Lead Assessment Designer

Job Title: Lead Assessment Designer

Location: Remote

Who We Are

NWEA® is a division of HMH that supports students and educators through research, assessment solutions, policy and advocacy services, professional learning and school improvement services that fight for equity, drive classroom impact and push for systemic change in our educational communities. For nearly 50 years, NWEA has developed innovative pre-K–12 assessments, including their flagship interim assessment, MAP® Growth™ and their reading fluency and comprehension assessment, MAP® Reading Fluency™. For more information, visit  NWEA.org to learn more.

What you’ll do

The Lead Assessment Designer is responsible for developing, continuously improving, and executing processes for their assigned programs. They bring a high level of expertise to all phases of test development, including creating ancillary materials, item writing, review and evaluation, test assessment and scoring, facilitating committee meetings, and providing overall guidance on product-related issues.

In addition to the responsibilities of a Senior Assessment Designer—such as leading content areas, reviewing, and approving development deliverables—the Lead Assessment Designer also oversees projects, ensuring deliverables are timely, high-quality, and within budget. They communicate any concerns to leadership and propose solutions.

The Lead Assessment Designer is also expected to provide suggestions for process and quality improvements, and contribute to strategic opportunities, such as partner calls with existing or potential clients and responses to RFPs.

Additionally, the Lead Assessment Designer will serve as a role model for colleagues, demonstrating a commitment to high-quality products that enhance student outcomes while aligning with HMH/NWEA mission statements and OKRs.

Primary Responsibilities:

Development Expertise, Assessment Quality, and Educational Measurement Expertise

• Applies research-based practice: Drive innovation through test designs and product improvements, firmly grounded in industry best practice .
• Provides Subject Matter Expertise: Serve as a subject-matter expert in assessment when collaborating with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., partner calls for existing or potential clients, product management, large-scale assessment committee meetings, and responding to RFls and RFPs) .
• Supports Program and/or Product Management: Support development of program and product roadmaps and strategies which reflect evidence-based and equitable practices.
• Develops Documentation: Create and maintain process documentation and ancillary materials (e.g., test specifications, item or passage development specifications, checklists for verifying alignment and quality, training materials for vendors/teachers) for programs to capture steps that lead to development of high-quality assessment content based on best practice in the industry, consistently reflecting on ways to be more efficient while creating those materials.
• Reviews for Quality: Provide reviews for passages, tests, graphics, items, and forms, using the opportunity to help less experienced staff hone their craft.

Project Management

• Administration of Projects: Lead or supports projects not only within large­ scale assessment but also across the broader organization, incorporating the scrum methodology while meeting client expectations for quality.
• Promoting Efficiencies: Lead efforts within content area and specific projects to promote process improvements, establishing metrics and measuring gains .
• Communications: Manage communications within their own team and with cross-functional stakeholders to understand and communicate direction and status of projects.
• Risk Management and Problem Solving: Works to ensure that projects move smoothly according to workflow and communicates frequently with manager to report on efficiency and problems. Helps implement any changes agreed upon with manager and director if necessary.
• Tracking: Tracks deliverables, and proposes possible solutions when process slows or needs adjustment.
• Vendors and freelancers: Plan and secure services of vendors/freelancers as needed and organize documentation (e.g., passage/item specs) that provide guidance for vendors and freelancers.
• Supports Scrum Work : Collaborate with other teams to ensure that scrum methodology is enabling successful work across the division, staffing large­ scale assessment work as well as content connections work to the wider HMH organization.

Leadership

• Overall Leadership: Models overall tone and vision of the department and works with staff to ensure understanding of concepts and processes and practical implications of varying from process.
• Job Expectations: Helps lead project teams, focusing on the deliverables of the project and the content specific to those deliverables.
• Change Implementation: Enacts change within projects, ensuring that direction is carried out. Reports back to manager if any additional intervention is needed.
• Coaching: Works with manager to implement coaching and other formal training as necessary. Informally supports staff in completion of project tasks to ensure timeliness.

What you’ll need

• B.A. or B.S. in Education and/or specific content area
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in item and/or assessment development
• Solid knowledge and experience working with curriculum materials and standards Experience in item writing and assessment.
• Content expertise in one or more content areas (e.g., ELA, math, science, social studies).
• Expertise in industry standards for assessment quality, especially in technical requirements for items and tests Expertise in assessment development processes for custom and shelf large­ scale assessment products.
• Familiarity with of research design, data analysis, psychometric concepts, and measurement principles.
• Ability to collaborate extensively with peers to accomplish goals.
• Familiarity with Jira and Lean/Agile processes.
• Ability to develop creative solutions to solve resource and schedule challenges.

Preferred but not necessary:

• Master's or above in Education and/or specific content area
• Minimum of 7 years' experience in item and/or assessment development Minimum of two years' experience training or managing a content team Previously led projects related to curriculum or assessment.
• Deep experience in item writing and assessment, including understanding of educational measurement.

Salary Range - 90k -100k annually.

Application Deadline:

The application window for this position is anticipated to close on  January 19, 2025 . We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. The posting may be available past this date but is not guaranteed.

HMH is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, family status, marital status, pregnancy, gender identity, ethnic/national origin, ancestry, age, disability, military status, genetic predisposition, citizenship status, status as a disabled veteran, recently separated veteran, Armed Forces service medal veteran, other covered veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity. We actively participate in E-Verify.

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