About Education Design Lab

Education Design Lab (“The Lab”) is a national nonprofit that designs, tests, and implements unique education models and credentials that address the rapidly changing economy and emerging technology opportunities to ensure equitable outcomes for learners and earners. The Lab has partnered with some of the most aspirational institutions, and often their ecosystem partners, as they consider how to design their offerings to serve learners flexibly with more data-driven, human-centered models, processes and tools. Our biggest areas of work include improved career pathway visibility, micro-pathways, 21st century skills, microcredentials, alternative on-ramps to degree, upskilling workers, and training college leadership teams in change management and agile prototyping.

The Lab is unlike other organizations in the nonproﬁt education space. We are boundary- spanners and work across disciplines and alongside schools, employers, entrepreneurs, government, foundations, nonproﬁts, and innovators. We are known for our work on the ground and have significant experience managing national and local learning cohorts, working with organizations such as Ascendium, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Citizens, Carnegie Corporation of NY, Charles Koch Foundation, Walmart, and a variety of state and regional community college systems. To learn more about the work we do and what we care about, visitwww.eddesignlab.org, and follow on Twitter @eddesignlab.

Overview

The Education Designer, Dual Enrollment & Early Pathways, advances the Lab’s Early Pathways strategy by helping institutions reimagine traditional dual enrollment as a launchpad toward equitable, stackable, career-connected pathways. Using the Lab’s nationally recognized human-centered design approach, this role works across K–12 districts, higher education, employers, and workforce partners to co-create solutions that expand opportunity and upward mobility for New Majority Learners.

About the Role

In this2-year term role, the Education Designer serves as a strategic design partner to institutions participating in initiatives like the Career Ready by Design Challenge. They guide stakeholders through discovery, design, prototyping, and implementation phases that align early college experiences with labor-market needs. The Education Designer also plays an essential cross-functional role, facilitating collaboration across sectors, translating learnings into actionable insights, and contributing to the Lab’s thought leadership and impact agendas.

Dual enrollment expertise is essential in this role, as the Education Designer will help colleges and districts transform traditional course-based models into scalable, career-connected pathways. We are looking for someone who has navigated the complexities of cross-sector partnerships, policy environments, and sustainable funding structures. This background ensures the Education Designer can anticipate barriers, identify leverage points, and support institutions in building early pathways that drive real economic mobility.

This position combines facilitation, design, strategy, and implementation support, making it ideal for someone who thrives in complex ecosystems and is deeply committed to equitable learner pathways.

Responsibilities of the Education Designer:

Pathway Design + Strategy

Lead project partners through the Lab’s human-centered design methodology (Understand → Ideate → Prototype → Launch & Iterate).
Design or enhance dual enrollment pathways that are clear, stackable, transferable, and aligned to thriving-wage jobs.
Integrate industry-recognized credentials, credit transfer structures, and labor market insights to ensure pathways lead to real economic mobility.
Embed equity considerations into every stage of pathway design, centering the needs of underserved learners.

Cross-Sector Facilitation & Collaboration

Manage engagement across K–12 partners, colleges, employers, workforce agencies, learners, and families.
Facilitate ecosystems where all partners share ownership of early pathway models.
Structure employer engagement that results in meaningful work-based learning experiences and program relevance.
Maintain project momentum through clear communication, strategic decision-making, and structured collaboration.

Implementation, Scaling & Learning

Provide coaching and technical assistance as partners implement new pathway models—including advising on holistic student supports.
Support institutions in developing scalable and sustainable funding and staffing models.
Surface best practices and synthesize learnings to inform future design, Lab thought leadership, and field-facing publications.
Track progress against impact metrics and work with Lab teams to translate insights into actionable tools and resources.

Qualifications + Experience

Dual Enrollment Experience (Required)

Minimum 5+ years of experience designing, implementing, or managing dual enrollment or early college programs.
Deep knowledge of dual enrollment enabling conditions; demonstrated success transforming individual DE courses into stackable, credential- or degree-aligned pathways.
Experience coordinating complex collaboration among K-12 systems, higher education, employers, and workforce boards.
Familiarity with policy and funding structures that shape dual enrollment sustainability.
Understanding of how to maximize credit attainment and integrate industry-recognized credentials.

Essential Skills

Experience with human-centered design, change management, or similar design/facilitation approaches.
Strong experience working in/with K-12 partners and/or community colleges (preferred).
Skillful stakeholder management across at least two sectors: higher education, workforce development, employer engagement, future of work, or public-private partnerships.
Ability to translate problem statements into discovery and design activities.
Exceptional communication skills in writing, synthesis, and facilitation.

Durable Skills for Success

Oral Communication: Ability to adjust communication for different audiences and facilitate complex cross-sector conversations with clarity and empathy.
Critical Thinking: Proficiency in gathering and evaluating information, identifying patterns, and making well-reasoned recommendations in ambiguous environments.
Initiative: Demonstrated self-direction with the ability to lead without formal authority, identify opportunities for innovation, and move work forward across multiple stakeholders.

Data shows that women and BIPOC candidates more frequently do not apply for a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed. Our job descriptions are general overviews, not a mandatory comprehensive list. If you feel passionate about our efforts and believe you have the skills to succeed in this role, we want to hear from you!

Additionally, given the Lab’s mission and programming, applicants with lived experience as first-generation college students, community college students, those who attended minority-serving institutions (HBCUs, HSIs, AANAPISIs etc.), those who have experience as non-traditional students, and other underserved populations, are particularly encouraged to apply for this role. We do not require a college degree for our applicants for any role.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary compensation for the Education Designer, Dual Enrollment will fall within a range of $89,000 - $96,000 annually.

Location

At this time, although we are a fully remote organization, we do require for our staff to live/work within the Continental U.S. We are unwilling to make an accommodation as we have numerous factors to consider, including foreign employment laws/taxes/benefits, and travel costs to meet with partners.

Application Deadline: Thursday, January 29, 2026

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume by the specified deadline. Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the posted date. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via email atcareers@eddesignlab.org.

Application Timeline

The below will provide a sequence of events that takes place during the Education Design Lab hiring process. We anticipate the hiring and selection process to take, at minimum, between 60-75 days – hiring is critical at Education Design Lab and we engage in a thorough process to learn candidates, their skills and whether they align with the specific needs of the role.

Initial Application Screening: Applications will be reviewed through the deadline listed above, so early application is encouraged.
Virtual ‘Phone’ Screenings: Qualified candidates will be contacted for a virtual screening within 14-21 days after the application deadline.
Panel Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in panel interviews. Candidates will be contacted for scheduling within 7 days of their initial phone screen. Depending on the role, there may be a hiring exercise requirement for panel interview participants. Hiring exercises are compensated.
Second Round Interviews: Selected candidates from the initial interviews will be invited for a second round of interviews. Candidates moving forward will be contacted within 7 days after the conclusion of panel interviews.
Final Decision: We aim to make our final decision and extend an offer to the selected candidate within 3-5 days after the completion of all interviews.

Note: The timeline provided is subject to change based on the volume of applications received and the availability of hiring team members. We appreciate your patience throughout the selection process.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Education Design Lab is an equal opportunity employer; applicants are considered for all roles without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, marital, parental, veteran or military status, unfavorable military discharge, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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