Curriculum and Instructional Designer (Temporary, Part-Time)

Indy Reads•Indianapolis, IN

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Indy Reads is seeking a temporary, part-time Curriculum and Instructional Designer for a 12-month grant-funded initiative. This role will focus on researching, developing, trialing, and refining civics and health literacy curricula for adult learners. The designer will collaborate with students, teachers, community partners, and subject matter experts to inform curricular goals, research existing frameworks, and identify gaps. The position involves developing curriculum modules, preparing teachers for piloting, gathering feedback, refining materials, and preparing them for broader implementation. The curricula will be supplemented by community bookstore events. This role reports to the Vice President of Community Impact and requires flexible availability, including weekdays, some evenings, and weekends, with work primarily on-site, though hybrid options may be available. This is a grant-funded, temporary role with potential for permanency.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience in curriculum and instructional design, preferably within adult education, adult literacy, English language learning, or a related field.
Strong understanding of adult learning principles and experience designing accessible learning experiences for adults with diverse literacy, language, educational, cultural, and technological backgrounds.
Demonstrated ability to conduct research, critically evaluate existing frameworks and resources, synthesize diverse perspectives and evidence, and translate findings into practical curriculum.
Experience developing learning objectives, instructional materials, and assessments aligned with intended learner outcomes.
Strong facilitation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to meaningfully engage learners, educators, community partners, and subject-matter experts in the design process.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across multiple stakeholders and colleagues to support alignment and advancement of shared goals in line with Indy Reads’ theory of action.
Demonstrated commitment to culturally responsive, inclusive, and learner-centered education, including the ability to examine assumptions and dominant perspectives within existing educational content and resources.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to translate complex information into clear, accessible instructional content.
Self-directed, curious, highly organized, and dependable, with demonstrated ability to manage time effectively and independently lead complex projects from research and concept through implementation, evaluation, and refinement with limited oversight and in line with Indy Reads’ approaches.
Proficiency with common digital collaboration and content-development tools; ability and willingness to learn new platforms as needed.
Honesty and integrity; ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
Commitment to the mission and values of Indy Reads.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in a language or languages other than English preferred.
Curious, open, and dedicated to participating in Indy Reads' journey to advance DEIA.
A sense of humor.

Responsibilities

Research and synthesize existing definitions, frameworks, curricula, evidence-informed practices, and emerging approaches in Health Literacy and Civics Literacy.
Examine existing approaches critically through the lens of Indy Reads’ mission, values, educational philosophy, and the lived experiences, cultures, goals, and needs of adult learners.
Identify gaps and opportunities within existing resources and develop clear curricular goals and frameworks to guide the creation of Indy Reads’ Health Literacy and Civics Literacy curricula.
Consider how health and civics content can strengthen literacy, language development, critical thinking, self-advocacy, and learners’ ability to navigate and participate in systems that affect their lives with greater agency.
Build and facilitate advisory groups of subject-matter experts, community partners, teachers, learners, and others with relevant lived and professional expertise to inform curriculum development.
Design and facilitate listening sessions and other opportunities to understand the health and civics questions, experiences, interests, barriers, and priorities of Indy Reads learners and teachers.
Center learner voice throughout the design process, recognizing learners as contributors to and co-creators of meaningful learning experiences.
Synthesize stakeholder input and research findings into actionable recommendations for curriculum design.
Design accessible, engaging Health Literacy and Civics Literacy curricular modules that can be differentiated and adapted for adult learners across a range of literacy, English language, educational, and cultural backgrounds.
Develop learning objectives, instructional activities, facilitator guidance, learner materials, and other resources needed for effective classroom implementation.
Integrate adult learning principles, literacy and language development, critical thinking, real-world application, and culturally responsive, participatory, and inclusive instructional practices throughout the curricula.
Design curriculum that provides sufficient structure and consistency for organization-wide use while allowing teachers to adapt instruction responsively to the learners in their classrooms.
Identify and develop appropriate learning assessments and measures aligned with curricular goals and intended learner outcomes.
Collaborate with Indy Reads staff, teachers, and subject-matter experts to ensure curricular content is accurate, relevant, practical, and aligned with Indy Reads’ instructional approach.
Develop a plan for piloting Health Literacy and Civics Literacy modules in selected Indy Reads classrooms.
Prepare and support participating teachers to understand the curricular goals, materials, instructional approach, and expectations for the pilot.
Observe curriculum implementation and gather meaningful feedback and data from learners and teachers about accessibility, relevance, engagement, usability, and learning.
Analyze pilot findings, identify needed changes, and revise curriculum, materials, and implementation guidance accordingly.
Approach curriculum development as an iterative process of designing, testing, learning, and refining rather than as a one-time deliverable.
Prepare refined curriculum, facilitator resources, learner materials, and implementation guidance for broader use across Indy Reads programs.
Develop recommendations for adapting and integrating Health Literacy and Civics Literacy across Indy Reads’ Community Classrooms and other relevant educational and community programming.
Identify teacher preparation, instructional resources, assessment approaches, and other supports needed for successful broader implementation.
Document the curriculum development and pilot process, key findings, and recommendations to support sustainability and future refinement of the curricula.