Looking for Writing Team Lead and Writers

WHO WE ARE
The Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB)/Centre des niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (CNCLC) is an Ottawa-based, national, non-profit organization. Since 1998, CCLB has been the centre of expertise in support of the Canadian Language Benchmarks and Niveaux de compétence linguistiques canadiens, the national standards for describing, measuring, and recognizing the second- language proficiency of immigrants and prospective immigrants for living and working in Canada. For more information about CCLB/CNCLC, visit www.language.ca.

WHY CCLB/CNCLC?

  • Interesting projects
  • Canada-wide resources and connections
  • Contribute to the field of ESL/FSL
  • Supportive CCLB staff
  • Professional growth and networking
  • Credibility in the field
  • Flexibility
  • Well-paid

APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested applicants are asked to complete the Microsoft Form linked below. This form will be used in place of a resume and cover letter for the initial selection stage. Applicants should provide detailed responses and concrete examples that demonstrate how they meet the requirements for the role.

Please submit your interest including expectations for your hourly consultant pay rate via this form.

Open until filled. 

Click here to view a related NCLC post

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position; however, please note that we will contact only those selected for an interview.

ABOUT
Funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks is undertaking a three-year project to modernize its national language frameworks: CLB: ESL for Adults, NCLC : Français langue seconde pour adultes, CLB: ESL for ALL, NCLC : FLS pour AMA and relevant supports, including the CLB Bootcamp and the Camp de formation aux NCLC.

The purpose of this call is to identify qualified applicants interested in leading a writing team or contributing as members of a writing team to modernize the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). This work will reflect the recommendations report produced from national consultations held in 2025–2026 and be guided by the CCLB Project Team.

CONSULTANT CONTRACT

100% Remote Work

TERM:

Writing Team Lead: August 17, 2026 to March 31, 2027 (with possibility of renewal)

Writing Team Member: October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 (with possibility of renewal)

ROLE

The CCLB is inviting expressions of interest from qualified individuals or organizations to contribute to the modernization of the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). This writing phase will build on the recommendations report developed from national consultations held in 2025–2026. The work will focus on updating and strengthening the CLB so that it is more user-friendly, accessible to a wider range of users, and responsive to today’s communication contexts, while maintaining the established foundations, stages, and levels of the framework. CLB modernization will specifically address: usage, content, usability, emerging concepts, accessibility, and literacy.

Available Roles:

Writing Team Lead
(1 position available)

  • Collaborate with the NCLC Writing Team Lead to review and trans-adapt methodology aimed at guiding the writing and editing team in the CLB modernization process.
  • Work closely with the NCLC Lead to ensure alignment of approaches.
  • Work in collaboration with the members of the advisory committee and incorporate their comments when relevant.
  • Participate in meetings planned by the ERN-ANF project team.
  • Lead a writing team responsible for drafting, revising, and refining assigned sections of the CLB modernization work based on the approved recommendations report.
  • Coordinate writing assignments, timelines, quality-control processes, and collaboration with the CCLB project team, writing team, subject-matter experts, reviewers, and other writing teams as needed.
  • Ensure that draft content is clear, coherent, aligned with the NCLC modernization, responsive to the modernization priorities identified through the national consultation process and delivered according to project timelines and parameters.

Writing Team Member
(up to 3 positions available)

  • Contribute to drafting, revising, reviewing, and refining assigned CLB content under the guidance of a Writing Team Lead.
  • Apply strong knowledge of the CLB to support practical, accurate, and high-quality updates.
  • Analyze elements of the CLB across all stages of the framework.
  • Participate in team meetings, respond to feedback, and contribute to a collaborative writing process that supports consistency across the updated framework.

REQUIREMENTS

For applicants interested in leading the English Writing Team:

  • Demonstrated experience coordinating contributors, managing writing workflows, guiding revisions, and ensuring quality control. Project Management experience is an asset.

For all applicants:

  • Demonstrated understanding of the CLB framework, level progression, and its application in adult language education, assessment, curriculum, and/or program delivery.
  • Demonstrated expertise in one or more CLB stages with applicants asked to identify the stage(s), skills, and areas of CLB practice where they have the strongest expertise.
  • Experience writing, revising, or developing professional resources, frameworks, curriculum, assessment tools, or guidance materials for adult language learning contexts.
  • Ability to interpret and apply recommendations from consultation findings, research, user feedback, or stakeholder engagement processes.
  • Strong writing, editing, synthesis, and plain-language skills, with attention to clarity, consistency, accessibility, and practical usability.
  • Familiarity with or openness to using select AI tools for workflow and design. Previous training in AI is an asset.
  • Ability to work collaboratively within a remote-but-structured writing and review process, meet deadlines, respond to feedback, and contribute to consistent outputs across teams.
  • Relevant post-secondary education or equivalent professional experience in TESL, education, applied linguistics, curriculum development, language assessment, instructional design, accessibility, literacy, or a related field.
  • Knowledge of literacy learning, digital communication, inclusive design, or accessibility is an asset.
  • While work for this project will be completed in English, English/French bilingualism is an asset.
  • Consultants are required to have a safe remote working environment and technology necessary for the project. This includes but is not limited to reliable, secure Wi-Fi, laptop and software (Microsoft Office). The CCLB does not provide technology to consultants and/or contractors.

ESTIMATED TIME COMMITMENT

Writing Team Lead

  • Part-time, casual contract. Approximately 60 days (480 hours) between August 2026 through March 2027. Some months may require more or fewer days depending on project needs.
  • Must have flexible availability between 9:00am and 5:00pm ET, though actual working hours of the project will vary depending on location of the writing team lead and the writing team.

Writing Team Member

  • Part-time, casual contract. Approximately 50 days (400 hours) between October 2026 through March 2027. Some months may require more or fewer days depending on project needs.
  • Must have flexible availability between 9:00am and 5:00pm ET, though actual working hours of the project will vary depending on location of the writing team lead and the writing team.