Senior Academic Designer

Location: United States

Department: Product Development

Work Mode: Remote

About the Role

Make an Impact at McGraw Hill! At McGraw Hill, we create best-in-class, next-generation learning platforms used by millions of students and educators worldwide from kindergarten through graduate school. Our goal is to accelerate student success through intuitive, effective learning tools and content that maximize a teacher’s time and a student’s learning experience—all within a supportive, collaborative environment where you can grow your career on your terms. As a Senior Academic Designer, Literacy/Primary Grades in our School division Product Development team, you’ll leverage your expertise to assemble high-quality content for innovative digital and print educational resources, collaborating with Academic Design leaders and Product Managers to shape solution designs from concept to implementation. In this remote, project-status worker (PSW) role (ending 7/31/2026), open to U.S.-authorized applicants, you’ll plan and develop engaging content like learning objectives, scope/sequence, lessons, videos, and teacher resources for Grades K-2 literacy programs. You’ll prototype designs, mentor junior designers, manage vendor relationships with decision-making authority, and coordinate cross-functionally to ensure projects meet timelines, CCSS and state standards, and market needs. Your deep knowledge of foundational literacy skills, decodability, and pedagogical trends will drive error-free, accessible products that embody McGraw Hill’s commitment to edtech innovation. We’re seeking a highly organized, goal-oriented collaborator with a bachelor’s in elementary education, literacy, or related field, plus 4+ years in K-2 curriculum development. Bring teaching experience, MS Office mastery, and skills in tools like Smartsheet or Adobe Acrobat to thrive. Why McGraw Hill? Your work will shape the future of education, offering fulfillment, competitive pay ($62,000-$80,000), comprehensive benefits, and a culture of integrity and innovation. Join us to mentor teams, solve complex challenges, and deliver transformative learning experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and develop content including learning objectives, scope/sequence, tables of contents, lessons, videos, and teacher resources for teacher and student materials
• Develop and finalize prototypes, scope and sequence, project proposals, and project scope documentation
• Train, mentor, and provide feedback to junior Academic Designers on content development guidelines and expectations
• Act as point of contact between vendors, internal engineering teams, contractors, and Academic Design teams with decision-making authority
• Coordinate with Project Managers, Product Design, Production, and cross-functional groups to establish workflows and maintain project schedules
• Produce accurate, error-free, high-quality products meeting curriculum standards, project scope, and market requirements
• Stay up to date on emerging educational trends, curriculum research, and educational technology
• Collaborate with Academic Design Directors, Managers, and Product Managers to develop solution design
• Proactively identify risks, develop contingency plans, and drive innovation in product development
• Ensure timeliness and quality of work from external partners and internal teams

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, literacy, linguistics, or a related field
• Minimum of four years of experience in literacy curriculum development and educational publishing focused on Grades K–2
• Subject matter expertise in foundational literacy skills including decodability of texts
• Strong understanding of elementary (Grades K-2) Reading/Language Arts pedagogical issues
• Deep knowledge of curriculum standards including CCSS, B.E.S.T., and TEKS
• Experience in content development for print, digital, and media projects
• Authorized to work for any employer within the United States

Preferred Qualifications

• Teaching experience in Grades K-2
• Experience building accessible content in digital authoring systems
• Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Acrobat, Smartsheet, and K4/InCopy markup
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and train junior team members
• Proven track record in cross-functional collaboration and vendor management

Required Skills

• Literacy curriculum development expertise
• Pedagogical knowledge in Grades K-2 Reading/Language Arts
• Content creation for print, digital, and media formats
• Project scoping and prototyping
• Mentoring and team leadership
• Vendor and cross-functional coordination
• Risk identification and contingency planning
• Attention to detail and quality assurance
• Standards alignment (CCSS, B.E.S.T., TEKS)
• Trend awareness in edtech and curriculum research
• MS Office expert proficiency
• Organizational and time management
• Problem-solving and innovation
• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Multitasking and prioritization
• English language command (spelling, grammar, style)

Benefits

• Competitive base pay range of $62,000 - $80,000 annually
• Full range of medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Remote work flexibility for work-life balance
• Professional development opportunities in a collaborative environment
• Supportive culture focused on career growth and innovation
• Paid time off and holiday schedules
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match
• Wellness programs and employee assistance resources

McGraw Hill is an Equal Opportunity Employer.