Interested in working for Kidlist? We are looking to fill various positions on the Kidlist team. Check out the job descriptions below and apply if you feel it’s a good fit.
Know someone that would be perfect for one of these positions? Share the job description and encourage them to apply!
Overview of Job Openings
These are the main positions we are looking to fill, but you’ll notice that there are others on the job application form. If you are interested in those instead, please mark that down and we’ll be in touch.
Content Contributor
Are you the go-to friend for knowing what’s happening around town, and the type who double-checks opening hours just to be sure? If so, this role might be perfect for you.
Kidlist is looking for curious, community-connected, and detail-oriented contributors to help families discover fun things to do across the western and northwestern suburbs of Chicago. This role is part researcher, part local adventurer—and 100% focused on helping families enjoy quality time together.
Part 1: Research + Content Updates
We need someone who loves to dig in, verify facts, and keep our content trustworthy and current.
- Update and fact-check Kidlist articles by researching online, calling businesses if necessary, and staying on top of local changes
- Source info from the original or most trustworthy source
- Carefully track updates and organize findings
- Write or refresh content in a clear, helpful tone
- Maintain a strong sense of organization and responsibility in your work
Part 2: Community + Experiences
We also need you to be out there visiting, observing, and reporting back on what local families are loving.
- Attend local events and visit family-friendly venues with your family
- Capture high-quality photos and vertical videos during outings to use on Kidlist’s website, social media, and email newsletter
- Write honest, helpful reviews that highlight age ranges, features, accessibility, and insider tips
- Be in tune with your local parenting community—what they’re buzzing about, what’s opening, and what they want to know
- Willing to drive a bit for cool new experiences worth sharing
Team Collaboration
- Communicate regularly with the team (via email or shared platforms)
- Share your photos and videos, even when not writing a full article, to support social and editorial content
- Be open to feedback on how to improve media quality and write-ups
- Help keep Kidlist the most trusted and comprehensive local resource for families
You are:
- Detail-oriented and thorough, with a sharp eye for accuracy and verifying facts
- Internet-savvy and tech-comfortable, with strong search skills and the ability to quickly find trustworthy, relevant information
- Self-motivated and reliable, able to manage your own time and meet deadlines
- Passionate about family life and your local community
- Comfortable writing clearly and concisely
- Good with a smartphone camera and capturing photos and vertical video
Details
- Part-time independent contractor with hourly pay
- Remote with quarterly in-person team meetings
- Work whenever is best for you… nap time, during school, after your kids go to bed, etc.
- Some work is in exchange for media preview events and free family experiences
- Ideally located in Chicago’s west or northwest suburbs to align with our coverage area
This job application will close on November 4, 2025.
Content Manager
We are looking for a sharp, organized, and supportive Content Manager to help lead our content team, ensure accuracy and quality, and continually improve how we create, organize, and deliver helpful local content for families.
This role is ideal for someone who loves working behind the scenes to polish content, manage editorial workflows, and coach a small team of talented contributors. You’ll play a key role in maintaining our reputation for trustworthy, timely, and family-focused content.
Editorial Oversight
- Follow up with contributors to ensure deadlines are met
- Spot-check articles for accuracy, formatting, tone, and clarity
- Review article drafts and publish-ready pieces to uphold quality standards
- Ensure content adheres to the Kidlist style guide and voice
- Give actionable, constructive feedback to contributors to improve future submissions
Content and Process Improvement
- Proactively look for ways to make content creation, editing, and publishing more efficient and consistent
- Help develop and maintain documentation, templates, and training materials to guide contributors
- Review existing articles and guides to identify opportunities for improvement in formatting, structure, clarity, and relevance
- Think creatively and strategically about how to refresh and evolve content over time, from reorganizing guides to including new types of helpful information
- Collaborate with Annie to brainstorm new formats, recurring series, or layout changes that keep Kidlist fresh, helpful, and the best local resource for families
You Are:
- Confident using WordPress, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Drive
- Detail-oriented and organized, with strong grammar and formatting instincts
- Comfortable giving clear, kind, and constructive feedback
- A great communicator who follows through
- Excited about helping local families find meaningful, fun experiences
- Interested in making systems better, not just working within them
- Bonus: Familiarity with SEO basics and family content
Details
- Part-time independent contractor with hourly pay
- Remote with quarterly in-person team meetings
- Work whenever is best for you… nap time, during school, after your kids go to bed, etc.
