Nelson Education Ltd. is Canada's leading educational publisher providing innovative products and solutions for learners of all ages. Nelson values and respects the lifelong learning continuum and dedicates its business efforts to the diverse learning needs of students and educators alike.
As the largest Canadian owned and operated K-12 publisher, Nelson is a leading provider of teaching and learning solutions in the industry. We have worked to earn the confidence of Canadian educators, students and parents. Our exceptional team of sales, marketing, and editorial professionals collaborate with educators, students, ministries, and industry experts to create and promote educational resources. We involve our customers in the development of learning solutions, investing in outstanding and dedicated people, and encouraging innovative and creative solutions to real issues.
Position Summary
The French Linguistic Program Specialist (12 months contract) is the senior authority on Canadian French language quality across K-12 French First Language, French Immersion and Core French teaching and learning resources. Reporting to the VP, Content and Curriculum, the role sets French language standards, terminology, and linguistic quality assurance expectations, and advises authors, editors, translators, and reviewers on language progression, pedagogy, and instructional design.
The Specialist also recruits, assesses, and develops a network of skilled French content creators, educators, and translator/editors. The role contributes to project planning, schedules, and content development cost estimating, and partners with Product, Content Production, and Commercial teams to ensure French content is linguistically accurate, pedagogically sound, and authentic for Francophone and Immersion learners.
Requirements
Key Accountabilities
French Linguistic Leadership & Curriculum Expertise - 25%
- Serve as the French language subject matter expert for K-12 French First Language, French Immersion, and Core French resources.
- Provide authoritative Canadian French language expertise with grammar, syntax, orthography, terminology, style, readability, and grade-appropriate language use while ensuring accuracy, clarity, consistency, and authenticity across K-12 French content for Francophone and Immersion learners.
- Advise the French content and curriculum team, authors, editors, and reviewers on French language pedagogy, language progression, and instructional design.
- Establish and maintain French language standards, style guidelines, terminology, and quality expectations across all resources.
- Develop or review prototype and production content for linguistic accuracy, authenticity, clarity, readability, and age appropriateness.
- Interpret provincial curricula, complete curriculum correlations, and identify linguistic and content requirements and opportunities.
Project Planning, Training & Content Development - 50%
- Identify, recruit, train, and assess qualified French language authors, reviewers, consultants, and subject matter experts.
- Translate and review teaching and learning materials as required to support projects.
- Collaborate with Product Owner, Content Producers, customers, and cross-functional teams on approaches for presenting French content.
- Contribute to project planning, timelines, resource requirements, and content development costs.
French Content Management & Linguistic Quality Assurance - 20%
- Lead linguistic quality assurance for French content across all K-12 product components.
- Review and validate French content for accuracy, consistency, terminology, style, register, and cultural appropriateness.
- Ensure content reflects the distinct linguistic and pedagogical requirements of Francophone and Immersion programs.
- Review French adaptations and translations for pedagogical appropriateness and authenticity for the intended audience.
- Ensure appropriate progression of language complexity and vocabulary across grades and subjects.
- Resolve complex linguistic, terminology, editorial, and curriculum issues with authoritative recommendations.
- Monitor recurring linguistic issues and implement processes to improve content quality and consistency.
Market Support & Research - 5%
- Maintain current knowledge of K-12 French First Language, French Immersion and Core French education, curriculum developments, and pedagogy.
- Engage with educators and other stakeholders to gather market and instructional intelligence.
- Support Commercial team with product advantages and positioning for presentations, implementation activities, and other customer-facing initiatives as required.
Required Qualifications{{:}}
- Education - Bachelor's degree in French, French Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Language Education, Curriculum & Instruction, or a related field.
- Experience - 5-8+ years of progressive experience in French-language content development, translation and revision, editing, or K-12 curriculum development, including time in a senior, lead, or advisory linguistic role.
- Language - Full professional proficiency in French and English, written and spoken, with native or near-native command of Canadian French; able to work and communicate bilingually with internal teams, contributors, and customers.
