Khan Academy

Sr. 2D Animator, Khan Kids (12-month contract, $60/hour, 40 hours/week)

SAN MATEO, CAPosted 30+ days ago

Job summary

  • Job post source

    This job is directly from Khan Academy

  • Job overview

    The Senior 2D Animator role at Khan Academy involves creating engaging animations for the Khan Academy Kids program to enhance early childhood education through playful and interactive content.

  • Responsibilities and impact

    The animator will create character and interface animations using tools like Rive, collaborate with cross-functional teams, contribute to creative brainstorming, synchronize animations with audio, maintain brand consistency, and review team members' work.

  • Compensation and benefits

    This is a 12-month contract position paying $60 per hour for 40 hours per week, with potential for full-time conversion; no specific benefits mentioned.

  • Experience and skills

    Candidates need 5+ years of 2D animation experience, preferably for early childhood audiences, proficiency with modern animation tools, adaptability to new software, strong collaboration and communication skills, and passion for children's media and education.

  • Career development

    There is potential for this contract role to convert to a full-time position, indicating opportunities for longer-term career growth within Khan Academy.

  • Work environment and culture

    Khan Academy values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, fostering a collaborative, mission-driven environment focused on learner success and sustainable work practices.

  • Company information

    Khan Academy is a nonprofit dedicated to providing free, world-class education globally, with a large user base and a focus on improving outcomes for under-resourced communities.

  • Team overview

    The animator will join the small but impactful Khan Academy Kids team, working alongside 2D artists, product managers, engineers, and other animators.

  • Application process

    Applicants must submit a portfolio or demo reel showcasing animation work, including character and interactive animations, with passwords if necessary.

  • Unique job features

    The role involves working with cutting-edge animation tools and contributing to a widely used educational app for young children, with a focus on playful and effective learning experiences.

Company overview

Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization that provides free online educational resources, including instructional videos, practice exercises, and a personalized learning dashboard. Founded in 2008 by Salman Khan, the platform covers a wide range of subjects such as math, science, economics, and humanities, aiming to offer a world-class education to anyone, anywhere. The organization sustains itself through donations and grants from philanthropic organizations and individuals, ensuring that its resources remain accessible to all learners globally.

How to land this job

  • Tailor your resume to highlight your 2D animation expertise, especially your experience creating engaging animations for early childhood audiences aged 2-8, as this aligns directly with Khan Academy Kids' mission.

  • Emphasize your proficiency or adaptability with modern animation tools and pipelines, mentioning any experience with Rive or similar state machine animation software, and your ability to collaborate cross-functionally with product managers, engineers, and artists.

  • Apply through multiple channels including Khan Academy's official careers page and LinkedIn to maximize your application visibility and ensure you reach the right hiring teams.

  • Connect with current animators or team members in the Khan Academy Kids division on LinkedIn, using ice breakers like commenting on their recent projects, asking about their experience working on educational animations, or expressing enthusiasm for Khan Academy's mission to transform education for young learners.

  • Optimize your resume for ATS by including keywords from the job description such as '2D animation,' 'early childhood education,' 'Rive,' 'interactive animations,' 'collaboration,' and 'character performance' to ensure your resume passes initial automated screenings.

  • Leverage Jennie Johnson's Power Apply to automate tailored resume customization, identify all relevant application portals, and find LinkedIn contacts for networking, allowing you to focus your time on preparing your portfolio and interview readiness.

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