Program Designer

The Organization:  Merit America

The American economy is broken. Today, 53 million working adults–nearly half of the U.S. workforce–do not earn a living wage. These talented workers have few options to advance: college is too long and expensive, full-time boot camp programs don’t offer enough flexibility, and online courses don’t have the structure or support to translate learning into a new career. The result? Talented workers, disproportionately people of color and women, get stuck in low-wage roles with no way to build a better life for themselves and their families.

Merit America is a national nonprofit that creates pathways to family-sustaining careers for Americans stuck in low-wage work. Our fast, flexible solutions are built for working adults: We start by analyzing tens of millions of job postings to identify in-demand, high-paying tech careers and then work with industry-recognized partners to train for these roles with part-time programs that combine flexible online learning with best-in-class coaching. Finally, we support our learners in their job search, helping them connect with a broad constellation of local and national employers such as JPMorgan Chase and Infosys to land higher-earning, family-sustaining jobs, driving an average wage gain of $24k three months or more after completing the program. Merit America is on a mission to build a scalable pathway for workers to join the middle class through merit, not money. Since our founding in 2018, we’ve generated a projected $1 billion in near-term wage gains for our learners. 

Role Overview 

As a Program Designer at Merit America, you will be central to developing and enhancing our learning solutions and program models. This role focuses on creating effective, industry-aligned curricula and program frameworks that drive learner success and scalability. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including Product, Coaching, Operations, and Admissions, to integrate best practices and innovative strategies into our programs. Your role combines strategic planning with hands-on execution, leveraging data-driven insights to continuously improve our offerings. Day-to-day, you will collaborate with teams to design, test, and refine curriculum resources and coaching strategies, directly supporting learners through customized programs while continuously analyzing data to ensure the content aligns with industry needs and learner success.

The Program Designer position is an exempt role reporting directly to the Director of Program Experience & Innovation.  You will primarily collaborate with the Program team and frequently engage with other functional areas at Merit America.  This role requires a strong commitment to our mission and values, a proven ability to drive innovation and continuous improvement, and the capability to balance high-level strategic goals with day-to-day operational excellence.

Responsibilities

There are several Program Designer positions, each aligned with a shared top-line vision but concentrating on one of the following areas: Coaching & Curriculum, Program Innovation, or Technical/Instructional.

• Designer, Coaching & Curriculum:
• Develop and deliver integrated coaching and curriculum strategies that support learners from onboarding through job success, driving engagement, retention, and career outcomes.
• Design and maintain curriculum resources across learning tracks that align with industry standards, employer demands, and learner needs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and third-party content providers to ensure scalable, current, and relevant content and coaching practices.
• Utilize data insights and learner feedback to refine curriculum and coaching methods, improving performance and learner support processes.
• Maintain standards of excellence in both coaching and curriculum, ensuring consistent delivery across tracks in a virtual environment.
• Train and support coaches, equipping them with up-to-date tools, content, and resources that enhance learner experiences and outcomes.

• Designer, Program Innovation:
  • Develop and implement innovative solutions to enhance the learner experience, leveraging human-centered approaches and data-driven experimentation.
  • Collaborate with key stakeholders to identify and prioritize opportunities for program improvements and growth opportunities.
  • Drive experimental initiatives to test new methods, modalities, and strategies, applying findings to our general coaching model and curriculum to improve outcomes.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to incorporate feedback, market trends, and DEIJ best practices into program design.
  • Track metrics for experimental projects, applying learnings to drive future improvements.
  • Explore and integrate AI tools and technologies to improve personalization, efficiency, and impact across coaching, curriculum, and learner experience.

• Designer, Technical/Instructional
  • Leverage deep expertise in IT, cybersecurity, and related technical fields to design and deliver high-quality curriculum that aligns with workforce demands, industry certifications, and learner success outcomes.
  • Apply real-world experience to develop and maintain instructional content, hands-on labs, and assessments that build practical, job-ready skills.
  • Lead trainings, workshops, and classes to directly support learners, translating complex technical concepts into accessible and engaging instruction.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams and industry experts to ensure technical programs are relevant, scalable, and reflect current market needs.
  • Use learner feedback, performance data, and labor market insights to refine curriculum and instructional strategies, improving learner outcomes and career readiness.
  • Ensure excellence in technical instruction across all tracks, maintaining consistent delivery standards in a virtual environment.
  • Guide the development and execution of technical certificate and degree programs from initial design through continuous improvement, drawing on industry knowledge and instructional best practices.

Core Responsibilities Across Roles:

• Curriculum Design & Development (60%):
• Design, curate, and customize high-quality, end-to-end learning solutions and resources for multiple tracks.
• Partner with the coaching team to streamline the learner experience through clear objectives, instructions, and feedback mechanisms.
• Work with third-party content providers to ensure content relevance, scalability, and alignment with industry needs.
• Regularly update and refine curriculum based on feedback, trends, and data.
• Integrate best practices into curricula and program models, ensuring effective and engaging learning experiences.
• Manage subject matter experts and content development tasks as needed.
• Apply human-centered approaches to enhance learning resources and methods.

