Entry Level Narrative Game Writer Jobs in Portland, OR

Location: On-site at partner schools; varies by assignment

Teaching Mode: In Person

Grade Levels: Elementary, Middle, and High School; varies by assignment

Schedule: Typically 1–4 instructional service hours per week after school

Program Length: Commonly approximately 10 weeks per assignment

Start Dates: Opportunities become available throughout the school year

Compensation: Typical compensation of $50+ per completed instructional service hour, depending on assignment scope, experience, location, schedule, and agreed compensation

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Concorde Education is seeking independent instructional contractors to provide improvisational theater enrichment services for K–12 students.

This is a potential independent contractor assignment, not an employee position. Contractors may choose whether to apply for, accept, decline, or ignore available opportunities.

Assignments vary by school, grade level, schedule, curriculum, available performance space, student experience levels, and program objectives.

Concorde may provide curriculum guidance, lesson-plan suggestions, instructional resources, activity ideas, or program objectives. Contractors may use their professional judgment to adapt instruction within the assignment scope and applicable site requirements.

ASSIGNMENT SCOPE

Depending on the accepted assignment, contractors may:

• Plan and facilitate engaging, age-appropriate improvisational theater sessions;

• Introduce students to the fundamentals of improvisation through games, storytelling, collaborative exercises, and performance activities;

• Adapt instruction based on student age, experience level, confidence, available facilities, site requirements, and assignment objectives;

• Teach communication, active listening, collaboration, creativity, character development, scene-building, and performance fundamentals through interactive activities;

• Prepare students for informal demonstrations or showcases where applicable and approved by the site;

• Maintain a safe, respectful, inclusive, and age-appropriate learning environment;

• Exercise professional judgment when selecting activities and ensure all instruction remains appropriate for the age group, school environment, assignment scope, and applicable site policies;

• Communicate assignment-related needs or significant concerns with Concorde and school staff, as appropriate;

• Complete a brief session completion form after each scheduled session; and

• Follow applicable site safety, visitor, emergency, student-protection, and facility procedures.

EXAMPLE PROGRAM TOPICS

Assignments may include topics such as:

• Improvisational theater games and ensemble-building activities;

• "Yes, and..." collaboration techniques;

• Character creation and scene development;

• Storytelling, narrative structure, and creative expression;

• Voice projection, movement, and stage presence;

• Active listening, teamwork, and communication skills;

• Short-form improvisation exercises and performance games; and

• Confidence-building through collaborative performance.

Specific curriculum, activities, performance expectations, and program objectives vary by assignment.

QUALIFICATIONS

Preferred qualifications include:

• At least 60 college credits, where required by the applicable assignment or site;

• Experience in improvisational theater, acting, directing, theater education, performance, comedy, or related performing arts disciplines;

• Experience teaching, tutoring, coaching, mentoring, or leading activities with school-age students;

• Strong communication, organization, classroom facilitation, and group leadership skills;

• Availability to provide services for the accepted assignment schedule and communicate schedule issues as soon as reasonably practicable; and

• Ability to create an engaging, inclusive, and supportive learning environment for students with varying experience levels.

Preferred backgrounds may include actors, improvisers, theater educators, drama teachers, performing arts instructors, teaching artists, directors, college theater students, comedians, camp counselors, youth leaders, and others with relevant instructional or performance experience.

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

Assignments may utilize school-provided classrooms, multipurpose rooms, stages, curriculum resources, lesson plans, scripts, props, audiovisual equipment, and other instructional resources where available.

Contractors may use their own instructional methods and materials when appropriate, safe, age-appropriate, lawful, and consistent with the assignment scope and site requirements.

Contractors are responsible for ensuring that any scripts, games, activities, media, or instructional materials used during instruction are appropriate for the assigned age group, comply with applicable copyright requirements, and are consistent with school policies and community standards.

Purchases requiring reimbursement must be approved in writing by Concorde before they are incurred.

COMPENSATION

Compensation varies by assignment and agreed contractor terms. Many opportunities pay $50+ per completed instructional service hour with students.

Contractors may propose their desired compensation rate when applying. When proposing a rate, contractors should consider the overall assignment scope, including anticipated preparation, planning, commute, materials, schedule, and other business considerations.

Concorde may accept the proposed rate, decline the application, or provide a counteroffer based on the budget for the specific assignment.

Unless otherwise approved in writing, compensation is based on completed instructional service hours with students.

Payment for completed services is generally made by direct deposit on the fifteenth day of the month following the month in which services were completed, unless otherwise stated in the accepted assignment terms or required by applicable law.

APPLICATION AND ONBOARDING

Applicants selected to move forward may be invited to create a contractor profile and complete any required onboarding steps.

Applying, interviewing, receiving an invitation to create a profile, creating a profile, or completing onboarding does not guarantee selection, placement, or future assignment opportunities.

Potential assignments are subject to assignment fit, agreed compensation, completion of required onboarding, applicable background-check review, Fair Chance or pre-adverse action procedures where required, site-specific clearance requirements, and final written confirmation from Concorde Education.

Some assignments may require background-check authorization, fingerprinting, agency clearance, site-specific documentation, identification badges, or other compliance steps before services may begin.

Applicants should not provide criminal-history information unless and until requested through the appropriate legally compliant process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Concorde Education considers contractor applicants without regard to any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law and is committed to respectful, inclusive, and student-centered programming.