Organization Summary

Buck Institute for Education (BIE), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Novato, California, is the industry leader in providing professional development, products, and resources related to Project Based Learning (PBL). At BIE, our vision is for all students — no matter where they live or what their background — to have access to quality PBL instruction to deepen their learning and achieve success in college, career, and life.

Buck Institute for Education has launched an exciting new division, called PBLNow. The new division creates K-12 centered Open Educational Resource (OER) PBL units that teachers can use to achieve impact and equity for all students, especially Black and Brown students. These Gold Standard PBL OER units will span all subject areas, grades K-12, organized by themes such as racial, social, and environmental justice. Offering high-quality and ready-made PBL curriculum to educators at no charge will increase access to high quality PBL curriculum and increase the likelihood that teachers implement high quality projects, and increase impact for all students, especially Black and Brown students. PBLNow curriculum units will work seamlessly with PBLWorks professional learning services to support teachers, schools and districts in enacting high quality PBL experiences.

Position Summary

Support the creation and implementation of the production process for all PBLNow curriculum units. The Curriculum Project Associate role develops and drives digital content production and curriculum editing workflows for the PBLNow team. They support the curriculum design and writing teams in ensuring that all parts of the curriculum are created, tracked, and completed on time, and appropriately represented in the content management system. They ensure our curriculum units meet editorial and content standards, are released on time, and adhere to the requirements of our content management system. They will review and revise copy to ensure alignment with our goals, appropriate and consistent voice and tone, and adherence to institutional style, as well as to correct grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Finally, they will manage documentation of our style and production processes, and update those as needed.

This position requires content development expertise, strong editorial instincts, as well as the ability to develop technical understanding of our content management system.

Key Responsibilities

Project management of curriculum production

• Build systems and workflows to manage our digital content writing and revision process.

• Monitor timelines, schedules, and budgets.

• Support the Director of Curriculum Design, Writers, and contractors with organization and completion of content writing and revision.

• Coordinate the day-to-day work of a team of contract editors, and content producers, including training contractors on our tools and processes; defining, and prioritizing tasks; and managing the completion of tasks to meet deadlines

• Learn and understand the content management system and other technology tools that we use for content creation. Train others to use the systems, and ensure that the system continues to meet our needs.

• Manage versions of the curriculum units as they are revised. Track copyright, authorship, and permissions.

• Synthesize and clarify documentation and resources on our editorial approach and style guide, quality standards, and curriculum-authoring tools; share out and provide training for stakeholders as needed.

Review, edit and revise content

• Review and edit manuscript, including texts for students across grades K-12

• Ensure alignment with our style guide, and across PBLNow and PBLWorks language, tools, and processes.

• Review content for alignment with our equity levers and racial equity imperative.

• Ensure that the content produced meets rigorous editorial and quality standards.

Contribution to Buck Institute for Education’s Mission, Vision, and Racial Equity Imperative

• Work with other BIE team members to further our mission, vision, core values, racial equity imperative, and strategic plan.

• As a collaborative team player, support BIE colleagues, and contribute to the full breadth of the organization’s work and culture.

• Engage in ongoing individual and collective learning about how to advance racial equity through Project Based Learning for all students, especially Black and Brown students

• Attend Novato, California-based or centrally located meetings as needed, at least two times/year

• Travel up to 10% of the time.

• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements, Skills, and Abilities

The successful candidate will bring this experience to the role:

• Associate’s or Bachelor's degree in education, instructional design, or equivalent experience

• 2 years experience in educational publishing in a role focused on content production; could be content developer, technical editor, technical writer, web or digital content manager, editor, or similar role.

• Experience with online learning, learning management systems (LMS), and/or content management platforms

• Experience in K12 education as a teacher, administrator, or curriculum developer is desirable.

• Experience with educational text across content areas and grade levels is desirable.

The successful candidate will possess these skills and abilities:

• Commitment to advancing racial equity and bringing high-quality Project Based Learning to all students, especially Black and Brown students.

• Outstanding verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Exceptional organizational and multitasking skills.

• Ability to work effectively in virtual environments with staff and consultants.

• Self-starter, able to work without close supervision.

• A collaborator who enjoys working across teams to achieve a common goal.

• Competent with Word, Excel, Google Apps, and willing to learn additional technology tools adopted by the organization.

• Experience authoring into content management systems and designing in Adobe Suite (InDesign, InCopy, Photoshop) is desired.

• Mission-driven individual who is excited about supporting a community of professionals to impact students around the world.

Reporting Relationships

The Curriculum Project Associate reports to the Executive Director, PBLNow.

Location

This role may be fully remote. Some travel will be required (up to 10%).

Compensation

The Online Learning Project Associate role is a full-time non-exempt position with full health benefits (including medical, vision, and dental), generous benefits including 403(b) contribution of 6-12%, and life and disability insurance. The target hourly rate for this position is $32.64.

This is a fixed-term position, until December 2024.

Additional Requirements

PBLWorks (dba Buck Institute for Education) participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. We will only use E-Verify once a newly hired employee has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

The health of our staff and our partners is of paramount importance. As such, PBLWorks follows all current local, state, and federal guidance regarding vaccinations. PBLWorks currently requires the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines for all employees facilitating PBLWorks services and strongly recommends full vaccination for all employees (regardless of work location). Accommodations or exceptions can be requested for medical or religious reasons.

As a company, we celebrate and embrace diversity. We actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in every hiring process. PBLWorks is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability (in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act).