Content Developer (Level Depending on Experience)

At Macmillan Learning, we're committed to driving innovation that transforms education. We seek team members who thrive on pushing boundaries, envisioning future possibilities, and building solutions that make a lasting impact. Whether you're a Pioneer shaping bold new ideas, a Builder turning possibilities into reality, or a Stabilizer optimizing for success, you'll play a vital role in advancing our mission. If you're excited by the prospect of testing new technologies, implementing transformative strategies, and thriving in a fast-paced, innovative environment, we'd love to hear from you!

The Content Developer is responsible for shaping the instructional vision of an educational product and ensuring a cohesive, student-centered learning experience across all formats - including main text, courseware, and digital assets. In close collaboration with Program Managers, Content Managers, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and Course Product Managers, the Content Developer drives pedagogical integrity and ensures alignment with course goals. This role blends editorial expertise with modern learning design principles to deliver content that is inclusive, instructionally sound, and competitively differentiated.

The Content Developer brings together instructional vision, pedagogical strategy, and learner perspective to ensure that every element of a course - from narrative content to assessments to media - works in concert to support student success. Rooted in a passion for high-quality educational content, this role is focused on designing intentional, effective, and integrated learning experiences that align with clearly defined outcomes.

We know that talented candidates sometimes hesitate to apply when they don't meet every single qualification listed. We encourage you to apply if you're excited about this role and believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, even if your background doesn't align perfectly with every requirement. We're looking for people who are passionate about our mission and can bring valuable perspectives to our work. Different experiences, skills, and approaches all have the potential to strengthen what we do. If this opportunity interests you, we'd love to hear how your unique background and abilities could contribute to our team's success. We're committed to building a workplace where everyone can do their best work and where diverse viewpoints are valued. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply - we're excited to learn about the different ways you might add value to our organization.

Major responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Instructional Design & Editorial Vision

• Define and maintain the learning and instructional goals for each project (in tandem with an author or SME)
  Provide direction for development of course content (including main text, assessment, animations, and videos) -- ensuring content is aligned with course goals and has demonstrable competitive advantages.
• Ensure cohesion across main text (print/epub) and digital assets (assessment, homework, animations, videos, simulations, student and instructor resources).
• Create and maintain a Content Development Plan for every project
• Train and mentor other Content Developers in best practices for content strategy (Senior Content Developer).
• Identify gaps and opportunities in existing products to improve learner efficacy, retention, and satisfaction (Executive Content Developer).

Collaboration & Direction

• Collaborate closely with content creators (main text and digital assets), Program Managers, Content Managers, SMEs, Content Project Managers, and Product partners.
• Provide editorial guidance and feedback to content creators (vendors, freelancers, and authors).
• Partner with the Content Manager to scope deliverables and review milestones.

Content Development & Review

• Review core text content, assessments, animations/videos, and activities for clarity, alignment with course goals/objectives, inclusivity, and accessibility.
• Directly edit selected assets or titles and/or manage freelancers on development tasks.
• Ensure level, tone, and instructional intent is consistent across all modalities.
• Lead and conduct structured discovery (such as interviews, focus groups, and surveys) post-project approval to inform content development.
• Either is a Subject Matter Expert or partners closely with one when needed to ensure content is accurate, current, and pedagogically sound.
• Review/approve Course Building Templates.
• Field content-related errata questions and ACU tickets.
• Lead pilots that test new instructional methods, tools, or learning formats (Senior Content Developer/ Executive Content Developer).

Strategy & Innovation

• Apply instructional best practices to content design.
• Support experimentation with new content types, tools, or delivery formats.
• Apply working knowledge of ML's tools and platform to ensure digital content is designed and implemented to advantage.
• Help identify opportunities for automation or efficiency in content workflows.
• Employ ChatGPT, Claude, NotebookLM, and other AI tools to increase efficiency and productivity when applicable.
• Advise authors and other content creators on strategies for employing these tools.
  
• Serve as a thought leader in the use of AI-assisted authoring, adaptive learning, and analytics-informed design (Executive Content Developer).

People Management

• May manage the work, performance, engagement, and career development of direct report(s) (Senior/Executive Content Developer).

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree.
• 5-10+ years of content development or learning experience design experience for complex, multi-format, and high-stakes print and digital educational products.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment while maintaining high quality standards.
• Ability to prioritize, think critically, and problem-solve.
• Strong editorial judgment and content evaluation skills, with a meticulous attention to detail.
• Familiarity with accessibility and inclusive design standards.
• Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally with authors, SMEs, vendors, freelancers, and internal teams.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to clearly convey complex ideas to a variety of stakeholders verbally, in writing, and in presentations.
• Flexible and solution-oriented mindset, with the ability to adapt to evolving tools, platforms, and technologies.
• Comfortable working independently within structured workflows, with strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Pro.
• Familiarity with project management interfaces (JIRA/Confluence).
• Familiarity with AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, NotebookLM), and a willingness to experiment with their use in content creation, content evaluation, and workflow optimization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Curriculum design/instructional design/learning design experience.
  

Salary Range: $70,000 - $120,000

(Salary will be determined based on the level of experience and expertise of the individual hired.)

Exemption Status: Exempt

Physical Requirements:

Requires long periods of close concentration and multi-tasking in noisy/busy environment. Must be able to work overtime - more than 40 hours a week, as needed.

The position is eligible for remote employment, excluding the following locations: Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming.

Benefits

Regular full-time and qualifying part-time employees and their dependents are eligible for Macmillan benefits, effective on the employee's date of hire. Macmillan also offers health benefits coverage to qualifying same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners (may require additional documentation) of active employees.

• Competitive pay and bonus plan
• Generous Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• Contributions to your 401k retirement account through Fidelity
• Generous paid time off, sick time, floating holidays, and paid holidays (Spring Reset Day , Juneteenth, Indigenous People's Day, Election Day, and more!)
• Employee Assistance Program, Education Assistance Program
• 100% employer-paid life and AD&D insurance
• And much more!

Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. Our engaging content is developed in partnership with the world's best researchers, educators, administrators, and developers. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or see us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or join our Macmillan Community. Macmillan Learning is a division of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a family-owned global media company headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.

At Macmillan Learning, we believe diverse perspectives and backgrounds enrich our mission to improve lives through learning. We actively seek candidates who reflect a wide range of identities, experiences, and communities. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability status, physical ability, neurodiversity, genetic information, protected veteran status, family and economic status and background, geographical status and background, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. You can read more about our Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion initiatives here.

The successful candidate for this position will be an employee of Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishing Group, LLC d/b/a Macmillan Learning. Bedford Freeman & Worth Publishing Group, LLC has developed an affirmative action program in compliance with the NY Department of Education's guidance. Portions of the affirmative action program are available for review by applicants and employees by contacting Human Resources at Macmillan Learning.