Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Curriculum Developer

🎯 Role Definition

A Curriculum Developer designs, develops, and evaluates educational programs and learning experiences for K–12, higher education, corporate training, or online learning environments. This role translates learning objectives into structured curricula, creates instructional materials and assessments, and collaborates with SMEs, instructors, and product teams to ensure alignment with pedagogical standards, competency frameworks, and organizational goals. The Curriculum Developer drives continuous improvement through data-informed iteration and ensures materials are accessible, scalable, and learner-centered.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Instructional Designer / E‑Learning Specialist
Subject Matter Expert (SME) or Teacher with curriculum design experience
Training Specialist or Learning Experience Designer

Advancement To:

Senior Curriculum Developer / Lead Instructional Designer
Instructional Design Manager / Learning & Development Manager
Director of Curriculum & Assessment or Head of Learning Experience

Lateral Moves:

Learning Experience Designer
Educational Product Manager
Assessment Specialist / Learning Analytics Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead end‑to‑end curriculum design projects by conducting needs analyses, defining measurable learning objectives, mapping learning pathways, and producing detailed scope-and-sequence documents that align with organizational standards and competency frameworks.
Design and develop instructor-led and digital course materials (lesson plans, facilitator guides, slide decks, job aids, hands-on activities, and multimedia assets) that reflect adult learning theory, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and backward design principles.
Create rigorous formative and summative assessments, rubrics, and competency checks that measure mastery of learning outcomes and provide actionable feedback for learners and instructors.
Translate subject matter expertise into accessible, scaffolded learning experiences by collaborating with SMEs to identify prerequisite skills, critical concepts, and performance tasks.
Build and maintain content in Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard, Cornerstone, or Docebo, including course shell creation, enrollment structures, and SCORM/xAPI package uploads.
Develop interactive e‑learning modules using authoring tools (Articulate Storyline, Rise, Adobe Captivate, Lectora) that incorporate branching scenarios, simulations, video, and formative checks to increase learner engagement and retention.
Implement learning analytics and evaluation plans by defining success metrics (completion rates, assessment scores, learner satisfaction, behavior change) and using data to iterate on curriculum design.
Ensure curriculum materials meet accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1) and universal design for learning (UDL) principles by creating alternative formats, closed captions, and accessible document structures.
Pilot new curricula with target learner groups, collect qualitative and quantitative feedback, synthesize findings, and revise content to improve clarity, pacing, and alignment with objectives.
Partner with cross-functional stakeholders — program managers, product teams, HR, accreditation bodies, and external vendors — to ensure curriculum meets business needs, compliance requirements, and market standards.
Produce comprehensive instructor training and onboarding materials, including train-the-trainer sessions, assessment administration guides, and moderation best practices to ensure fidelity of implementation.
Manage multiple curriculum projects simultaneously by creating project plans, timelines, milestones, and resource estimates; coordinate contributors and vendors to meet deadlines and budgets.
Maintain version control and content governance for curriculum artifacts, including style guides, content taxonomies, standards alignment matrices, and revision logs.
Conduct literature reviews and environmental scans to incorporate evidence-based instructional strategies, emerging technologies, and industry competency models into curriculum design.
Design competency-based and modular curricula that support micro-credentialing, stackable certificates, and pathways for lifelong learning and career advancement.
Localize and adapt curriculum content for diverse audiences, geographies, and languages while preserving learning integrity and compliance with local standards.
Oversee multimedia production workflows by scripting educational videos, storyboarding animations, and coordinating with multimedia specialists to produce high-quality learning assets.
Establish and manage assessment security and integrity protocols for high-stakes testing environments, including proctoring guidance, question banks, and item analysis practices.
Monitor program outcomes and accreditation metrics, prepare reports for internal stakeholders and external reviewers, and lead continuous improvement cycles to maintain program quality.
Mentor and review work from junior instructional designers and content developers, provide constructive feedback aligned with best practices, and contribute to professional development within the team.
Develop and maintain a curriculum repository and searchable content library that promotes reuse, reduces duplication, and accelerates course development timelines.
Advocate for learner-centered design by facilitating learner persona development, journey mapping, and pilot testing to ensure curricula meet the needs of diverse learner populations.
Integrate assessment technologies and learning tools (assessment platforms, e-portfolio systems, virtual labs, and simulation software) to provide authentic practice and evidence of skill transfer.
Ensure alignment of curriculum with organizational KPIs, workforce needs, and job role competencies by conducting stakeholder workshops and translating business outcomes into learning strategies.
Drive accessibility, quality assurance, and compliance reviews throughout the curriculum lifecycle, including proofreading, alignment checks, and usability testing with representative learners.

