Curriculum & Training Specialist

Families In Schools (FIS) imagines a public education system where parents play a leadership role in their children’s learning and where students, particularly those farthest from opportunity, are set up to succeed in school and life.

Founded in 2000, FIS is a nonprofit, statewide organization based in Los Angeles, California, with a mission to ensure student success by building authentic partnerships among families, educators, and system leaders through capacity-building efforts for system leaders and parent-led advocacy. In 2024, FIS entered a new chapter, marked by new leadership and a clear, unflinching commitment to excellence and impact. In this new chapter, FIS brings greater innovation to family engagement by creating capacity for educators to authentically partner with families, more deeply centering the voices of families on critical system and policy decisions, and activating coalitions to drive local and state-wide campaigns powered by parent leadership.

FIS is seeking a strategic and creative Curriculum and Training Specialist to lead the design, improvement, and quality assurance of all curriculum and content across the Training and Capacity Building (TCB) team. This role reports to the Director of Training and Capacity Building and serves as the primary architect of FIS’s training materials, learning frameworks, and facilitation tools for schools, districts, community-based organizations, and families.

The ideal candidate is passionate about educational equity and family engagement, brings a deep understanding of adult learning and instructional design, and has experience crafting culturally responsive materials that drive impact. This role is ideal for a mid-career professional looking to lead curriculum development at a mission-driven, equity-centered organization.

Curriculum Design & Innovation

• Lead the development, revision, and packaging of FIS’s research-based and culturally responsive training curricula, toolkits, and modules, webinars, or other content.
• Align content to state and national standards and frameworks (e.g., Dual Capacity-Building Framework, LAUSD Family Empowerment Rubric, early literacy legislation, community building), evidence-based practices, and/or community priorities.
• Track and translate feedback from partners and participants into continuous content improvements.
• Develop asynchronous and modular training content for digital platforms and blended learning models, ensuring consistency and flexibility.

Training and Facilitation

• Co-facilitate workshops, webinars, and trainings for educators, family liaisons, and parent leaders (in-person and virtual).
• Support logistics, material preparation, and participant engagement before, during, and after sessions.
• Help monitor training quality and participant feedback to inform and implement improvements.

Quality Assurance & Systems Building

• Establish quality control systems for all training products and ensure consistency across formats.
• Develop templates, style guides, and curriculum repositories for staff to use and reference.
• Lead periodic content audits to identify gaps, outdated material, or alignment needs with evolving policy or partner needs.

Internal Capacity Building

• Support onboarding and training of FIS trainers and facilitators on new and existing content and tools.
• Partner with the Director of Training & Capacity Building and the TCB team to codify a train-the-trainer model and support certification efforts.
• Co-design facilitation and implementation guides for curriculum across diverse audiences and settings.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with key staff to track training outcomes, analyze participant feedback, and generate insights that inform the continuous improvement of content and delivery.
• Work with Communications and Development teams to package and present content for proposals, partner collateral, and external audiences.

Project and Administrative Support

• Track deliverables for training contracts and help maintain communication with partners.
• Maintain organized records of curriculum drafts, templates, and training evaluations.
• Support scheduling, digital file organization, and data entry as needed.

Data Collection and Reporting

• Collect and track data on trainings, participant engagement, and capacity building outcomes.
• Gather feedback to support ongoing learning and improvement of training strategies, enhancing client integration of learning outcomes and input into curriculum iteration.
• Collaborate with the team to analyze findings and refine strategies to enhance family engagement and service impact.

You’re an experienced instructional trainer, designer, or curriculum developer who understands how powerful learning experiences can transform families, educators, and communities. You thrive in collaborative environments, are comfortable managing complex projects, and take pride in creating engaging, culturally grounded learning materials that spark growth.

Relevant Experience

• 4–6 years of professional experience in curriculum design, instructional development, or a similar role.
• Proven experience creating training materials for adult learners, educators, or community organizations.
• Familiarity with early literacy, family engagement, or social-emotional learning is preferred.
• Strong understanding of culturally responsive pedagogy and adult learning theory.
• Experience with digital learning tools, LMS platforms, or multimedia content design is a plus.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including parents, educators, community leaders, and volunteers.
• Effective Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas in a clear and accessible manner.
• Organizational Skills: Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed to accommodate community schedules and events.
• Bilingual: Proficient in Spanish or another language commonly spoken in Los Angeles.

Mindsets

• Passion for Educational Equity and Family Engagement: Committed to advancing educational equity and ensuring that families are engaged as equal partners in their children’s education.
• Mission-Driven: Deep commitment to Families In Schools’ mission and strategic goals.
• Collaborative: Builds strong, positive relationships across roles and functions. Fosters a culture of teamwork, accountability, and shared purpose.
• Learning-Oriented: Open to feedback and committed to continuous growth. Values the leadership and wisdom of families and creates space for their voices to lead.
• Flexible & Adaptable: Approaches change and ambiguity with resilience and a positive attitude. Navigates complex environments with grace and resourcefulness.
• Capacity Builder: Dedicated to uplifting the assets of underserved families and strengthening the capacity of educators, leaders, and systems that serve them.
• Action-Oriented: Thrives in fast-paced, results-driven settings while maintaining attention to detail and quality.
• Trustworthy & Ethical: Exercises sound judgment, discretion, and diplomacy. Demonstrates integrity, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to using resources effectively.
• Strategic & Tactical: Able to think big-picture while executing with precision in a collaborative, high-performing environment.

Additional Qualifications

• Willingness to work weekends and evenings and travel as necessary
• Access to a car, possession of a valid driver’s license, and proof of automobile insurance
• Can lift up to 25 lbs. (books, materials, supplies, etc.)