• Program Model Development (40%):
• Develop and implement program models that enhance the learner experience, focusing on innovative and scalable delivery methods.
• Collaborate with Program Operations to ensure effective communication of curricular updates.
• Develop and execute strategies for evaluating program effectiveness through data analysis.
• Design resources and training for internal stakeholders to support effective program delivery.
• Design experiments to optimize program delivery and engagement, aligning innovation projects with organizational goals.
• Engage with industry partners and internal data to evolve program offerings.
• Work with strategic partners internally and externally to ensure program/curriculum designs are scalable and cost-effective, while aligned with organizational goals.

Skills and Competencies

We recognize that individuals from marginalized backgrounds, including women, people of color, and those with disabilities, are often less likely to apply when they don’t meet 100% of the job qualifications. Don’t let that be the reason you miss out on this opportunity! We want to emphasize that your unique skills, experiences, and perspectives are valuable, and we encourage you to apply if you can demonstrate many of the skills and competencies. Below are the skills that are relevant for thriving in this role:

Must-Haves:

• Innovative Thinking: Propose and implement projects using available data, focusing on practical, data-informed approaches to address current needs and opportunities.
• Project and Data Management: Oversee projects and utilize data to guide decisions and improvements, with a focus on maintaining efficiency and effectiveness within given resources.
• Problem-Solving: Apply practical solutions to address challenges and streamline processes, with an emphasis on achievable and evidence-based improvements.
• Learner-Centered Mindset: Approach the role with a focus on learner success, applying a flexible and curious attitude to instructional tasks. Previous coaching experience is beneficial.
• Curriculum and Program Support: Assist in developing and curating content and assessments to support effective, learner-focused educational experiences.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work effectively with team members and stakeholders to support program objectives and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Lifelong Learning Commitment: Engage in ongoing professional development to stay current with industry practices and improve skills relevant to the role.
• Mission Alignment: Contribute positively to the organizational mission, demonstrating commitment to supporting underrepresented adults through education.
• Values Alignment: Uphold the organization’s core values in daily work, contributing to a positive and inclusive work environment.
• Teamwork Mentality: Support team success by working collaboratively and responsibly within a team setting.
• Inclusive Excellence: Committed to continuous learning and growth in advancing inclusive excellence and closing gaps across lines of difference.  Passionate about fostering a workplace culture that embraces and values individual differences, aligned with our core value of inclusivity
• For Technical/Instructional Program Designers: Technical Expertise: Demonstrate deep knowledge in IT, cybersecurity, and/or software development

Nice-to-Haves:

• Experience in conducting research (qualitative and/or quantitative).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

We take care of our employees by providing the following perks and benefits (please note that some of the benefits do not apply to temporary employees): 

• 4-day work week (Fridays are an operating day if there is a holiday closure during the week)
• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance (100% Paid Employee Only Coverage)
• Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account
• Dependent care Flexible Spending Account
• Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Merit
• Education & personal development reimbursement
• Catalog of courses for professional learning and development
• Short and long-term disability
• Unlimited vacation (after a 90-day introductory period)
• Paid Parental Leave and Adoption benefits (after 1 year of employment)
• 11 federally recognized holidays
• 1 week office closure in July (week of July 4th)
• 2 week holiday office closure in December/January
• 401(k) retirement plan with automatic Merit contribution
• Wellness Benefits/Wellness Resources
• Discount perks at work program
• Phone/technology stipend
• Home office setup stipend
• Affinity groups and community building via virtual, in-person, and/or regional meetups
  

*Eligibility for some benefits may vary based on employment status, full-time or part-time. Eligibility will be outlined during the hiring process.

Remote Work & Sponsorship

Candidates must reside within the 50 states or District of Columbia and have full authorization to work in the 50 U.S. states & the District of Columbia (international work abroad, including the U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other islands are excluded). In addition, Merit America doesn't offer employment visa sponsorship.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Building an inclusive, high-performing team that is diverse across lines of personal identity is integral to our success and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

This means we do not discriminate against any job applicant or employee because of their race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

We actively strive and evolve to develop and maintain workspaces that are fully inclusive. We encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.

Still excited about our work?  You can learn more about our work in this video we made with our founding partner, Google.

Fair Chance Ordinance

Applicants who have arrest or conviction records and are in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County will be considered in accordance with the state’s fair chance ordinance law. Employment under the ordinance includes part-time work, seasonal work, contract work, contingent work, work on commission, and work through the services of a temporary or employment agency.

E-Verify Statement

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the I-9 Form.