Job Title: Personal Finance Course Author / Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Date: 04/17/2026
Reports to: Vice President of Academic Affairs
Duration: 6 months
Contract Type: Temporary, Project-based
General Summary:
The mission of Portage Learning is to transform lives and communities by providing learning opportunities for all who aspire to thrive. We do this not only through superior online instruction, but with a deep commitment to expanding access to education. We believe service is the thread that binds our community and our team together. To that end, we choose to …
- Believe the best in our employees
- Invest in our people
- Collaborate with humility, respect, and appreciation
- Cultivate curiosity and encourage creativity.
Portage Learning is developing a new 100-level, fully online, asynchronous Personal Finance 1 credit course for high school students. We are seeking a Subject Matter Expert to curate comprehensive module content, create aligned assessments, and collaborate with our Instructional Design team to build an engaging, standards-aligned course. The SME may also be invited to record lecture videos if their on-camera delivery is a strong fit for our student audience.
The SME may also have the opportunity to be contracted to participate in conversations recorded for video delivery.
Course Scope (High Level)
The SME will develop 6 modules covering personal finance, including:
- Fundamentals and Decision Making
- Income and Careers
- Spending and Budgeting
- Saving and Investing
- Risk Management and Insurance
- Credit and Debt
Key Responsibilities (Essential Functions):
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function(s).
Course Writing & Content Development
- Curate and/or write full lesson content for 6 asynchronous modules aligned to course learning objectives.
- Ensure each module includes clear explanations, examples, and appropriate practice opportunities.
- Integrate or adapt open educational resources (OERs) where appropriate, following Portage guidelines.
Assessments & Academic Integrity
- Revise and/or create for each module:
- 1 problem set (10–15 questions)
- 1 module exam
- Develop question banks with 6 alternate versions per question
- Align all assessments to CLOs and provide rationale/notes for Academic Data review.
Multimedia Collaboration
- Identify 2–3 “high-value” concepts per module for H5P/interactive reinforcement.
- Collaborate with Instructional Design, Production, Accessibility, and Editorial teams through iterative review cycles.
Deliverables
- Final written module content (per Portage template)
- Problem sets, exams, and exam banks
- Notes for interactive/H5P opportunities
- Revisions based on internal review feedback
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge/Skills Preferred but not Required:
- Online course authoring experience (asynchronous or continuous-enrollment formats).
- Comfort collaborating in Google Workspace or similar tools.
- Knowledge/Skills Required:
- Strong academic writing skills; ability to write engaging, student-friendly asynchronous lessons.
- Experience creating assessments aligned to learning outcomes.
- Comfort working with OER and/or adapting existing texts responsibly.
Qualifications (Education Requirements/Experience):
- Master’s degree or equivalent in Finance, or related field OR equivalent professional/teaching experience.
- Demonstrated agreement with and vision for the stated mission, vision, philosophy, values, and goals of Portage Learning.
Preferred Qualifications
- Online course authoring experience (asynchronous or continuous-enrollment formats).
- Experience with multimedia teaching (recorded lectures, short instructional videos).
- Comfort collaborating in Google Workspace or similar tools.
Work Environment:
This role will require the use of a computer and may also involve additional equipment, such as a phone and printer. A reliable internet connection is required for your remote workspace. Occasional attendance at virtual check-in meetings is required.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Regularly required to sit; talk and hear, use hands to type, file, handle or feel. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. Occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Visual acuity to use a keyboard, prepare and analyze data and figures; transcribing, viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.
- May require ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; or the ability to stand, walk, lift, carry and move light to medium weight. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and learn technical information.
- Light lifting is required. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force to constantly move objects.
Position Types and Expected Hours to work:
This is a part-time/contract position. Days and hours of work are based on needs associated with the project.
Travel:
This job requires occasional travel – less than 10%. Must be able to travel to the office located in Chippewa Township, PA and/or other suitable venues.
Other Duties Disclaimer:
This is not an all-inclusive document. Additional duties, expectations, demands, etc. may be added or changed to this document on an as-needed basis in order to meet organizational goals.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
