We are looking for a highly skilled Visual Storyteller - Contract to curate and create the images, maps, and short animations that make lessons feel relevant, meaningful, and interesting to a K-5 audience. One day you might be tracking down a powerful historical photograph; the next, you’re sketching an illustration that makes an abstract idea concrete. Your work will help kids “see” the world in new ways. This is a contract role with high visibility across cross-functional creative and curriculum teams.

In This Role You Will:

• Create and Curate Visuals
• Research and source compelling visuals, illustrations, maps, and primary sources
• Create original artwork and animations in the Mystery style
• Adapt existing visuals to be age-appropriate and classroom-ready

Collaborate Across Teams

• Partner with Scriptwriters to storyboard lessons where visuals and words work seamlessly
• Work with curriculum experts to ensure visuals support learning goals and historical accuracy
• Prototype visuals quickly, test in classrooms, and revise based on student reactions

Shape Program Identity

• Help define the visual identity of Mystery Social Studies across hundreds of lessons
• Ensure visuals spark curiosity and support discovery-based learning

Core Competencies for Success:

• Visual storytelling for young audiences
• Illustration and animation for educational content
• Collaboration across creative and curriculum teams
• Simplifying complex ideas through design
• Resourcefulness in sourcing visuals: from archives, public domain collections, or your own sketchpad
• Adaptability in fast-paced, iterative environments
• Understanding of child-centered design
• Clear visual communication

Credentials and Experience:

• Experience working with K-5 children and social studies topics, either in the classroom, or in developing curriculum or other media
• Background in visual design, illustration, or animation
• Familiarity with social studies topics and standards
• Experience developing educational content for younger audiences
• Experience with storyboarding or video production teams
• Able to work Pacific time zone hours
• Legal right to work in the United States

This role is designed to be a remote contract role initially 6 months.