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Principal Research Scientist
Pearson
Austin, 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 is seeking an experienced psychometrician. This position will provide thought leadership and customer support for two or more high stakes large scale testing programs. The position also includes opportunity to direct and conduct applied research in support of Pearson’s approaches.
This position can work remotely or sit in a Pearson office.
General Responsibilities
• Advises customers on the implementation of their large scale assessment programs
• Designs, applies, and maintains psychometric processes
• Coordinates, conducts, and oversees other psychometric professionals, the implementation of all operational psychometric activities to support assigned large-scale high-stakes testing programs
• Represents Pearson through conference presentations, technical papers, and other scholarly work
• Provides technical solutions and writes proposals to acquire business
• Travel expected to be approximately 25%
Qualifications
Education and Work Experience
• Doctoral degree in educational measurement or a related field from a nationally recognized institution of higher education
• Ten years of relevant job experience, preferably with the complete range of psychometric issues that are faced with operational assessment programs
• Preference given to candidates with experience on an operational large assessment setting
Communication Skills, Technical Presentations, and Client Contact
• Has strong communication skills (oral, written, and business) to function effectively in a leadership role with internal and external clients and liaise with other national measurement experts
• Ability to communicate about and articulate how state and national educational issues affect production work
• Ability to tailor technical presentations to different audiences (e.g., client groups or technical advisory committees)
• Candidates will be required to provide the following:
◦ Technical writing sample
◦ Non-technical writing sample
◦ Evidence that they have provided non-technical presentations (e.g., facilitated standard settings) during the past 5 years
Familiarity with Psychometric Techniques
• Ability to effectively apply, design solutions, and train others in psychometric techniques—including classical test theory, item response theory, test equating, scaling and linking, and standard setting—to new and unique operational testing settings.
• Ability to consult across unique testing programs and situations
Familiarity with Software Packages and Software Development Processes
• Ability to apply software packages and programming languages commonly used in psychometric work or research (e.g., SAS, WINSTEPS, IRTPro, FACETS, etc.). Note that Pearson uses SAS in a server environment.
• Practical experience working with professional software developers to implement requirements and/or deliver operational programs
• Preference given to candidates with competency a modern programming language such as Java or C++
Knowledge of Educational Trends
• Ability to identify the broader implications of relevant national trends in education for operational assessment programs or research projects and clients
• Ability to Propose measurement plans and provide client practical advice based on these implications as appropriate