Senior Learning Scientist, Clinical Assessments

Pearson; Augusta (ME); 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 early childhood assessment. The role can be remote or based in Pearson offices in the U.S., with international collaboration and approximately 10% travel.

The position reports to the Lead Learning Scientist and aligns to titles like Research Director and Clinical Assessment Manager. Requires a Ph.D.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Speech-Language Pathology, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Early Childhood Development, School or Clinical Psychology, or a related field.
• 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%.

Skills

Speech-Language Pathology

Assessment development

Research leadership

AI applications

Clinical assessment experience

Education

Ph.D. in Speech-Language Pathology or related field

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 early childhood assessment. The role can be remote or based in Pearson offices in the U.S., with international collaboration and approximately 10% travel.

The position reports to the Lead Learning Scientist and aligns to titles like Research Director and Clinical Assessment Manager. Requires a Ph.D.