Curriculum and Instructional Designer (Temporary, Part-Time)

About Indy Reads Our vision is simple: 100% literacy for all. Located in historic Fountain Square and serving central Indiana, Indy Reads builds the literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and their families to reach their full potential. We advance our mission through our holistic program model that integrates our virtual and in-person Community Classrooms, Workforce Literacy Program, Literacy in Action, and Community Bookstore, which serves as a retail space, community hub, and extension of educational programming. This highly regarded, well-established nonprofit organization has more than 40 years of experience in adult education and community-building through literacy. Guided by the CEO’s bold vision and a deep commitment to advancing literacy for all amid rising demand, Indy Reads is poised for growth. Our adult learners are at the heart of everything we do. Dedicated staff and volunteers engage native and non-native English speakers to strengthen their literacy and English language skills, earn their High School Equivalency diplomas, acquire workforce certifications, and increase their participation in the community. With literacy and language education, our adult learners redefine their potential for success. They get new and better jobs, help their children with homework, and engage with society in new and deeper ways. At Indy Reads, everyone has something to learn, and everyone has something to share. In this way, Indy Reads advances social equity through education. Position Overview This temporary (12-month), part-time Curriculum and Instructional Designer will support Indy Reads to fulfill key grant-funded initiatives to research, develop, trial, and refine civics and health literacy curricula that will ultimately be adapted and integrated into all of our course offerings. In this phase, the Curriculum Designer will convene students, teachers, community partners, and subject matter experts to inform key civics and health curricular goals. The Designer will further research existing definitions, frameworks, curricula, and best practices in these areas and identify opportunities and gaps between what exists and the unique needs of Indy Reads’ learners. Based on this research, the Designer will develop Health and Civics Literacy curricular modules, prepare teachers to pilot the curriculum, observe and gather feedback on implementation, refine the modules based on that input and prepare materials for broader organizational implementation. The curricula will be supplemented by our community bookstore events led by Indy Reads’ Bookstore Manager, in collaboration with the Curriculum and Instructional Designer. This part-time position reports to the Vice President of Community Impact (VPCI) and requires the flexible availability needed to work with a collaborative team, stakeholders, partners, and classrooms, including weekdays and some evenings and weekends. Work will occur primarily on-site at Indy Reads’ location. Hybrid work options and flexibility may be available. This position is a grant-funded, temporary role, with potential to grow and be made permanent. The following is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job. Other duties may be assigned. Roles and Responsibilities Research, Discovery & Curricular Framework Development 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. Learner, Teacher & Community Engagement 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. Curriculum Design & Development 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. Pilot Implementation, Observation & Refinement 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. Organization-Wide Implementation Readiness 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. Qualifications 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. Proficiency in a language or languages other than English preferred. Curious, open, and dedicated to participating in Indy Reads' journey to advance DEIA. Honesty and integrity; ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion. Commitment to the mission and values of Indy Reads. A sense of humor. We strongly encourage people of color, people from marginalized backgrounds, and people with immigrant experience to apply for positions at our organization. Indy Reads is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Studies have shown that people from marginalized communities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you are excited about this opportunity and believe you have skills to contribute to the role, please apply. We seek employees from all backgrounds to join our team and encourage them to bring their authentic and best selves to work. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Indy Reads makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use his/her hands to feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required for this position include close vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. Compensation This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated individual to assume a pivotal role in advancing Indy Reads’ mission. Indy Reads offers a compensation package for this part-time, 12-month role, including a competitive salary of $40,000 – 45,000 as well as health, 401(k), and generous PTO/days off benefits with 2 Weeks of Wellness, 11 Company Holidays, and 20 days PTO. Apply To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume for the role on the Indy Reads website. Applicants need to go to the "About” tab on the Indy Reads homepage and choose the "Our Team” page from the drop-down menu. A link to open positions is at the top of the page. This position is in the "Immediate opening" category. Applications received by September 11, 2026, will be given priority consideration.