Instructional Specialist, Multilingual Learning

Reporting to the VP, Learning and Content Strategy, the Instructional Specialist, Multilingual Learning provides pedagogical leadership for the development of BrainPOP content for multilingual learners. The specialist will ensure all content is research-based, culturally responsive, and effectively scaffolded for MLs across K-8 settings. In collaboration with Product Marketing, they will also play a key role in articulating and supporting the instructional design in white papers, collateral, and positioning materials.

This role will be based in NY, NY at the BrainPOP HQ, or remote in the US (Eastern time zone strongly preferred). Occasional travel may be required.

Instructional Design

• Lead the design and implementation of instructional frameworks that support English language acquisition across K-8 grade bands.
• Develop model activities with research-based scaffolding (e.g., graphic organizers, sentence frames, and leveled vocabulary) to ensure all students can access complex, high-interest topics.
• Partner with product and engineering teams to ensure our digital interface and user experience (UX) align with the needs of emerging bilingual students.

Standards Advocacy & Alignment

• Act as the internal authority on national and state-specific English Language Development (ELD) standards, ensuring our roadmap reflects current educational requirements.
• Lead the creation and maintenance of detailed alignment documentation to help districts see exactly how BrainPOP supports their ML populations.

Internal Coaching & Quality Assurance

• Develop rubrics and quality checklists to guide internal content creators and AI models in building ML-first content.
• Facilitate workshops and brown bag sessions for internal BrainPOP teams to share emerging research, such as the Science of Reading for MLs or translanguaging strategies.
• Review and provide pedagogical feedback on high-priority content to ensure it meets our standards for cultural responsiveness and linguistic accessibility.

Market & Research Leadership

• Stay at the forefront of ML education trends by attending conferences, reviewing academic literature, and gathering feedback from educators in the field.
• Use these insights to propose new features or content solutions that specifically solve pain points for ML teachers and students.

• Learning and Solution-Oriented: Ability to bridge research-based practices with practical, actionable classroom applications.
• Structured Communicator: A clear and concise communicator who can translate complex pedagogical standards into simple guidelines for content creators.
• Detail-Oriented & Analytical: Able to conduct meticulous research validation and standards crosswalking to ensure product credibility.
• Collaborative Advocate: Team-oriented with a passion for advocating for the academic achievement and social-emotional well-being of MLs.

• Education: Master’s degree in TESOL, multilingual education, or a related field preferred.
• Instructional Design: 5+ years of experience in instructional design and curriculum development for multilingual learners on a technology-based product strongly preferred.
• Standards Knowledge: Deep understanding of WIDA framework and standards, as well as state-specific ELD standards (CA, TX, AZ).
• Technical Proficiency: Basic proficiency with Google Workspace. Experience using digital authoring tools to build educational activities preferred.
• Project Management: Ability to balance competing priorities and manage multiple work streams under deadlines. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

The BrainPOP team operates in a hybrid work environment: Each role has remote flexibility and an in-person component at our New York headquarters or other meeting locations. Based on the requirements of a specific role, we may prioritize hiring within a commutable distance of our New York headquarters or in another region relevant to that role.

We can employ individuals residing in the following approved hiring states. States not listed below may be considered based on factors including the needs of the specific role.

• Arizona
• California
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois 
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Washington