Newsela is hiring a
Senior Manager

Summary

Join our team as the Sr. Manager of Learning Design, leading the development and implementation of high-quality learning experiences for K-12 students.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or higher in Education, Instructional Design, Learning Sciences, or a related field
• 7+ years of experience in instructional design, curriculum development, or learning experience design, with at least 3 years in a leadership role with management experience
• Experience creating and enforcing guidelines, policies or ways of working for a team or organization
• In-depth knowledge of K-12 education systems, early literacy and phonics, as well as curriculum standards (e.g., Common Core, NGSS)
• Experience managing a content development and/or instructional design team
• Strong understanding of EdTech tools, digital learning platforms, and the integration of technology in the classroom
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects and deadlines
• Experience working with CMSs (Content Management Systems)
• Analytical skills and ability to make data-informed decisions
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience engaging with educators and administrators

Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative insight and thought partnership, particularly within the sphere of literacy, on strategic initiatives and projects
• Define and maintain pedagogical frameworks that incorporate best practices in instructional design and learning science
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (product, marketing) to integrate learning design into product development and surface important research for the development of and communications about Newsela’s product features and content
• Oversee the creation and refinement of digital K-12 curriculum content, ensuring alignment with national and state standards (e.g., Common Core, NGSS)
• Lead the team in designing and developing interactive and engaging learning experiences (e.g., lessons, assessments, writing prompts and activities)
• Manage and mentor a team of learning experience designers and content developers
• Drive professional development initiatives that enhance the team’s knowledge of pedagogy, efficacy research, technology tools, and educational standards
• Pair vetted research with user research and guidance from subject matter experts to create transparent guidelines and best practices for learning design
• Ensure content is inclusive and accessible for diverse learners, including students with special needs and English Language Learners
• Use data analytics to measure the usage and efficacy of learning design initiatives and iteratively improve content
• Collaborate with research teams to test and validate learning interventions, ensuring the content is backed by educational research
• Stay current on trends in EdTech, K-12 education, and instructional technology to ensure the company remains at the forefront of innovation
• Lead presentations and training sessions for internal and external stakeholders on learning design and educational best practices
• Provide meaningful and thoughtful literacy support at scale to educators through your instructional guidelines, in presentations at conferences and in authored blog posts

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with data-driven instructional design and using analytics to inform content decisions
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies in content or product development
• Strong online presence as a thought leader in the literacy space
• Experience working as a reading specialist, speech-language pathologist or other literacy specialist
• Experience working with English-language learners
• Spanish language skills