Secondary Functions

Curate third-party content and partner with vendors to license high-quality educational resources and platforms that complement internal curricula.
Support pilot deployments and early adopter cohorts by collecting implementation feedback and coordinating rapid iterations with development teams.
Maintain curriculum documentation, metadata, and tagging to support analytics, reporting, and content discoverability across teams.
Act as liaison between academic subject matter experts and technical teams to translate pedagogical requirements into platform specifications and user stories.
Provide periodic training to instructors and facilitators on new tools, pedagogical approaches, and assessment updates.
Participate in strategic planning meetings to shape learning roadmaps and advise product teams on curricular implications of platform features.
Assist in grant writing, accreditation documentation, and compliance reporting to support program funding and certification efforts.
Research and pilot emerging educational technologies (AI tutoring, adaptive learning engines, VR/AR simulations) for potential integration into curricula.
Contribute to marketing and enrollment materials by drafting course descriptions, learning outcomes, and competency profiles optimized for discoverability and conversion.
Support stakeholder-facing meetings and present curriculum rationale, evidence of impact, and recommendations for scaling successful programs.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Instructional design methodologies (ADDIE, SAM, Backward Design) and practical experience applying them to large-scale curriculum projects.
Expertise with e-learning authoring tools: Articulate Storyline, Rise, Adobe Captivate, or similar platforms.
Learning Management Systems (LMS) administration experience (Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard, Cornerstone, Docebo).
Assessment design and psychometric basics: item writing, rubric development, formative/summative assessment strategies, and item analysis.
Familiarity with standards and frameworks (Common Core, NGSS, CBE frameworks, industry competency models) and standards alignment processes.
Knowledge of SCORM, xAPI (Tin Can), and packaging content for interoperability and learning analytics tracking.
Proficiency with multimedia scripting and storyboarding; experience coordinating video production and basic audio/video editing workflows.
Data literacy: experience using learning analytics tools, Excel/Sheets, and basic SQL or analytics dashboards to interpret learner data and inform design decisions.
Accessibility and universal design for learning (WCAG 2.1) best practices to ensure inclusive learning materials.
Curriculum mapping and competency framework development for learning pathways and credentialing programs.

Soft Skills

Strong communication and stakeholder management skills: able to translate pedagogical concepts for non‑technical audiences and build consensus across diverse teams.
Project management and organizational skills: prioritize competing deadlines, manage cross-functional contributors, and deliver on time and on budget.
Analytical mindset with attention to detail for crafting assessment items, rubrics, and alignment matrices.
Creative problem-solving and instructional creativity to design engaging learning experiences for adult and K–12 learners.
Facilitation and training skills for delivering train-the-trainer sessions, workshops, and stakeholder presentations.
Collaboration and empathy to incorporate learner feedback, support instructors, and adapt to diverse educational contexts.
Adaptability and continuous learning orientation to keep pace with evolving educational technologies and pedagogy.
Time management and ability to manage multiple curriculum development projects concurrently.
Critical thinking to evaluate research, synthesize evidence-based practices, and make principled design decisions.
Leadership and mentorship skills to guide junior designers and drive improvements in team processes and standards.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Instructional Design, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Technology, Learning Sciences, or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Instructional Design, Curriculum & Instruction, Education Technology, Learning Sciences, Adult Education, or related advanced degree.
Certifications such as ATD Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP), ISTE Certification, or certificate programs in instructional design / e-learning.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Instructional Design / Educational Technology
Curriculum and Instruction / Education
Learning Sciences / Cognitive Psychology
Subject area specializations (STEM, literacy, language learning)
Adult Learning / Workforce Development

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7+ years of curriculum design, instructional design, or learning experience development in education, corporate training, or edtech settings.

Preferred:

5+ years designing curricula and assessments with demonstrated impact (improved learning outcomes, completion rates, certification attainment).
Experience working with cross-disciplinary teams, managing vendor relationships, and deploying curricula at scale.
Experience with accreditation, standards alignment, or competency-based education models preferred.