Digital Curriculum Developer

Position Description:

The Digital Curriculum Developer is responsible for overseeing the maintenance and development of Northeast Maritime Online (NEMO) courses. This role blends instructional design, LMS administration, multimedia production, and regulatory documentation to ensure courses are accurate, engaging, accessible, and remain in good standing with the USCG.

Primary Responsibilities of the Job: 

• Maintain and continuously improve existing NEMO courses (content updates, user experience enhancements, assessment integrity, and multimedia refreshes).
• Own the USCG approval lifecycle for online courses: prepare, update, and submit required documentation packages; manage version control; track approval status; and respond to USCG feedback in a timely, professional manner.
• Lead new course development from concept to launch, including project scoping, instructional design, storyboarding, and production schedules—either building courses directly or coordinating SMEs, instructors, and contractors.
• Apply sound instructional design practices (learning objectives alignment, adult learning principles, knowledge checks, scenario-based activities where appropriate, and clear performance-based assessments).
• Develop and maintain course assessments, test banks, grading rubrics, and exam security practices consistent with USCG expectations and NMI policies.
• Build and publish courses in the LMS, including module structure, navigation, media optimization, SCORM/Tin Can (xAPI) packaging where applicable, and course settings/configuration.
• Ensure course materials meet accessibility and usability expectations (e.g., captions/transcripts for audio/video, readable layouts, clear navigation, mobile/responsive considerations).
• Produce and edit digital learning assets (graphics, images, screen recordings, narration, animation, and video) to support instruction and improve learner engagement.
• Conduct quality assurance testing prior to release (link checks, media playback, assessment scoring, completion tracking, and device/browser compatibility).
• Collaborate with faculty, instructors, and operations teams to gather feedback, address learner issues, and maintain an up-to-date training catalog.
• Maintain organized records, including source files, course build documentation, change logs, and archived versions for audit/approval purposes.
• Support continuous improvement efforts through learner analytics and feedback reviews, proposing enhancements that improve completion, satisfaction, and learning outcomes.

Key Deliverables

• Updated/maintained USCG-approved NEMO courses with documented change control and consistent learner experience.
• Complete USCG submission packages for new courses and material revisions, including required supporting documentation and revision histories.
• New online courses launched on schedule with validated tracking, assessments, and multimedia assets.
• Standardized templates and processes for course development, QA, and USCG documentation (as needed).

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in instructional design, education, multimedia/digital media, communications, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• 2+ years of experience developing or maintaining online courses in an LMS (higher education, professional training, or regulated training environments preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple course projects simultaneously with strong attention to detail and deadlines.
• Experience producing and editing multimedia learning assets (video, audio, graphics) and integrating them into online learning experiences.

Required Skills

• Instructional design and curriculum development: objectives alignment, assessment design, and learner-centered course structure.
• LMS course build and administration experience (publishing, tracking/completion logic, user experience configuration).
• Working knowledge of SCORM and/or xAPI (Tin Can) and common e-learning authoring and packaging workflows.
• Multimedia production and editing skills (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud or equivalent tools; video editing and basic motion/graphics).
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills for regulated approval submissions and internal recordkeeping.
• Quality assurance mindset: testing, troubleshooting, and iterative improvement based on evidence and feedback.
• Clear communication and stakeholder management with instructors/SMEs and cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing maritime training and/or familiarity with USCG approval processes for training courses.
• Experience with digital course development.
• Experience with accessibility standards (captions, transcripts, basic WCAG-informed design).
• Experience with data/learning analytics (completion rates, assessment performance, learner feedback surveys).
• Experience collaborating with SMEs and translating technical content into effective online instruction.

*This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. But, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

Core Expectations: 

Northeast Maritime Institute Faculty and Staff are expected to be engaging, forward thinking, passionate and willing to adhere to the collaborative approach that NMI has worked to create. Problem solving and communication is encouraged through honest and polite dialogue. Kindness, compassion and caring are the baseline tenets of how NMI delivers its education.

Northeast Maritime Institute has prided itself on managing an environment where both students and staff alike have qualified positive experiences through a warm, courteous and empathetic environment. We encourage the employee to embrace a positive attitude towards the industry, regulatory bodies and the Institute as a whole.