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Manager, Psychometric and Research Services
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.
Responsibilities:
This position, based in Austin, TX, offers the opportunity for strategic management and innovation. Responsibilities include:
• management of a staff of psychometricians who support assessments for a variety of Pearson’s customers;
• coordination and consultation with staff on a frequent basis, and with the client as needed, about operational and research issues;
• oversight of the status and psychometric quality across assessment programs to deliver psychometric support on-time and error-free;
• setting team priorities and optimizing resources.
The Manager may lead or oversee a large scale assessment program or several smaller assessment programs. The Manager is responsible for employee hiring/retention, engaging staff in professional development, and leading psychometric staff on project fulfillment and research related educational assessment. The Manager attends and presents papers at professional conferences.
Location:
This position will sit in our Austin, TX office 78753
The Manager, Psychometric Services is responsible for the following:
Management – May lead or oversee a large scale or several smaller assessment programs. Manage an internal team; ensure quality control, customer satisfaction and timely deliverables. Develops and implements plans for managing talent across site programs to increase collaboration and learning. Responsible for team hiring, staff development and retention, and annual performance reviews. Monitor status and quality of assessment programs and assign resources as necessary.
Familiarity with Psychometric Techniques – Applies, trains others, and coordinates others effectively in conducting psychometric techniques—including classical test theory, item response theory, test equating, scaling and linking, test construction, and standard setting—for new and unique operational testing settings. Demonstrates experience consulting across various testing programs and situations. Demonstrates evidence of the development of at least one specialty within educational measurement.
Communication Skills – Demonstrates communication skills, (oral, written, and business), necessary to function effectively in a leadership role with internal and external clients, and liaise with national measurement experts. Communicates about and trains staff on state and national educational issues and how these affect production work. Mentors staff and provides professional development opportunities. Facilitates exchange of information across projects and sites and between staff and upper management. Effectively tailors technical presentations to different audiences, (e.g., educator meetings or technical advisory committees).
Client Contact – May serve as the primary contact for Psychometric Services, (e.g., represents Psychometric Services in meetings and other communications), for internal and external clients for multiple testing programs or research projects, or for a single large and complex testing program or research project. Supervises, provides consultation, and serves as a resource across various projects.
Proposal Development – Coordinates technical designs for proposals; writes associated text; generates unique and innovative solutions; provides costing; serves on proposal review teams as necessary; and supports presentation to potential customers. May design research studies and research analysis specifications. Identifies study limitations, study parameters, and funding requirements to complete proposed research.
Project Management – Demonstrates project management skills necessary to lead and direct all psychometric aspects of multiple assessment programs or research projects, or a single large and complex assessment program or research project. Coordinates and interacts with different departments. Understands roles of different departments and how these impact psychometric deliverables, schedules, costing, and scope.
Knowledge of Educational Trends – Identifies the broader implications of relevant national trends in education for operational assessment programs or research projects and clients. Proposes measurement plans and client advice based on these implications as appropriate.
Organizational Behavior – Contributes to defining department goals and monitors attainment of those goals. Governs the development and documentation of processes with input from upper management and staff. Serves as a first contact point for staff needs, and collaborates with legal and human resource departments.
Perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Required Education & Experience:
• Doctoral degree in educational measurement or a related field from a nationally recognized institution of higher education
• AND at least five years of relevant job experience, preferably with the complete range of psychometric issues that are faced with operational assessment programs or grant-funded research projects
• AND at least one year of experience in budgeting, resource management, project coordination, and training
Desired Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
• Thorough understanding of the principles of test design, test construction, classical and IRT-based item analysis, and item calibration, linking, equating and technical reporting
• Ability to manage resources and lead professional staff in the delivery of psychometric services for large-scale assessment programs
• Ability to negotiate solutions, deadlines and scope of work with clients and internal personnel
• Ability to navigate high impact, high profile, critical situations
• Ability to monitor and maintain quality control and mitigate risk
• Ability to design research studies, develop research analysis specifications, identify study limitations, coordinate study resources, and to write technical papers
• Familiarity with software packages and programming languages such as SAS, IRTPro, etc.
• Ability to work collegially with other research scientists, data analysts, content developers, test publishers and subject-matter experts
• Ability to identify the broader implications of relevant psychometric trends for operational assessment programs and research projects
• Ability to propose measurement plans and provide sound psychometric advice to clients
• Excellent communication skills (oral, written, and business) necessary to function effectively in a leadership role with internal staff, clients and national measurement experts
• Project management skills necessary to direct and oversee multiple assessment programs and/or research projects
• Ability to travel as necessary (Up to 25%)