Instructional Design Program Manager

Who we are

SmartPass is a fast-growing K-12 startup developing a platform to make schools more efficient. Initially, we launched with a digital hall pass system — not just bathroom and water fountain visits but managing all kinds of student movements such as counselor appointments, nurse visits, and office hours. Our solution has successfully aided over 3,000 K–12 schools in maximizing classroom time, minimizing aimless hallway wandering, and enhancing student accountability.

In the past year, we've grown our product suite to include three more offerings: Flex for adaptable scheduling, ID cards for secure student identification, and Attendance for roll-call. Each product is at a pivotal stage, and we're on a mission to make SmartPass the most delightful, easy-to-use operations tool schools have ever seen. K-12 software is typically bad, and we’re in the process of changing that.

As the Instructional Design Program Manager, you will be the key architect behind SmartPass’s educational content, designing and delivering interactive training courses that empower educators and administrators to fully utilize the platform. You’ll develop both live and on-demand resources to support successful product implementation, ensuring that every user has the tools they need to succeed. This is an exciting opportunity to combine your instructional design expertise with our dynamic, customer-centric environment, as you collaborate with cross-functional teams to create engaging, impactful learning experiences.

At SmartPass, we value creativity, collaboration, and a deep commitment to customer success. We’ll provide you with the support, mentorship, and resources you need to thrive both professionally and personally. You’ll be instrumental in driving customer satisfaction, retention, and growth through your contributions.

The Customer Experience team is a cross-functional, customer-driven group that ensures a smooth customer journey from onboarding to long-term success.

How You’ll Contribute Right Away

From the start, you’ll dive into designing interactive training content tailored to the needs of educators and administrators, creating courses that support both onboarding and advanced product use. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to integrate customer feedback and product updates into training materials, ensuring they remain relevant and effective. We’ll equip you with the tools and insights you need to make an immediate impact, and we expect you to bring your passion for customer education and content development to help drive customer success from day one.

What You’ll Do

• Design Engaging Training: Develop interactive, easy-to-follow courses and resources (both live and on-demand) to help educators and administrators successfully implement SmartPass and adopt best practices.
• Customize Learning Solutions: Create tailored training programs that address the specific needs of schools and districts, ensuring content is relevant and impactful.
• Create Educational Content: Produce engaging, easy-to-understand resources such as blog posts, marketing emails, and tutorials to support educators in using SmartPass effectively.
• Lead Educational Sessions: Host webinars, 1:1 training, and peer learning programs that empower educators to maximize the value of SmartPass.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Work closely with Product, Customer Experience, and Account Management teams to ensure training materials reflect the latest updates and align with customer needs.

What You’ve Done

• 3+ years of experience in instructional design, customer education, or a similar role, ideally within the EdTech or education sector.
• Proven track record of creating engaging, easy-to-understand training content across multiple formats (e.g., courses, blog posts, tutorials, webinars).
• Hands-on experience working cross-functionally to develop educational resources that support product implementation and drive customer success.

Included in All Jobs

The estimated salary range for this role is $90,000 - $120,000 per year. There is an opportunity to earn an annual bonus of approximately 10% in this role. Actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate including but not limited to demonstrated skill set, years & depth of experience, and some role dependent factors that can include certifications and software expertise. We also hope you’ll consider and be open to what else we provide outside of our base compensation. This includes our benefits, perks, equity, and other aspects of our overall employer brand including our culture which is built on our mission, vision and values. We welcome direct conversations with each candidate about compensation in all our initial calls.

SmartPass is committed to creating a company where all employees regardless of background can show up and feel they belong. This is an ongoing journey, and we welcome questions one here we’re at during your interview process. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or fitness level.

Why you might be excited about us

1. We’re building software that reduces admin and teacher burden, making schools a better learning environment. If you’re into education and love working on tough engineering problems, you’ll love helping build our product.
2. Good design is one of our core values and differentiators. We won’t ship something that isn’t easy to use and doesn't looks good, even though we’re still a small startup.
3. A handful of us are hybrid in the NYC area, if you are too you can join us and collaborate with the founders face to face and some of the EPD team members. 
   
4. We’re small, so you’ll have big responsibilities and lay the groundwork as we start scaling.
5. Our team has a wide range of experiences (folks from Microsoft, Salesforce, Nielsen, previous startups, and K-12 administrators/teachers).
6. Our culture is simple: we work hard, we’re lifelong learners, and we’re fun — at every monthly all-hands, we start with a “memes of the month” and then dive deep into the work someone is doing.
7. Get in at the ground-level of a fast-growing startup.
8. We'll mold your role to shape a career you're excited about. We care a ton about your satisfaction and job happiness, and will help prep you for whatever you're looking for in the future.

Why you might not be excited about us

1. We’re small (~50 people in the company right now), so if you like more established companies, it’s not (yet) the right time. You’ll help build our company’s culture.
2. Since we’re an early stage startup, projects and priorities may shift. We’ll expect you to bring your own experience and give input to shift these priorities, too.
3. Our customers love us, and there's a lot we can improve. It's a great place to be, but that means there's some jank. (Nothing too scary! 😃)

Go Deeper

Check out our support site to watch some videos and see how SmartPass works!

SmartPass is committed to creating a company where all employees regardless of background can show up and feel they belong. This is an ongoing journey, and we welcome questions on where we’re at during your interview process. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or fitness level.