Selection and Assessment Specialist

Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

Commonwealth of Massachusetts is seeking a Selection and Assessment Specialist to advance evidence-based testing for public safety roles within the Civil Service Unit of the HRD. This full-time position focuses on developing exam content and ensuring a diverse, well-qualified candidate pool for police, fire, environmental police, and corrections officer roles.

The role emphasizes data-driven analysis, collaboration with cities, towns, and state agencies, and improvements to testing processes

Qualifications

• Minimum four years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) professional or managerial experience in program management/coordination/analysis.
• At least one year of supervisory experience.
• Substitutions allowed for degree requirements as described in the posting.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate focus groups for high-profile public safety positions.
• Develop and content-validate examinations from job analysis data; create test plans and questions.
• Manage appeals research and documentation for legal review.
• Present data to Civil Service leadership and SMEs.
• Recommend process improvements while ensuring data confidentiality and integrity.

Skills

Employee Selection

Survey Design

Validation Methodologies

Assessment Center Development

Analytical thinking

Written & Verbal communication

Team collaboration

Hybrid work adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Public Administration

Graduate degree in Business Administration/Public Administration

Job description

An Official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Job Description - Selection and Assessment Specialist (260005F6)

Job Description

Selection and Assessment Specialist - ( 260005F6 )

Description

Are you interested in making a difference in the community? Are you committed to helping Commonwealth cities and towns hire a well-qualified, diverse public safety workforce? Are you good at paying attention to detail, enjoy working with other people, and looking for a growth opportunity?

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Department is one of the state's largest employers with over 46,000 employees that span 11 Secretariats and 70 plus agencies. From Accountants to X-ray technicians with hundreds of titles in between, we are one employer with many career opportunities. The Commonwealth is looking for leaders, thinkers, creators, and innovators. We are a diverse workforce that reflects the diverse population that we serve.

The Human Resources Division (HRD) is an agency within the Executive Office for Administration and Finance. HRD provides support to state agencies in all matters relating to the Commonwealth's classification, compensation, benefits, recruitment, training & employee development, civil rights, collective bargaining and workers compensation administration. The HRD Civil Service Unit works collaboratively with our state agencies and municipalities to recruit and evaluate personnel for public safety positions across the Commonwealth.

The Human Resources Division’s Civil Service Unit seeks a team player to assist and help develop evidence-based selection tools within its Civil Service Unit. This is a great opportunity to work on a team that ensures communities and public agencies have the well-qualified, diverse candidate pool they need to effectively deliver public safety services to their residents and constituents.

The Civil Service Unit within HRD is responsible for testing potential public safety personnel and working with cities, towns, and state agencies to ensure they have a qualified, diverse pool of candidates. Annually, the unit tests over 10,000+ potential public safety candidates for a variety of positions, including police and fire, environmental police, and corrections officer candidates.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Facilitate focus groups for high profile public safety positions (Police Chief, Fire Chief, Department of Correction Captain).
• Develop and content validate examinations by creating test plans from job analysis data; compiling examination questions; reviewing reference materials; and preparing reading lists. Design, distribute, and analyze surveys; evaluate examination and item performance using descriptive statistics and quality assurance practices; analyze and compile examination data; and create reports with data visualizations and technical documentation.
• Assist with examination appeals by utilizing online systems to research candidate and test information, investigating and reviewing appeals, and preparing documentation for internal legal review.
• Present data to Civil Service leadership and Subject Matter Experts.
• Recommend improvements to testing development process, ensure the confidentiality and integrity of examination data, adapt to new testing processes and methodologies, and apply critical thinking to develop effective solutions.

Qualities that would make you a good fit for this role

• Knowledge of Employee Selection and Pre-Employment Testing
• Knowledge of Survey Design and Analysis
• Knowledge of Validation Methodologies and Statistical Analysis
• Knowledge of Assessment Center Development and Administration
• Analytical and critical thinker with the ability to evaluate information, identify solutions, and approach challenges with sound judgment.
• Strong written and verbal communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with individuals and teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team while managing time effectively and meeting deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Adaptable and flexible, with the ability to learn new concepts, processes, and methodologies while embracing opportunities for professional growth.
• Comfortable working in a hybrid environment with an interest in expanding knowledge and expertise in pre-employment testing and assessment practices.

Preferred Qualifications for this role

• Experience with organizing and presenting large datasets
• Experience with Developing and Administering Assessment Centers
• Experience with pre-employment testing in a unionized environment
• Experience with statistically analyzing test data and presenting the data to groups unfamiliar with the data
• Experience facilitating focus groups

Qualifications

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional, administrative or managerial experience in business administration, business management or public administration the major duties of which involved program management, program administration, program coordination, program planning and/or program analysis, and (B) of which at least one year must have been in a supervisory capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

Substitutions:

• I. A Bachelor's degree with a major in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience.*
• II. A Graduate degree with a major in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of three years of the required (A) experience.*
• III. A Bachelor's or higher degree with a major other than in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.*

*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

NOTE: No substitutions will be permitted for the required (B) experience.

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

An Equal Opportunity /affirmative action employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Primary Location

Job

Administrative Services

Agency

Human Resources Division

Schedule

Full-time

Shift

Day

Job Posting

Aug 5, 2026, 9:31:48 PM

Number of Openings

1

Salary

80,411.50 - 117,590.46 Yearly

If you have Diversity, affirmative action or equal employment opportunity questions or need a reasonable accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator : Pete Murillo - 6178789700

Bargaining Unit : 06-NAGE - Professional Admin.

Confidential : No

Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule : Yes