Jobs at Highlights for Children (Now Hiring) — 12 open

Learning Science and Efficacy Manager

Learning Design Department · Reports to Senior Manager, Learning Design

Department	Learning Design
Reports To	Senior Manager, Learning Design
Location	Remote
Employment Type	Full-Time
FLSA Status	Exempt

Zaner-Bloser (ZB), a Highlights for Children company, is a PreK–6 foundational skills educational publisher with a mission to help children become their best selves through literacy solutions that target foundational skills development and foster joyful, successful learning. Our research- and skills-based literacy and math curricula—including Superkids, Spelling Connections, ZB Handwriting, and Kickstart Math Intervention—help teachers support, empower, and inspire students across the country.

At ZB, we believe foundational skills provide the groundwork for thriving, successful students. Our programs help educators build community and confidence in any context—creating the conditions for “aha” moments of discovery and understanding to thrive. Students develop reading, writing, and math skills they can apply across disciplines and in many contexts, becoming fluent, motivated learners. Learning science isn’t a tag line at ZB; it’s the foundation of everything we build.

Position Summary

The Learning Science and Efficacy Manager is ZB’s embedded research translator—connecting the learning science literature to the day-to-day decisions made by our curriculum and product teams. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Learning Design and working in close partnership with the VP, Curriculum and Learning Design, this role ensures that every ZB program is built on a defensible, current, and clearly communicated research base.

This is a practitioner-level role suited to someone who loves digging into research and loves even more the moment when that research clicks for a curriculum developer, a sales rep, or a district administrator. The Learning Science and Efficacy Manager will focus primarily on two areas: (1) translating and communicating the research base to internal product and curriculum teams, and (2) Supporting the planning, coordination, and documentation of efficacy studies in partnership with Learning Design leadership and external research partners.

Key Responsibilities

Research Translation & Internal Communication

• Monitor and synthesize current research in cognitive science, literacy acquisition, mathematics intervention, and the Science of Reading—maintaining an accessible, organized library of research that product and curriculum teams can draw from.
• Translate findings from peer-reviewed research into clear, practical guidance for Learning Design, Editorial, and Digital team members who are building curriculum—not reading journals.
• Develop and maintain research summaries, logic models, and annotated research bases for each ZB program, keeping them current as the literature evolves.
• Establish and maintain consistent communication processes for sharing new research and transferring knowledge to internal teams, in collaboration with the Senior Manager, Learning Design.
• Review curriculum and product materials from a learning science perspective, flagging misalignments with current evidence and recommending research-grounded alternatives.
• Contribute a learning science lens to curriculum design work structured within ZB’s UbD (Understanding by Design) framework.

Efficacy Study Design & Management

• In partnership with the Senior Manager, Learning Design and VP, Curriculum and Learning Design, coordinate and support efficacy studies that contribute to credible, ESSA-aligned evidence for ZB programs.
• Coordinate with external research partners—including universities, independent evaluators, and consultants—to support rigorous, well-documented study execution.
• Develop and maintain efficacy documentation for programs including Superkids, Spelling Connections, ZB Handwriting, and Kickstart, ensuring claims are accurate, current, and appropriately tiered per ESSA standards.
• Track ESSA evidence requirements and state-level evidence expectations to ensure ZB products maintain competitive, compliant positioning.
• Organize and maintain research and efficacy collateral, documentation, and archives; manage project timelines to meet multiple deadlines.

RFP & Sales Enablement Support

• Author or contribute learning science and efficacy sections of RFP responses, alignment guides, and competitive proposals—translating research claims into language that resonates with district procurement audiences.
• Develop evidence-based collateral (e.g., research summaries, efficacy comparison documents, Aha guides) that support Sales and Marketing in communicating ZB’s program quality.
• Support alignment documentation projects connecting ZB programs to national and state standards with clear, research-grounded rationale.

Competitive & Market Awareness

• In collaboration with Marketing, monitor the competitive landscape for research and efficacy claims made by programs such as i-Ready, UFLI Foundations, Bridges Intervention, and others; identify opportunities to strengthen ZB’s own evidence positioning.
• Stay informed about developments in educational policy, state adoption requirements, and shifts in the Science of Reading and structured literacy fields.

Qualifications

Required

• Master’s degree in Education, Learning Sciences, Literacy, Cognitive Psychology, or a closely related field (or equivalent demonstrated experience).
• 3–5 years of experience in curriculum development, educational research, learning design, or a related field—with meaningful exposure to K–6 literacy and/or mathematics.
• Working knowledge of the Science of Reading, structured literacy, and evidence-based instructional practices at the PreK–6 level.
• Demonstrated ability to read, synthesize, and communicate peer-reviewed research to non-researcher audiences.
• Familiarity with ESSA evidence tiers, research methodology, and efficacy documentation practices.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to write clearly for multiple audiences (curriculum developers, sales teams, procurement committees).
• Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage documentation and deadlines across multiple concurrent projects.
• Collaborative mindset and comfort working in a cross-functional environment alongside Editorial, Digital, Sales, and Marketing colleagues.

Preferred

• Experience in educational publishing, ed-tech, or a K–6 instructional materials context.
• Background as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, reading specialist, or curriculum coordinator.
• Familiarity with UbD (Understanding by Design) curriculum design framework.
• Experience contributing to district RFP responses or state adoption submissions.
• Knowledge of state curriculum adoption processes and evidence requirements.

Competencies for Success

• Research Translation — Converts complex academic literature into clear, usable guidance for curriculum developers and product teams.
• Collaborative Partnership — Works effectively alongside senior learning design leadership; contributes expertise while aligning to product, learning design, and efficacy priorities.
• Communication Clarity — Writes and speaks with precision and audience awareness across internal and external contexts.
• Organized Execution — Manages multiple documentation and project threads simultaneously without dropping quality.
• Intellectual Curiosity — Stays genuinely current in fast-moving fields and brings new findings proactively to the team.
• Evidence Integrity — Upholds rigorous standards for accuracy, citation quality, and ESSA-aligned evidence claims.

What We Offer

• Meaningful work at the intersection of learning science and curriculum that reaches students and educators nationwide.
• A collaborative, mission-driven team that values research rigor, intellectual curiosity, and continuous learning.
• Close partnership with senior learning design leadership invested in your professional growth.
• Competitive compensation and benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).
• Flexible remote/hybrid work arrangements.
• Professional development support, including conference attendance and continuing education.

Zaner-Bloser is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.