Subject Matter Expert (SME) - AI for Leaders (Late 2026)

Ziplines Education; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 55,800; Part time

Job summary

A leading education company is seeking a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for AI Leadership. You'll design course content, record videos, and guide learners in applying AI in business contexts. Ideal candidates should have over 10 years of leadership experience and a passion for teaching. The role pays $5,000 per course module and requires 35-40 hours of commitment over 6 weeks.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience with AI adoption strategies.
• Genuine passion for learning and helping others grow.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop AI Leadership curriculum.
• Record engaging instructional videos.
• Support learner engagement and success.

Skills

Leadership experience

AI adoption strategies

Communication skills

Engagement on video

Job description

Subject Matter Expert (SME) - AI for Leaders

Join to apply for the Subject Matter Expert (SME) - AI for Leaders role at Ziplines Education.

About Ziplines

Ziplines Education is a category-leading education company that partners with universities to deliver industry-focused certificate courses that prepare professionals for today’s digital-first workforce. Each year, we help thousands of career advancers build the knowledge, skills, and credentials they need to move their careers forward. Our programs are widely recommended by learners, with a strong net promoter score. We empower adult learners to pursue their careers with confidence.

About You

You bring at least 10 years of leadership experience, a broad understanding of organizational leadership, and a genuine passion for helping early-career professionals thrive. You have a point of view on what learners need to succeed in applying AI to their business, and you can break concepts down so they are accessible to beginners. As an SME for our online course module, you will shape the AI Leadership curriculum, ensure relevance, share your expertise with career advancers, and guide them toward their goals.

SME role objectives

• Create compelling, relevant, industry-aligned courses that give learners what they need to advance in their field
• Record authentic, engaging videos illustrating AI Leadership concepts and how to use technologies and tools related to AI-driven results
• Inspire learners, build confidence, and help them adopt and integrate AI into their leadership practice
• Optimize learner engagement, retention, and success

Our learners and courses

Our learners are driven professionals from diverse fields, seeking to acquire new skills to advance their careers. Courses include on-demand content, hands-on Playbook projects, live sessions, and learner collaboration via Slack and our Learner Success team. Weekly structure includes content creation, Playbook development, live sessions, and ongoing support.

• Each Week, Learners complete on-demand content featuring scenario-based learning, industry context, expert videos, and best practices (6-7 hours)
• Apply skills via a hands-on Playbook project (1-2 hours)
• Attend a live session (2 hours)
• Get extra support by connecting with classmates and the Learner Success team

Your duties and time commitment

• Overall Time Commitment: 35 - 40 hours over 6 weeks
• Week 1: Kickoff with Learning Experience Designer, review module outline, clarify schedule
• Weeks 2-5: 1-2 working sessions with the designer to map lessons, exercises, and video content; develop detailed outlines
• Week 6: Record and upload videos
• Week 7: Review the module and provide feedback

How We Support You

• You’ll be partnered with an experienced learning designer who helps bring your knowledge to life
• You’ll work with a draft outline and refine topics, technologies, and objectives with the designer
• Our video and slide production team will support you with post-production and visuals

Your compensation

$5,000 per course module

What the AI Leadership Course covers

AI Leadership is a 5-week program for business leaders. It demystifies AI and focuses on applying it to business contexts to drive revenue, reduce costs, and improve competitiveness. Learners explore high-value use cases across functions, guide teams through adoption, and build a practical roadmap for responsible and impactful AI implementation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience with AI adoption strategies
• Genuine passion for learning and helping others grow, with focus on career advancement and skill-building
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills for diverse learner backgrounds
• Strong point of view on essential skills and the ability to explain concepts clearly
• Engaging and authentic on video

How to apply

To complete your application, please submit:

• Your resume (PDF)
• A sample teaching video (1-2 minutes)

Video is central to our courses. Please record a short 1–2 minute video explaining a concept for beginners, and share a link we can view. Please apply through our job board rather than contacting us via LinkedIn, phone, or email to ensure a fair review process.

Ziplines, Inc. is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy and related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, protected veteran status, disability, or other characteristics under applicable law.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Contract

Job function

• Other

Industries

• Higher Education

Note: This is a refined, job-focused description extracted from the original content. It retains responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations while removing boilerplate and extraneous sections.