignment with state standards & the Newsela approach.
• Creation & Feedback on Instructional Strategies:
  • Creation and/or review of teacher-facing pacing guides, overviews & other instructional materials.
  • Awareness of best practices for MLLs & ability to create & review scaffolds or materials to support teachers in reaching every student.
  • Familiarity with accessibility standards & guidelines.
• Assessment Creation & Review:
  • Create or update detailed guidelines to support the creation of formative & summative assessments that are aligned to state standards & to the relevant state frameworks as well as to general assessment best practices.
  • Review & provide expert input on samples of formative & summative assessments (e.g., rubrics, quizzes, performance tasks, extended response questions) to ensure they accurately measure student mastery of state standards within the Newsela platform.
  • Provide critical feedback on detailed lesson plans & engaging activities, ensuring they leverage, as appropriate, Newsela's content effectively to facilitate instruction, foster student engagement, & provide clear learning objectives.
• Project Management & Organization:
  • Propose & execute on innovative solutions for scaling the review of vendor-created lessons, assessments & activities.
  • Create checklists for the larger project to ensure that work is moving along on time.
  • Ensure all developed materials are fully compliant with state requirements & reflect the latest pedagogical best practices.
• Vendor Collaboration & Contributor Management:
  • Collaborate with & provide expert input to internal teams managing external vendors for content development, review, or other curriculum-related services, ensuring high-quality deliverables that align with Newsela's standards & project timelines.
  • Hire, train & work with contributors to help scale the review of vendor-created activities, lessons & assessments.

Why you're a great fit: 

• Experience:
  • 5-7 years of progressive experience in curriculum development or instructional design, specifically within a core curriculum provider.
  • Demonstrated experience working on & contributing to core ELA curriculum specifically for middle school & high school, showcasing deep familiarity with different state ELA frameworks & standards.
  • Extensive experience in reviewing & providing expert feedback on assessments, lessons, & activities for K-12 ELA.
  • Proven experience in contributing to or reviewing training materials & comprehensive documentation for educational products.
  • Experience collaborating with teams that manage external vendors for content development, localization, or related services.
  • Deep understanding of pedagogical principles & instructional strategies for ELA & ELD, especially as applied in digital learning environments.
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in English, Education, Curriculum & Instruction, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
    
    

Preferred:

• Experience working specifically with California curriculum & standards.
• Prior experience creating resources or scaffolds for multilingual learners.
• Experience with specific curriculum development software or content management systems used in large-scale curriculum production.

Compensation: 

• Base compensation range: $70,000 - $80,000 per year. This is non-negotiable. 
• Total compensation for this role also includes incentive stock options & benefits.

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