Product Content Designer - XQ

XQ Institute is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to rethinking the high school experience so that every student graduates ready to succeed in life. We work in communities nationwide, with individual schools and entire school systems, to help them dream big about what high school could be, turn their innovative ideas into action, and create more rigorous and equitable schools.

Reporting to the Head of Product Design XQ Institute is seeking a talented Product Content Designer to join our product development team. In this role, you will be responsible for crafting clear, engaging, and educational content that enhances the usability and user experience of our digital educational tools. The ideal candidate will combine skills in writing, user experience, and digital content management to ensure our content effectively reaches and resonates with diverse audiences, including students, educators, and policymakers.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Content Strategy and Development: Develop and execute a content strategy that aligns with product goals and user needs. Create content frameworks and guidelines to ensure consistency across all platforms and interfaces.
• UX Writing and Editing: Write and refine copy for a variety of product interfaces, including user navigation elements, instructional text, error messages, and help articles. Ensure all text is user-friendly and enhances the overall user experience.
• User Research and Testing: Collaborate with UX researchers to gather insights about user behavior and preferences. Use these insights to inform content decisions and participate in usability testing to refine content based on user feedback.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with UX/UI designers, product managers, and developers to ensure content integrates seamlessly with design and functionality. Advocate for the importance of content in product development discussions and decisions.
• Accessibility and Inclusion: Ensure all content is accessible and inclusive, adhering to WCAG guidelines and best practices in educational equity. Strive to make content understandable for a diverse range of learners.
• Content Performance Monitoring: Monitor and analyze content performance using analytics tools. Use data to make informed decisions about content improvements and iterations.
  

Experience & Skills:

• At least 3-5 years of experience in content design, UX writing, or a closely related field within digital media or educational technology.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with a strong ability to convey complex educational concepts in clear, persuasive, and relatable terms.
• Proven track record of developing and executing content strategies that enhance user engagement and meet organizational goals.
• Experience with content management systems, SEO best practices, and digital analytics tools.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead content initiatives from conception through to execution.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or related field; additional qualifications in education or instructional design are a plus.

Bonus Points

• Direct experience in educational technology, consumer products, or related fields.
• Advanced degree in a relevant field.
• Experience in facilitating brainstorming sessions and promoting design thinking across teams.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is highly competitive and commensurate with experience. XQ offers excellent organizational benefits. The salary range is: $140,000-$175,000.

Location

XQ is based in Oakland, CA with offices in Washington DC and New York, NY. This role will be based in Oakland with 4 days in-person.

XQ is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Promoting, celebrating, and supporting diversity is a core value at XQ. Individuals are considered without regard to race, gender, age, sexual orientation, sexual expression, religion, color, veteran status, disability, marital status, or ancestry.

XQ Mindsets

Ours is a world defined by uncertainty, a society in flux, a state of unprecedented upheavals. While we don’t anticipate any quick fixes, we can anchor ourselves to what we see emerging. That’s why we have established a set of collective XQ Mindsets to ground us.

100% accountability: This doesn't mean you have 100% ownership. It doesn't mean you are responsible for every last thing that needs to be done. It means choosing to take responsibility for our collective success and impact.

Maker mindset: We build stuff. We won’t always get it right the first time—in fact, we rarely will. But by quickly making and testing our work, we can learn what works and what doesn’t.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for: Critique is not enough. It is on us to create the solutions—no matter where we sit in the organization. We are a well-resourced organization filled with brilliant people. No one else is coming to our rescue.

Opportunity knocks: We are ready, willing, and able to take on anything that is thrown our way. Pivots are a natural part of our approach, so let’s embrace them so that we can experience them joyfully.

Stand on the shoulders of giants: We honor those who came before us, who aren’t seated at our tables, and build on others’ and our own earlier work with respect and reverence.

To Apply

Please apply online. In your cover letter, please address why your skills, interests, and experience align with the requirements for this role.