Instructional Design Fellow

College Board

5d•Remote

About The Position

The Instructional Design Fellowship is a two-year, benefits-eligible, fixed-term program for early-career professionals interested in building expertise in instructional design, research, and course development. Fellows will contribute directly to AP course development projects while completing a structured learning arc and receiving mentorship from senior instructional designers. This fellowship is designed as a talent pipeline: pending organizational need and strong performance, fellows may be considered for full-time roles at College Board at the end of the program. Graduating fellows will be well prepared for roles such as Instructional Designer or Curriculum Analyst within College Board or comparable positions in education nonprofits, edtech, or K-12 and higher education institutions. Through the fellowship’s hands-on project experience, mentorship, and professional learning, fellows will develop skills in curriculum design, research synthesis, stakeholder communication, project management, and learner-centered instructional design. Fellows will be placed in a small cohort to build community and support, with an anticipated start date in July 2026.

Requirements

4+ years in education (K-12, higher education, or educational nonprofit settings) with some level of experience in leadership or scaled instructional impact, including teachers with grade-team or content-area leadership, assistant principals, instructional coaches, and curriculum developers
Strong research, writing, and synthesis skills with the ability to draft professional memos or design documents.
Comfort with digital learning tools, data analysis, or design software (experience with AI tools a plus).
Soft skills, including comfort with ambiguity, self-starter mentality, ownership and proactivity, and learner mindset.
A bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree in education, instructional design, or related field preferred.
The ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
The ability to travel 1–2 times a year to College Board offices or on behalf of College Board business.
A passion for expanding educational and career opportunities and mission-driven work
Curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging technologies, with a willingness to experiment with and adopt new AI-driven solutions and comfort with learning and applying new digital tools independently and proactively.
Clear and concise communication skills, written and verbal
A learner's mindset and a commitment to growth: welcoming diverse perspectives, giving and receiving timely, respectful feedback, and continuously improving through iterative learning and user input.
A drive for impact and excellence: solving complex problems, making data-informed decisions, prioritizing what matters most, and continuously improving through learning, user input, and external benchmarking.
A collaborative and empathetic approach: working across differences, fostering trust, and contributing to a culture of shared success
Authorization to work in the United States

Responsibilities

DRIVE COURSE REDESIGN PROJECTS (40%) Conduct research, draft design deliverables, and synthesize insights for AP course (re)design alongside senior Instructional Designers. Support the creation of curriculum frameworks, assessment prototypes, and/or teacher-facing resources. By year 2, lead at least one course design workstream, such as writing design recommendations or facilitating feedback cycles with stakeholders.
ADVANCE RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE BUILDING (30%) Collaborate with Instructional Designers and Curricular Analysts on research and memo writing. Collect, analyze, and summarize evidence from internal data, external research, and educator feedback. By year 2, lead components of research and analysis projects, such as authoring sections of design memos, conducting teacher interviews, or synthesizing findings to inform course decisions.
ENGAGE IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING (30%) Participate in fellowship learning curriculum, mentorship sessions, and skill-building workshops. Document learning and share reflections with the Instructional Design team in a quarterly share-out. By year 2, design and complete a self-directed passion project that applies fellowship learnings to a strategic AP&I priority, culminating in a final presentation to the team.