Fire Protection Subject Matter Expert
Six Red Marbles is hiring freelance subject matter experts (SMEs) to help develop lesson materials for Foundations of Fire Protection, a Texas career and technical education (CTE) course for high school students exploring careers in fire protection. SMEs will work with Six Red Marbles’ team of instructional designers to help create 9 lessons across three units: Community Risk Reduction, Incident Management and Fire Department Operations, and Principles of Fire Science. Course topics include community risk assessment and reduction strategies, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS), fire department organization and support functions, and the chemistry and physics of fire. Each lesson begins as a blueprint from the client. The blueprint outlines learning objectives, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) the lesson must address, content to be covered, and required deliverables. You will translate that blueprint into a robust set of lesson materials, including PowerPoint segments, checks for understanding, formative assessments, student activities, and a lesson project. You own the content and its accuracy. Each SME is partnered with an instructional designer who handles formatting and templating. Lessons move through multiple rounds of feedback before delivery to the client.
Responsibilities
As an SME on this project, you will: Draft all lesson deliverables from the client’s blueprint, covering every learning objective and content outline item. Align lesson content to the TEKS assigned to each lesson so that every standard is fully addressed. Ensure content is accurate and explained at a level appropriate for the audience. Revise drafts in partnership with your instructional designer in response to client feedback. You will bring these working styles to your project work: Reliable. Meets every deadline in the project schedule. Responsive. Answers content questions from the instructional design team promptly. Collaborative. Accepts and applies constructive feedback professionally. Required Skills and Knowledge Working knowledge of community risk reduction, NIMS and ICS, fire department organization and operations, and fire behavior and combustion. Experience explaining fire service topics to non-specialist or high school audiences. Familiarity with developing learning materials, instructional guides, assessments, presentations, and other relevant documents (instructional experience is not required).
Minimum Qualifications
Professional experience in the fire service, fire prevention, emergency management, or fire science education. Special skills considered a plus: Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) certification or equivalent. Degree in fire science, fire protection, emergency management, or a related field. Familiarity with the TEKS or other state CTE standards. Time Frame and Availability Project duration: November 2026 through March 2027, approximately 5 hours per week. Each SME is assigned lessons depending on content area expertise and availability. The first draft of lesson materials is typically due within one week of receiving the blueprint, and revision rounds are shorter. You set your own working hours. Availability during standard business hours is required only for brief 30–60 minute working sessions with your instructional designer, typically 1–3 meetings per lesson. Additional Information This is a remote, freelance position for the duration of the project only. Compensation is a flat rate per lesson, paid in two installments: one after the first draft of all materials is submitted, and one after the client approves the final lesson. Lesson compensation varies depending on length and number of deliverables per lesson. Any use of AI tools in lesson development must be supportive only, and all AI use must be disclosed to the instructional design team. AI should never be used to author subject matter directly. About Six Red Marbles Six Red Marbles delivers high-quality educational programs at scale and has decades of experience developing custom materials and assessments that align with any educational standard. We have developed thousands of interactive learning programs for schools, publishers, universities, and more, with the support of our global network of subject matter experts. Apply for This Position Six Red Marbles is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at [email protected].