Senior Clinical Learning Scientist – Research Lead (Remote)

Pearson; Dover (DE); Remote; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Pearson is seeking a Lead Specialist, Learning Scientist (Clinical) to lead research across portfolio domains, including academic achievement, speech and language, cognition, and/or early childhood assessment. You will translate business strategy into clear research priorities and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality assessment solutions.

The role requires a Ph.D. in a relevant field and 5+ years of experience in speech-language pathology, literacy, or related areas,

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Speech-Language Pathology, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Early Childhood Development, School or Clinical Psychology, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• 5+ years professional experience in speech and language, literacy, academic achievement, school or clinical psychology, and/or early childhood.
• Clinical experience administering, interpreting, or working directly with standardized assessments, with a strong understanding of their use in real-world clinical or educational settings.
• Strong knowledge of test development, measurement principles, research methodology, data analysis, and psychometric principles, with the ability to apply these concepts to research and product decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to translate scientific and clinical evidence into strategic recommendations that balance scientific rigor, clinical relevance, customer needs, product priorities, and business objectives.
• Strong digital fluency and curiosity, including the ability to evaluate and appropriately apply AI and emerging technologies to research, assessment development, and evolving ways of working.
• A record of professional or scholarly contribution through activities such as conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, technical papers, professional training, or related work.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead research plans supporting new product development, product revisions, and portfolio priorities.
• Provide subject-matter expertise and scientific leadership in speech-language pathology, literacy, achievement, and/or early childhood assessment.
• Help define product scope and assessment design, ensuring solutions are scientifically sound, clinically meaningful, and aligned with customer and business needs.
• Lead and contribute to item development, review, and evaluation, applying research, clinical expertise, and assessment-development best practices.
• Partner with psychometricians and research colleagues to review and interpret data and psychometric findings.
• Identify opportunities to responsibly apply AI and emerging technologies to assessment development, research practices, workflows, and product innovation.
• Provide oversight of assessment materials, including digital interfaces, record forms, stimulus materials, manuals, administration and scoring resources, and visual and auditory stimuli.
• Support product commercialization and adoption by contributing scientific and clinical expertise to training, product support resources, presentations, and other customer-facing materials.
• Represent Pearson and contribute to its scientific leadership through conference presentations, technical papers, research publications, and other scholarly activities.
• Maintain flexibility in work hours, as needed, to collaborate with international colleagues, approximately 10% of the time.
• Travel approximately 10%.

Job description

Pearson is seeking a Lead Specialist, Learning Scientist (Clinical) to lead research across portfolio domains, including academic achievement, speech and language, cognition, and/or early childhood assessment. You will translate business strategy into clear research priorities and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality assessment solutions.

The role requires a Ph.D. in a relevant field and 5+ years of experience in speech-language pathology, literacy, or related areas,