- AI & Emerging Technologies - Demonstrates experience with generative AI and other emerging technologies used in content development, translation, editing, assessment, and education.
- Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Quality Focus - Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and commitment to linguistic, pedagogical, and content quality.
- Translating & Reviewing - Significant experience reviewing, editing, adapting, and translating Canadian Francophone and French Immersion educational content, with the ability to identify subtle linguistic, stylistic, contextual, and pedagogical issues.
- Advanced Canadian French Linguistic Experience - deep knowledge of grammar, syntax, morphology, orthography, punctuation, vocabulary, terminology, verb tenses/moods, sentence structure, style, readability, and language conventions.
- Mentoring - Ability to assess French language authors and reviewers, provide constructive linguistic and pedagogical feedback, mentor contributors, resolve disagreements, and establish clear quality expectations.
Preferred Qualifications{{:}}
- Master's degree in French, French Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Canadian French Education, Curriculum & Instruction, or Language Education.
- K-12 teaching qualification/certification with experience teaching French First Language and/or French Immersion programs, and knowledge of Canadian French and provincial French language curricula.
- Experience at the upper end of the 5-8+ year range in a senior or lead French linguistic role within educational publishing.
- Professional certification in translation or revision (e.g., OTTIAQ, CTTIC).
- Experience applying generative AI tools to translation, editing, and content development workflows at scale.
Benefits
Compensation
The base salary range for this contract position starts at $100,000 per annum based on experience. This position may also be eligible for performance-related incentive pay. Compensation is part of our broader Total Rewards package, which includes benefits and programs that support employee well-being and growth.
What We Offer
At Nelson, we believe in taking care of our people. Your well-being, growth, and work-life balance matter to us, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you - professionally and personally.
The Below Benefits Apply To This Temporary Contract Position.
- This role is comes with hybrid flexibility, M-F, standard business hours
- Commuter friendly location (Sheppard & Don Mills)
- Free parking on-site
- Free, convenient shuttle bus service from Don Mills Subway Station to and from the office
- Access to on-site fitness center and fitness classes
- Access to LinkedIn Learning for continuous skill growth
- Mentorship and professional development opportunities
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing confidential support spanning from mental health services to financial counselling, and many things in-between
Don't have 100% of the above qualifications? Do you still think Nelson is a great fit for you? We encourage you to apply anyway!
Our EDI Statement
Nelson teaches the world by learning from everyone in it.
- We are committed to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace environment. This is an integral part of our company's culture and mission that aligns with our four key pillars of Employee Diversity, Developing Authentic and Accurate Content, Amplifying External Voices, and Supporting the Local Community and Beyond.
- We believe in the power of education and our ability to impact social change. Truth, honesty, integrity, and respect guide our decisions and actions in the development of learning solutions that empower success for all educators and learners.
- We value a respectful, inclusive, and safe workplace that nurtures belonging and represents many different cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and opinions. Everyone is free to be who they are.
- We foster and continue to build relationships that are equitable, diverse, and inclusive with existing and future partners in education.
- We commit to holding ourselves accountable by creating measurable short and long-term goals that place equity, diversity, and inclusion at the core of what we do in our resources, the workplace, the educational community, and in the larger society.
- We strive to build an inclusive world for everyone. We are stronger together.
AI and Automated Hiring Tools
Nelson uses AI support tools in our applicant tracking system to help with tasks such as summarizing points and anonymizing applications. All candidate screening, assessments, and hiring decisions are done by people.
Interview Outcome Notification
Nelson is committed to keeping candidates informed. All candidates who attend an interview for a publicly advertised role will be notified of the outcome of their candidacy. Candidates will be notified of the hiring decision no later than 45 days after the last interview.
Our Commitment
Nelson is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to Inclusion, Equity and Diversity. As part of this commitment, we do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, gender, gender identity, colour, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, veteran status, or disability status.
Should you require any accommodation during our recruitment and selection process, please reach out to
[email protected].
