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Research Director - Learning Disabilities
Pearson
San Antonio, TX, United States
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Description
At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large and small.
Pearson, the world's leading learning company, is currently seeking a Research Director with a specialization in Learning Disabilities to support our Clinical Assessment division. We are particularly noted for our gold-standard assessment contributions in cognitive/ability, memory, neuropsychology, behavior, personality/psychopathology, achievement and speech/language. Noted brands include the Wechsler and Kaufman families of products, MMPI, BASC, OLSAT, CELF, and PLS. We're also revolutionizing clinical assessment through our innovative digital assessment platform, Q-interactive.
We are looking for at least a masters level professional who has some research background and at least 3 years of professional experience in a clinical or school setting. An ideal candidate is someone who answers YES to the following questions:
• Do you have expertise administering diagnostic achievement tests (such as the WIAT and KTEA)?
• Do you know the different models for determining if a learning disability exists?
• Are you passionate about linking assessment with intervention to improve the lives of learners?
• Are you excited by the idea of developing research-based assessment and intervention solutions using either paper or digital mediums?
• Are you interested in learning the test development and publishing process?
• Are you eager to embrace technology in business?
• Are you interested in impacting students and practitioners in a very different way?
• Are you ready to make a transition from your current setting to a research-based test development setting?
• Are you excited to work with colleagues who are passionate, professional, and dedicated to building the best assessments in the world?
As a Research Director, you will be trained to assume a leadership role in all phases of test development. You are part of a cross-functional project team that typically consists of a project manager, a product manager, an editor, a psychometrician, software designers and engineers, and others. You work with the project team to ensure that all materials and deliverables are prepared in a timely manner to meet the publication schedule. Depending upon the size of a project, you may work with a research assistant (Clinical Assessment Developer). A Senior Research Director will mentor, guide, and review your work. Don’t know test development? Don’t worry, a Senior Research Director will mentor, guide, and review your work until you are able to lead on your own.
You are involved in developing test content and format and working in collaboration with test authors, as appropriate. Content development work includes creating new items, working with the project team to develop visual stimuli (art) for items, and determining scoring rules. Digital projects require close collaboration with Software Designers and Engineers to prototype and build digital solutions for items and subtests. Working with a Senior Research Director and Psychometrician, you will develop a research and data analysis plan, interpret data analyses conducted by the psychometrics team, and review the final data to be included in the test manual. You will help write or revise manual chapters, and edit chapters written by the author and/or external consultants.
Qualifications
• PhD or EdD in Psychology (School, Educational, Clinical, etc.), Special Education, Learning Disabilities, Measurement, or related field
• A minimum of 3 years clinical, educational, or research experience that includes the administration, interpretation, and/or development of clinical assessment instruments.
• Subject-matter expertise in the area of learning disabilities and achievement
• Excellent attention to detail
• Graduate level skills in research methods and statistics
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Excellent planning and organizational skills
• Proven ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
The core competencies desired of all candidates include:
• Flexibility – the ability to adapt to a changing environment
• Curiosity – the desire to explore and learn new ways to do business
• Optimism – the courage to pioneer new ideas with confidence and resilience
• Critical Thinking – the ability to recognize assumptions, evaluate arguments, and draw conclusions that are clear, consistent, sound, and fair and result in positive outcomes for the business.
Preferred Additional Skills
• Experience and skills in one or more of the following areas is desired.
• Experience in developing and/or providing interventions for learning difficulties
• Experience creating or conducting research using digital assessments or games
• Use of mobile and web applications in professional and/or daily life, such as setting up and running a Webex; creating a website or an advanced Facebook site; use of various on-line teaching or learning tools; use of on-line team collaboration tools; use of DropBox or similar tool)
• Familiarity using software/content as a service (e.g., web-based software such as Pearson’s Q-interactive)
• Working knowledge of building/interfacing with dynamic data-driven website or apps (e.g., Aimsweb; Ounce)
• Knowledge of basic digital prototyping tools (e.g., AppCooker)
• Basic knowledge of XML or HTML
• Experience using SAS™ or SPSS™
Interested applicants should include a resume and cover letter indicating what is motivating their interest in this opportunity and a list of assessments they have experience working with.