- Reports to Annie and collaborates closely with Content Contributors
This job application will close on November 4, 2025.
Marketing Strategist
Kidlist is looking for a strategic, creative, and collaborative Marketing Strategist to help us plan and promote engaging campaigns for both our advertisers and our own brand.
In this role, you’ll work directly with Annie to craft custom campaigns that serve local businesses while also driving Kidlist’s growth as the go-to resource for family fun in the Chicago suburbs. You’ll plan out social media calendars, brainstorm content angles, collaborate with the Social Media Manager, and help us stay ahead of trends.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate with Annie to plan what’s included in advertiser campaigns
- Develop creative and strategic angles to promote a wide variety of businesses in ways that feel natural, helpful, and engaging to Kidlist families
- Manage and maintain the social content calendar, coordinating both sponsored content and organic Kidlist promotions
- Work closely with the Social Media Manager to ensure creative assets are on-brand, on-message, and on time
- Create or assign social media content, providing clear direction and inspiration for reels, stories, and posts when needed
- Brainstorm and implement fun, attention-grabbing ways to promote Kidlist itself (reputation, voice, reach)
Requirements
- Strong marketing and campaign strategy skills
- Excellent creative thinking and copywriting instincts
- Experience with social content planning tools
- Familiarity with Instagram and TikTok trends, reels, and best practices
- Organized, proactive, and highly collaborative
- Bonus: Experience in family-friendly brands, lifestyle content, or local business promotion
Details
- Part-time independent contractor with hourly pay
- Remote with quarterly in-person team meetings
- Reports to Annie and collaborates closely with Content Contributors and Social Media Manager
This job application will close on November 4, 2025.
Full-Stack Laravel Web Developer
Location: Remote (Central Time preferable)
Type: Contract-to-Hire or Ongoing Freelance
Position Overview
We’re seeking an experienced full-stack developer to take over and continue building on our existing Laravel-based system. You’ll be responsible for writing, implementing, and testing code across the stack to develop new features and improve functionality. This is a hands-on development role for someone who is organized, collaborative, and enthusiastic about building a product that makes a difference for families.
Tech Stack You Must Know Well
- Framework & Language: Laravel 10 (PHP 8.3)
- Admin Tools: FilamentPHP 3.2
- Frontend: Livewire 3.4 via Filament
- Database: MySQL
- Queue Management: Laravel Horizon + Redis
- Integrations:
- Google Places API
- Open Weather API
- Sentry (error tracking)
- Mailgun (transactional email delivery)
- Deployment & Version Control: Laravel Forge + GitHub
What You’ll Do
- Develop and implement new features within an existing Laravel application
- Maintain and optimize backend processes, APIs, and database structures
- Use FilamentPHP and Livewire to enhance admin functionality and UI components
- Debug issues and monitor performance via Sentry and Laravel Horizon
- Collaborate with Annie and participate in weekly check-in meetings
- Clearly communicate technical decisions and provide timely updates
- Build with the user in mind—parents and grandparents looking for reliable, curated family plans
What We’re Looking For
- 5+ years of full-stack Laravel development experience
- Proven experience with FilamentPHP and Livewire
- Strong understanding of MySQL, Redis, and Laravel queue systems
- Excellent communication skills and fluency in English
- Comfortable working in Central Time
- Ability to hit the ground running without rebuilding the current Laravel system
- Highly organized and detail-oriented
- Experience with chatbot integrations or conversational UIs
- Passionate about user experience and mission-driven development
Nice to Have
- Background working with subscription-based platforms
- Familiarity with accessibility and family-centered design best practices
Kidlist is a trusted, hyperlocal media platform that helps families in Chicago’s western and northwestern suburbs discover fun, curated activities, events, and places to explore. For nearly 15 years, we’ve connected a loyal community of local parents with high-quality, engaging content, reaching over 2 million annual readers through our website, email newsletter, and social platforms. We’re proud of our supportive, growing team and love working with people who value creativity, accuracy, and helping families make meaningful memories together.
