Manager Test Development

Ascend Learning; Leawood, Northern (KS, KY); On-site; USD 101,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Employee assistance program

Wellness programs

Charitable matching program

Job summary

Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning technology company, seeks a Manager of Test Development to drive process and quality in assessment creation and delivery. You will hire, lead the team, ensure product quality, and supervise day-to-day activities.

Hybrid work from Leawood, KS with remote options within the United States. Coordinate with PM teams, manage workflows, staffing, and risk while advancing testing platforms and item quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Education or English preferred.
• 8+ years of relevant work experience in editing and/or test development.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Knowledge of editing and proofreading.
• Ability to plan and organize work, set priorities, and direct own activities.
• Understanding of item statistics and testing platforms; HTML coding familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Manage the activities of test developers to maximize output and timely delivery.
• Coordinate production schedules and workflow with resource and project teams.
• Oversee hiring and performance management of team members.
• Ensure processes and tools produce high-quality products that meet business needs.
• Mitigate security risks and serve as liaison between units and the Test Development Team.
• Maintain capability to perform all duties of the Test Development Team.

Skills

Editing

Test development

Leadership

HTML basics

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree in Education or English

Job description

We Impact Lives Through Purpose-Driven Work in A People First Culture

Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning technology company,is the connection between a powerful portfolio of brands serving students, educators, and employers with outcomes-based, data-driven solutions across the lifecycle of learning.From testing to certification, Ascend Learning products are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers.

Headquartered in Burlington, MA, with additional office locations and hybrid and remote workers in cities across the U.S., Ascend Learning was recognized by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group as one of America’s 2025 Greatest Workplaces as well as America’s Best Places to work for Mental Well-Being for 2025.

We're always looking for talented, passionate professionals to join us in our mission to help change lives. If this sounds like an environment where you'd thrive, read on to learn more.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

The Manager Test Development ensures process and quality control excellence in the development of Ascend Learning assessments. This role is accountable for hiring, team performance, product quality, customer service, team training, workflow management, project prioritization, deadlines, project assignment, and oversight of day-to-day activities. The Manager Test Development should possess all the skills necessary to perform any of the duties of any member of the Test Development team. These include test creation, system management, coordination across departments, and incident resolution.

WHERE YOU’LL WORK

This position will work a hybrid schedule from our Leawood, KS office location preferred. Remote work will be considered within the United States.

HOW YOU’LL SPEND YOUR TIME

• Manage the activities of test developers to maximize work effort, deliver products on time, ensure accuracy, and provide excellent service to business partners. This includes managing day-to-day activities and providing project oversight.
• Coordinate with resource and project management teams to develop production schedules and workflow. This includes involvement in project initiation and scope definition and/or review.
• Ensure appropriate staffing by managing the hiring process and conducting performance management of team members.
• Ensure that processes and tools are in place to efficiently produce high-quality products that satisfy business needs.
• Leverage strategies and tools for increasing item output and mitigating security risks
• Serve as liaison between Business Units and the Test Development Team.
• Maintain the ability to perform all duties of the Test Development Team.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Bachelor’s degreerequired, Master’s degree in Education or English preferred
• 8+ years of relevant work experience in editing and/or test development
• Excellent leadership skills
• Knowledge of editing and proofreading
• Ability to plan and organize work, set priorities, and direct own activities
• Desire to take accountability of projects and quality
• Ability to understand and interpret item statistics
• Understanding of basic HTML coding
• Familiarity with interconnectedness of testing platforms (creation, delivery, staging, etc.) and backend processes
• Knowledge of the responsibilities of various departments within Ascend
• Ability to communicate project workflow and task, and simplify complex processes
• Ability to contribute to process documentation updates

HIRING RANGE

The current full-time annualized hiring range for this role is $100,700.00-$143,990.00 and does not include discretionary bonus or sales incentives, if applicable. In accordance with applicable state laws, we are providing the expected salary range for this position. Individual compensation will be determined by various factors, including relevant experience, qualifications, current business needs and local market factors. Most regular, full-time employees are eligible to participate in an Ascend incentive bonus or sales plan.

BENEFITS

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and parental leave
• Employee assistance program
• Other employee wellness programs such as Headspace and Airvet
• Charitable matching program

Fostering A Sense of Belonging

Our values-driven culture unifies our teams and inspires a mindset of action, innovation, and collaboration, with a relentless focus on customers. We seek out and celebrate all people and perspectives and cultivate an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and be authentic. Our culture is firmly rooted in the belief that by embracing our differences and drawing on diverse perspectives, we are a stronger, more innovative, and more successful organization where employees experience a sense of belonging.

Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S.-based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.