Note: This job position is remote – ideally based in the New York metro areas with ability to be in the NY office a few times a month for team and company meetings.
For more than 20 years, corporations, governments, and philanthropies have hired Next Street to strengthen the small businesses they rely on. Founded in 2005 as a Boston-based consultancy advising a selection of small local businesses, Next Street has evolved into the leading national small business solutions firm impacting more than 200,000 entrepreneurs across the country each year. We maintain our unwavering commitment and specialized expertise in small business support on behalf of our clients.
Over the years, our work has impacted more than 4 million small businesses, connecting them with more than 50,000 hours of advisory services, $6 billion in capital and $10 billion in contracts.
Today, we provide end-to-end solutions — from ecosystem assessments and strategies to resource platforms and accelerators — for these clients to propel the small businesses in their communities and supply chains. Our solutions ultimately help small businesses, whether they are solo entrepreneurs or advanced suppliers, to unlock new revenue, build wealth, and reinvest in their communities. We believe that with the right support, America's small business owners will be the engines driving new economic growth across the country.
Next Street is a certified B-corporation that is committed to becoming an anti-racist organization to represent the small businesses we strive to serve. Through this commitment, inclusivity is integral to our DNA, and our values are embedded in every aspect of our work.
Join us, and together, we will live into our values, pursue fulfilling careers, and transform our society.
Why this Role?
Next Street is looking for a passionate and innovative Curriculum Specialist to design and develop engaging, high-quality learning experiences that help small business owners build practical skills and achieve measurable outcomes. Working closely with clients, subject matter experts (SMEs), instructional designers, and project managers, this role supports the end-to-end curriculum development process—from needs assessment and learning objectives through content creation, quality assurance, and course publishing.
The ideal candidate combines strong instructional design expertise with exceptional writing, organization, and collaboration skills. They are comfortable translating complex topics into accessible, engaging learning experiences across a variety of formats while managing multiple projects and maintaining a high standard of quality.
Your work will consist of…
Curriculum Design & Development
- Support all phases of curriculum development, from discovery through final delivery.
- Assess client needs and translate business goals into measurable learning objectives.
- Partner with subject matter experts (SMEs) to develop course outlines, identify required content, perform topic research, and gather supporting resources.
- Apply instructional design principles and adult learning best practices to create engaging, user-centered experiences.
- Design and develop learning assets including:
- Interactive eLearning courses
- Storyboards
- Video and voiceover scripts
- Participant worksheets and job aids
- Instructor-led training (ILT) presentations and facilitator materials
- Assessments and knowledge checks
- Engagement surveys
- Leverage AI tools to accelerate research, brainstorming, drafting, and content development while —while keeping human judgment, accuracy, and quality at the center of the course-creation process.
Content Quality & Accessibility
- Deliver curriculum on schedule and in accordance with project specifications.
- Participate in quality assurance (QA) reviews and edit learning materials for clarity, consistency, accuracy, and learner engagement, incorporating feedback and refining content as needed.
- Review peer- and contractor-developed content, providing thoughtful, actionable feedback that strengthens its clarity, usability, and value for small business learners.
- Ensure all deliverables meet organizational quality standards and accessibility requirements.
Client Project & Training Support
- Collaborate directly with clients to understand learning needs, gather feedback, and communicate project progress.
- Support curriculum development timelines by coordinating deliverables and meeting established deadlines.
- Work effectively across multiple projects with competing priorities while maintaining strong attention to detail.
- Conduct train-the-trainer sessions and coach SMEs and client facilitators on effective adult learning techniques and presentation best practices.
- Support cohort-based learning programs by onboarding participants to learning platforms and providing instructional support as needed.
Learning Management System (LMS) Support
- Prepare courses for publishing within Learning Management Systems (LMS).
- Configure and update course content, learning paths, and related materials.
- Assist with testing and troubleshooting courses prior to launch.
- Maintain course content and implement updates as programs evolve.
Why you?
- You have 2 – 4 years of proven experience in Instructional Design, Education, Communications, Learning & Development, or a related field
- You have strong instructional design knowledge, including adult learning theory and learning experience design.
- You have exceptional writing, editing, and content organization skills.
- You have extensive experience collaborating with subject matter experts to develop educational content.
- You have strong ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- You excel at making complex information clear and accessible to diverse audiences. You are business minded, translating and aligning client needs into content to push forward business objectives.
- You are data driven, using KPIs and metrics to drive decisions and iterate.
- You are proficient with Articulate Rise and Articulate Storyline development software.
- You have experience using Microsoft Office and collaboration tools.
Plus if you…
- Have experience using Adobe Creative Cloud, Camtasia, or other multimedia development tools.
- Familiar with Learning Management Systems (LMS) administration or other content management systems.
- Have experience working with small business owners, entrepreneurs, or workforce development audiences.
- Have experience facilitating workshops, train-the-trainer sessions, or instructor-led learning.
- Familiar with generative AI tools to support instructional design and content development.
- Have experience in editing learning content or remediating PDFs to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA accessibility standards.
Success in This Role
A successful Curriculum Specialist:
- Designs learning experiences that are engaging, practical, and aligned with business objectives.
- Translates complex subject matter into clear, actionable content for adult learners in a variety of formats.
- Builds strong working relationships with clients and subject matter experts.
- Balances creativity with organization while managing multiple projects and timelines simultaneously.
- Produces polished, accessible learning materials that meet quality standards and deadlines.
- Continuously looks for opportunities to improve learning experiences, streamline development processes, and leverage emerging technologies, including AI, to increase efficiency and impact.
What we offer:
We want our team members to bring their best, true selves to work every day. We will offer you:
- Benefits Package – We know you work hard, and we want to reward you for it. We offer competitive salaries and generous benefits packages (including 401k and paid parental leave) for mission-driven work.
- Generous paid time off – We want to ensure you have time to recharge and pursue your many passions. We give our team members 20 days of paid time off annually, including federal holidays, volunteer days and more!
- Mentorship and Sponsorship – You will have frequent access to our diverse and dynamic senior team. They will be committed to your growth and will invest in mentoring you.
- Career development – We take growth seriously. We give each team member an annual professional development stipend and provide ample coaching.
- Flexibility – It is important that you work when and where you work best. We offer flexible work arrangements to accommodate individual schedules and work preferences. This includes a low travel mode during non-pandemic times.
- Social events and perks – We admire and value our teammates. We plan events throughout the year and provide office snacks so you can perform your best every day and more!
Next Street believes in an equitable and transparent compensation approach. The starting salary range for Specialist positions across the firm is $102,073 - $117,935 regardless of location and commensurate with experience. You will also be eligible to participate in Next Street’s discretionary incentive program annually. For new hires, Next Street targets the start of the salary band, although considerations could be made based on job knowledge, skills, and experience. As part of our Antiracism commitment, Next Street uses a pay scale approach and transparent methodology to advance staff within a compensation band based on performance.
Next Street is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.
