OPT Curriculum Developer Jobs
Curriculum Developer jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in education, instructional design, or learning science. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions under CIP codes like 13.0501, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization to build a career in learning and development.
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Title: K–G5 ELA Curriculum Developer
Location: Remote
Job Type: Full Time
Start Date: ASAP
Working Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Pay Range: $73,000–$81,000 per year, with a target annual bonus equivalent to 1–2.5 months of base salary.
About us
Think Academy is a fast-growing EdTech company revolutionizing the way K–12 students learn. We provide innovative and engaging educational experiences designed to make learning accessible, effective, and enjoyable for students around the world.
At Think Academy, we believe education extends beyond academics—we are committed to helping students grow with confidence, curiosity, and a love for learning. We are looking for passionate team members who share our dedication to supporting students and families while creating a warm, welcoming, and positive learning environment.
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced K–5 ELA Curriculum Developer with a strong background in U.S. elementary ELA teaching, literacy instruction, and curriculum design.
The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of U.S. elementary classrooms, students' reading and writing development, and common learning challenges. We are looking for someone who can translate these insights into rigorous, engaging, and effective online ELA courses, with a particular emphasis on helping students develop strong reading comprehension and writing skills.
This role involves both curriculum development and product design, working closely with teachers and cross-functional teams to ensure instructional quality and continuous improvement.
Responsibilities
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Curriculum & Product Design
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Identify students' reading and writing difficulties, learning needs, and instructional challenges based on U.S. classroom experience.
- Design ELA curriculum frameworks, skill progressions, learning objectives, and lesson plans aligned with CCSS and U.S. instructional practices.
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Develop engaging and effective online small-group lessons, emphasizing reading-to-writing integration, meaningful student practice, and measurable learning outcomes.
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Content Development & Quality Assurance
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Select, create, adapt, and review high-quality literary and informational texts, including mentor texts that effectively support specific reading and writing objectives.
- Develop reading and writing materials, instructional activities, and assessments that are academically rigorous, age-appropriate, and practical for classroom implementation.
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Ensure curriculum alignment with MAP Growth, i-Ready, and U.S. state ELA assessments.
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Teacher Communication & Curriculum Improvement
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Clearly communicate curriculum design principles, learning objectives, and instructional strategies to teachers to support effective implementation.
- Gather and analyze classroom feedback to identify instructional challenges and continuously improve lesson design and student learning outcomes.
- Collaborate with curriculum, product, and teaching teams to support curriculum implementation, instructional consistency, and teacher training.
Qualifications
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U.S. Classroom Experience: Experience teaching elementary ELA in U.S. schools, preferably Grades 1–5, with a strong understanding of classroom practices, literacy development, and students' common reading and writing difficulties.
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Curriculum & Product Design: Proven ability to independently design effective, engaging, and well-structured ELA curricula and lessons, ideally for online or small-group learning environments.
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Literacy Expertise: Strong knowledge of reading comprehension, writing instruction, literacy skill progressions, and evidence-based instructional practices, particularly reading-to-writing integration.
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Text Selection & Content Development: Ability to select and analyze high-quality texts, identify effective examples of author's craft, and translate them into meaningful reading and writing activities.
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Communication & Collaboration: Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain instructional design decisions and work effectively with teachers and cross-functional teams.
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English Proficiency: Excellent written English skills, including the ability to write, edit, and evaluate U.S. elementary ELA curriculum materials at a professional level.
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Standards & Assessments: Familiarity with CCSS and U.S. assessment frameworks, including MAP Growth, i-Ready, and state ELA assessments.
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Education & Preferred Experience: Bachelor's degree or higher in Education, Curriculum & Instruction, English, or a related field. Experience with U.S. K–12 publishers, textbook development, or EdTech curriculum development is a plus.
Benefits & Growth Opportunities
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Opportunities to collaborate with international teams and contribute to global business initiatives
- A clear career path, with opportunities to grow from content marketing into user acquisition and future marketing leadership
- Meaningful ownership, mentorship, and the chance to work with people who are passionate about education
Think Academy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Curriculum Developer
Target employers with established L&D teams
Large corporations, universities, and edtech companies maintain dedicated learning and development departments. These organizations have HR infrastructure familiar with OPT work authorization, making them more receptive to hiring curriculum developers on F-1 status.
Highlight instructional design tools in your portfolio
Proficiency in Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, or Canvas strengthens your candidacy significantly. Employers evaluating OPT candidates want proof you can contribute immediately, and a portfolio of completed courses or training modules does exactly that.
Frame your STEM degree as a direct asset
If your degree is in instructional design, educational technology, or learning science, you likely qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Lead with this in your cover letter so employers understand you offer a longer authorization window than standard OPT.
Apply to edtech companies early in your OPT period
Edtech startups and online learning platforms frequently hire curriculum developers and are often more flexible with visa situations. Applying within your first three months of OPT gives you maximum runway and reduces employer concern about timing.
Use your capstone projects as work samples
Graduate curriculum design projects, training modules, or needs assessments from your program are legitimate portfolio evidence. Attaching two or three concrete samples to your application removes doubt about your readiness and offsets any hesitation about sponsoring OPT candidates.
Clarify the E-Verify requirement upfront
For STEM OPT, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. Confirm this before investing heavily in an application. Most universities, large healthcare systems, and publicly traded edtech companies already participate, so these segments are lower-risk targets for your search.
Curriculum Developer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Curriculum Developer jobs qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Many do, but it depends on your degree. If you graduated in instructional design, educational technology, or a related field classified under a STEM-designated CIP code, you can apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension after your initial 12 months. Confirm your specific CIP code with your DSO before assuming eligibility.
What types of employers hire Curriculum Developers on OPT?
Universities, corporate learning and development departments, healthcare systems, government contractors, and edtech companies are the most active hirers. These organizations tend to have HR teams familiar with work authorization requirements. You can browse curriculum developer roles open to OPT candidates directly on Migrate Mate, filtered by sponsorship willingness.
Does a Curriculum Developer role count as a qualifying OPT position?
Yes, provided the work is directly related to your field of study. USCIS requires OPT employment to be in a role related to your degree. A curriculum developer position drawing on instructional design, cognitive science, or education coursework satisfies this requirement. Keep documentation of how your role connects to your degree in case your DSO or employer asks.
Can I work as a freelance or contract Curriculum Developer on OPT?
Freelance and contract work is permitted on standard OPT, but STEM OPT requires a formal employer-employee relationship with an E-Verify enrolled company. If you freelance during standard OPT, each client counts as a separate employer and must be reported to your DSO. Contract roles through a staffing agency that employs you directly are generally acceptable for STEM OPT purposes.
How much time should I leave to find a Curriculum Developer job before my OPT expires?
Start actively applying at least four to five months before your OPT end date. Hiring cycles for curriculum developer roles, especially in higher education and large corporations, often take eight to twelve weeks from application to offer. If you plan to apply for STEM OPT extension, your application must be submitted before your current OPT expires, so buffer time is critical.