Today, 67% of students and 82% of low-income students can’t read at grade level by the end of third grade. That’s when students are supposed to go from learning to read to reading to learn. It’s America’s number one education crisis and we know how to fix it.
Ignite Reading delivers one-to-one virtual tutoring that teaches every student the foundational skills they need to become a confident, fluent reader. We pair students who need extra support with expert reading tutors who provide daily, 15-minute, Science of Reading-based instruction that rapidly closes their decoding gaps. We focus on the foundational reading skills—phonics, phonemic awareness, and sight words—kids need to master so they can decode a sentence. Students in Ignite Reading’s program achieve over 2 weeks of reading skills growth per week of instruction, and notably all students achieve the same outstanding results including students with IEPs, multilingual learners, students of color and those receiving free or reduced-price lunch.
Ignite Reading is a mission-driven public benefit corporation. We believe we can do well for our team members and shareholders while we solve one of the nation’s biggest challenges. We believe we will be more successful with a diverse team and are seeking candidates who have lived experience related to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Your Role
As the Director of Instructional Design, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the educational content and pedagogical strategies of the Ignite Reading program. You will lead a team of instructional designers and content developers to create engaging, interactive, and effective learning materials that align with our educational goals and objectives of developing all students into fluent readers. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including tutor development, engineering, and marketing, to ensure that our content meets the needs of our users and delivers a seamless learning experience. You will oversee the development of all instructional design needs including student materials, tutor instructional materials, school partner-facing resources and virtual learning content.
- Strategic Planning: Collaborate with senior leadership to define the overall instructional design strategy and roadmap for the company. Develop long-term plans for content development and curriculum design that align with our business objectives and target audience.
- Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of instructional designers, content developers, and subject matter experts. Provide guidance, feedback, and support to ensure the team delivers high-quality educational content that meets our standards for effectiveness, engagement, and innovation.
- Content Development: Oversee the development of instructional materials, including interactive multimedia content, assessments, simulations, and other learning resources. Ensure that all content is pedagogically sound, culturally relevant, and accessible to diverse learners.
- Quality Assurance: Establish and implement quality assurance processes to ensure that all educational content meets our standards for accuracy, clarity, and effectiveness. Conduct regular reviews and assessments to identify areas for improvement and optimization.
- Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including product, engineering, marketing, learning and development, and customer success, to integrate instructional design principles into all aspects of our platform. Collaborate with external partners, educators, and industry experts to incorporate best practices and emerging trends in instructional design.
- Research and Innovation: Stay current with the latest research, trends, and technologies in instructional design, the science of reading, and education technology. Identify opportunities for innovation and experimentation to enhance the effectiveness and impact of our educational content.
Competencies
We are seeking innovative Science of Reading enthusiasts with exceptional relationship management skills who are ready for an opportunity to provide kids with the highest quality reading instruction. The ideal candidate is a mission-driven self-starter with an energetic passion for transformation and equity within education, a strong early literacy background, and superb organizational and emotional intelligence skills.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in instructional design, with at least 3 years in a leadership role managing direct reports
- Strong understanding of the science of reading, literacy development and evidence-based reading instruction
- Master's degree in Instructional Design, Education, or related field
- Demonstrated leadership experience, including managing teams of 5 or more people, setting strategic direction, and driving results
- Demonstrated expertise in applying learning theories and instructional design models to create effective digital learning experiences
- Proficiency with e-learning authoring tools, learning management systems, and multimedia development software
- Excellent project management and communication skills
- Experience with data-driven decision making and learning analytics
- Creative problem-solving abilities, with a passion for innovation and continuous improvement.
- Experience working in an agile, fast-paced startup environment is a plus
At Ignite Reading, we’ve decided to embrace a transparent compensation structure for a few reasons:
To promote fairness and equity: This approach supports fairness within our structure. When everyone knows how compensation decisions are made, it reduces the likelihood of pay discrimination based on factors like gender, race, relationships, or negotiation skills.
To provide accountability for our approach: The same role receives the same compensation, with no negotiation.
To build trust within the organization: When employees understand how their compensation is determined, they are more likely to trust organizational structures and decisions, which can lead to overall better culture.
To support legal considerations: Many states are moving to requiring compensation listed on job descriptions and we want to follow these rules.
Salary: $130,000
We also ensure you have the tools you need to thrive both in and out of work.
- Employee Stock Options
- Medical, Dental, and Vision (80% employee coverage, 50% dependent coverage)
- Short-term disability (100% employer paid)
- Technology Stipend
- Unlimited PTO + 12 paid holidays
- Professional Development Stipend
- Wellness Reimbursement
- Internet Stipend
- 12 Weeks of Parental Leave
- Yearly Staff Retreat
- Voluntary Life Insurance
We believe in building and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer where all applicants are considered for employment without attention to color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often don't apply for roles if they don't meet all the criteria – unlike majority candidates meeting significantly fewer requirements. We strongly encourage you to apply if you’re interested!
We are seeking candidates who have lived experience related to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are a virtual organization with headquarters in the California Bay Area.
