Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM)
Curriculum Developer, Mathematical Biology Major
🇺🇸New York City, New York, United States3 months ago
From $52,000MidFull Time
About BEAM
Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM) creates pathways for students from low-income, low-access backgrounds to become scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and computer scientists.
We provide BEAM students the same access to high-quality preparation in STEM as their more affluent peers, and we invest deeply in our students' success, with programming from middle school through college graduation focused on joyous, exciting, and rigorous mathematics, building vibrant communities, and supporting students in key life transitions such as college admissions and financial aid.
BEAM has grown from a small summer program serving 17 students in the summer of 2011 to a year-round, national program, serving 450+ students at six summer program sites and 600+ students in year-round programming in New York City and Los Angeles this school year. In addition, our BEAM National pilot program now reaches around 1000 elementary-aged students in seven different states, working to create a new nationwide pathway modeled on our local work. We've seen our students' successes first-hand, and it's backed by data: a quasi-experimental study found that students who attended our 7th grade summer program were 1.3X as likely to declare a STEM major as a matched comparison group.
While our middle school programming focuses on summers, during 8th–12th grade, BEAM offers weekend classes year-round so that students can go deeper in their studies and stay in community with one-another. In Fall 2026, we're launching an ambitious revisioning of that programming centered on the opportunity for our 9th grade students to declare majors. Each major will allow students to go deeper and more in-depth on a topic that school does not cover. Engaging, authentic classes will build towards a capstone project in 11th grade which will be a significant piece of work in the field. Thus, they'll be able to develop independence in their studies, and to experience what it "really feels like" to engage with cutting-edge work.
Each major will be developed by a curriculum designer. This is an opportunity to develop something new and genuinely cutting-edge in enrichment education programs, designing every stage of the major from classes to capstone projects.
We expect this project to run from April 2026 through May 2028. During that time, the role is structured as a part-time role (estimated 15–20 hours/week) that can fit around other obligations, providing considerable flexibility to make your own hours (within certain requirements; see below). At the end of the three years, although the project will be complete, there are likely to be additional opportunities to apply for other roles and continue the work with BEAM, for example by designing other curricula, leading professional development for our instructors, or perhaps in a full-time mathematical role.
The team of part-time curriculum developers will be part of BEAM's Curriculum and Design Team. That team has two full-time staff members: a Manager, Curriculum & Design, and a Coordinator, Curriculum & Design. Both will work to support the design of outstanding materials that can be implemented across BEAM's programs.
Although each major will be led by one designer, this is a highly collaborative role and you will be part of a team of designers including two 8th grade courses and three high school majors.. The team will meet weekly over video for group brainstorming and collective problem solving. There may be opportunities for in-person gatherings and working together as well. The rest of the Curriculum & Design Team, as well as BEAM's Founder and CEO, will be part of the design process and support with brainstorming and refining ideas to help them succeed.
In addition to that team, an advisory board for each major will support your work with deep subject matter expertise from researchers and industry experts. Additionally, you will work with and support teachers directly implementing the materials in their first launch.
This role is being hired to develop our Mathematical Biology major. We are especially interested in topics that would be relevant to students who are interested in becoming doctors, and topics that will develop skills in mathematical modeling.
All BEAM courses are designed for students to develop strong skills in mathematical problem solving and reasoning; by focusing on mathematical modeling, this major additionally allows students to develop skills which can be helpful to them in a number of STEM pathways even if they do not later pursue biology. Finally, this major shows students very clearly how math is used in a rich way in STEM and understanding the world.
The major will have three courses, each lasting for one semester with 24 hours of class time. Courses are designed to build on one-another and connect into a coherent storyline. The specific classes to be offered will be one of the early deliverables for this role.
The courses are not designed to be equivalent to college courses, and are not intended to be comprehensive in their subject. Instead, each course will be narrowly designed to prepare students for their capstone projects. They'll highlight a few ideas or results that give students a greater depth of understanding and paint what the field is like. That focus on key results—rather than covering a broad subject—allows us to foster intellectual excitement, spending less time building up foundations and instead helping students to grasp the most interesting punchlines while still developing the topic in a rigorous way.
Finally, the major will culminate in capstone projects. Examples of capstone projects that students might complete include:
SUPERVISION
Each curriculum developer will be supervised by the Manager, Curriculum and Design, who will also review work and support developing materials that can be implemented by multiple instructors. The team will also work directly with the Founder & CEO, to support the design of exceptional materials that align with BEAM's vision and goals.
Please note that exact responsibilities will vary by stage of the project. The percentages reflected below reflect our good faith estimate of overall time allocation over the multi-year project. BEAM does have available a more detailed accounting of expected work by project phase to be provided to all new hires.
Curriculum Writing (65%)
Teaching and Observations (15%)
Supporting Instruction (10%)
Other work as needed to support the successful launch of our new academic programming (10%)
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This work primarily involves typing at a computer. In addition, it involves teaching classes which may involve considerable standing and walking.
We understand that there are many paths to acquiring experience and therefore welcome candidates from diverse and nontraditional backgrounds for this role who have demonstrated equivalent transferable skills to carry out the major duties outlined in this job description.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Our process, as described below, has approximately four stages and we anticipate the process lasting about 4-6 weeks in total. Our anticipated start date is April 1.
The initial step is to submit your application, including resumé, responses to a few short application questions.
We will invite successful candidates to short screening interviews and submission of a sample of past classroom materials that you've developed. After that, candidates will advance to two final interviews: one virtually and one in-person to give a short teaching sample on a specific topic. We expect that the final step will be reference checks.
We will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
SALARY, BENEFITS, AND OTHER DETAILS
The salary for this position is $52,000 annually, based on an expected commitment of approximately 15-20 hours per week. This reflects BEAM's good faith estimate of the compensation for this role based on the anticipated scope and hours. This is a part-time, non-exempt position and the staff member in this role will need to track hours by completing weekly timesheets. Overtime is paid in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law.
In order to coordinate the full team of curriculum developers, candidates must be able to make themselves available Fridays from 2pm–5pm Eastern Time for any meetings. In addition, the role requires teaching and observing classes on Saturdays and so candidates must commute to either Los Angeles or New York City for many Saturdays throughout the year. In order to observe instruction in the other city, there may be up to four 2-day trips per year to the other city.
BEAM provides a number of benefits including:
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Beyond a commitment to nondiscrimination, we are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
BEAM is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of an individual’s race (including traits historically associated with race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protected hairstyles, such as braids, locks and twists), ethnicity, religion (including clothing or facial hair worn in accordance with the religious tenets), color, sex, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, breastfeeding, gender (including actual or perceived sex, gender identity, and gender expression including a person’s actual or perceived gender-related self-image, appearance, behavior, expression, or other gender-related characteristic, regardless of the sex assigned to that person at birth), sexual orientation, sexual and reproductive health decisions, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, status as a veteran, active military service member, or uniform service member, marital or partnership status, familial status, caregiver status, age (18 or older), predisposing genetic characteristics, disability, creed, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, unemployment status, salary history, credit history, an individual’s status as having a known relationship or association with a member or members of a protected category, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. This policy applies to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, compensation, promotion, discipline, and termination.
All personnel decisions will be made in accordance with the principles of equal employment opportunity and subject only to valid (job-related) requirements for employment, benefits, or promotional opportunities.
