Designer (FT, 6-month Temporary)

At Curriculum Associates (CA), we believe a diverse team leads to diversity in thinking, making our products better for teachers and students. If you read this job description, feel energized by what you see here, and believe you could bring passion and commitment to the role, but you aren’t sure you meet every qualification, please apply! Above all, we are looking for the right person!

This is a freelance role, 30-40 hours/week, with a 6-month contract.

The Designer reports to the Design Director, Language Arts, and is responsible for working independently as well as with the internal design team, content team, and with key stakeholders to develop, produce, and manage compelling student- and teacher-facing designs from conception through to the completed product. Successful candidates will thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment, and will have a passion for exploring and working to solve issues of inequity within education. 

Please note: Submission of a design portfolio is required to be considered for this role.

The impact you’ll have: 

• Be a Part of creating educational experiences and resources that are used by 10 million students across the country 

• Team Up with the Curriculum Associates Design Team to establish creative direction for new core and supplemental language arts products across both print and digital mediums 

• Create unique and compelling design solutions that promote a sense of fun and engagement with language arts content for all learners 

• Design components, layouts, and features with a focus on teacher and student experience and usability, never losing focus on the idea that engaged learners are better learners 

• Develop innovative products in collaboration with educators and industry leaders to create culturally responsive resources for the students and teachers we serve 

What we're looking for: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, User Experience Design, or a comparable level of experience 

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in the K–12 education space, children's publishing and/or media preferred  

• Experience developing and implementing a product-specific visual design plan – including the interiors of multiple components, covers and product packaging – from prototyping through production, while remaining true to the product guidelines established 

• Comprehensive knowledge of all areas of the print design process, including layout, typography, page composition, technical art, and building engaging art programs (illustrations/photos) 

• Demonstrated experience in developing compelling design solutions across print and digital mediums 

• A user-centric mindset, with experience in developing Design solutions through Design Thinking techniques, iterative processes (i.e., wireframes/prototypes), user-testing, and internal feedback 

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to rapidly exercise independent judgment, along with excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present and articulate art/design strategy to non-designers 

• Expert-level Adobe CC (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Microsoft Office  

• Working knowledge of prototyping and collaborative tools (Adobe XD, Figma, Mural, etc.) and a willingness to explore and implement new tools or applications as needed 

• Passion for exploration and consumption of print and digital media 

Location: Remote USA or Brooklyn, NYC or Billerica, MA 

Benefits and Pay Range: 

Pay Range – This role’s range is $30 - $40/hour. The wage range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that Curriculum Associates considers in making compensation decisions based on our Compensation Philosophy. Actual base pay within that range will vary based upon several factors including, but not limited to, prior experience and relevant skill sets. At Curriculum Associates, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances for each case. The Company recognizes that minimum wage varies by location and will ensure all compensation decisions comply with applicable state and local laws. 

Benefits – Temporary and per-diem employees who average at least 30 hours of work per week within the Company’s look-back period are eligible to enroll in medical coverage after 90 days of employment. Temporary and per-diem employees working more than 20 hours per week are eligible for twelve paid holidays. All temporary and per-diem employees are eligible for accrued sick time. 

Application deadline: December 11, 2024. This is subject to close earlier if there is a high volume of applicants or a qualified hire is made.