Science Curriculum Subject Matter Expert (Contract Position)

About ICL Academy

A new model of private online education: Connecting academics, student passions, and industry experts.

ICL Academy is an online private school for grades 5-12 that aims to solve many problems facing in-person and online schools by focusing on student engagement through a personalized, blended approach that combines academics with personal passions. Its founder, Kirk Spahn, is a fourth-generation educator with over 20 years of experience specializing in digital education and youth civic engagement. ICL Academy is powered by 150 years of academic excellence. It builds on the track record of success of the Institute for Civic Leadership, a nonprofit founded in 2001 that has inspired, educated, and supported a new generation of youth civic leaders to take positive action in their local and global communities.

ICL Academy also partners with industry experts who serve as master teachers and Champion Mentors. ICL Academy is grateful to have amazing Champions such as Novak Djokovic, Steve Nash, Bode Miller, Monica Seles, Vincent Zhou, and so many more supporting its community of students and families. ICL Academy has quickly become the #1 online school for kids pursuing their passion.

Position Summary:

ICL Academy is seeking a highly motivated Science Curriculum Subject-Matter Expert (SME) to enhance our asynchronous Biology course. SMEs work remotely and independently, updating assignments and assessments based on a detailed course audit provided by the Academic Department Chair. The role focuses on improving standards alignment, strengthening student engagement, and modernizing assessment practices across 30-lesson courses. Work is completed asynchronously, with predictable communication windows.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Assignment Enhancements

• Revise existing assignments to align with learning objectives and course standards
• Incorporate modern assessment strategies and varied assignment formats
• Create engaging, interactive, and multimedia learning experiences (e.g., Amplify)
• Ensure clarity of instructions for fully asynchronous learners

Assessment Overhaul

• Redesign formative and summative assessments for rigor and alignment
• Develop diverse question types and improved feedback mechanisms
• Implement authentic/performance-based assessment strategies

Project Execution & Collaboration

• Complete onboarding training and attend the project launch meeting with the Academic Department Chair
• Maintain occasional availability during scheduled business hour windows
• Communicate consistently through email check-ins; participate in Zoom check-ins if deadlines slip
• Meet all deadlines across a multi-month project (October to end of April)
• Work independently in Google Drive and Amplify to update course materials
• Follow the course audit to implement required versions, improvements, and enhancements

Job Requirements, Skills, and Experience:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, science education, or a related field (Master’s preferred)
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in Biology
• Classroom teaching or curriculum development experience (grades 5-12), particularly in Biology
• Experience designing standards-aligned assignments and assessments (Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core, or equivalent)
• Ability to use AI tools to create lab simulations and other interactive science experiences for students learning asynchronously
• Strong written communication skills for asynchronous instruction
• Ability to work independently and consistently meet deadlines

Preferred

• Experience designing curriculum for asynchronous, online, or homeschool learners
• Familiarity with backward design frameworks (e.g., Understanding by Design)
• Experience creating interactive/multimedia assessment content (H5P, virtual lab platforms, AI-generated simulations, PhET simulations)
• Experience working with gifted, accelerated, or highly independent learners

Nice to Have

• Knowledge of neuroscience-informed instructional design (spaced repetition, cognitive load theory, and retrieval practice)
• Experience with authentic/performance-based assessment design in science

Project-based compensation:

$4,950 per course; may be adjusted based on experience and qualifications

ICL Academy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a diverse workforce. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other status of an individual or that individual’s associates or relatives that is protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Originally posted on Himalayas