Senior Psychometrician

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT); Gaithersburg (MD); Remote; USD 105,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35-hour work week

Paid medical insurance

401K plan and discretionary profit‑sh‑

Annual bonus and salary adjustments

Life insurance

Short-term and long-term disability

Voluntary benefits: vision, critical-;

Job summary

NBCOT is seeking a Senior Psychometrician to join the Research & Psychometrics team. You will lead psychometric oversight, perform practice analyses, develop competency models, and contribute to AI-driven tool development for assessments measuring occupational therapy competencies.

Responsibilities include advanced psychometric analyses, scoring design, and reporting, with opportunities to mentor teams and influence NBCOT’s measurement practices.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in measurement, assessment, psychometrics, statistics, or related field plus 3+ years in a psychometrician role.
• Strong knowledge of psychometric theory and core concepts (validity, reliability, CTT, IRT).
• Experience with practice analyses, standard-setting, and exam development is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Designs practice analyses and competency modeling to define knowledge and skills for occupational therapy practice.
• Develops competency frameworks and exam specifications based on empirical findings.
• Establishes passing standards using appropriate psychometric methods and conducts advanced analyses.

Skills

Autonomy

Communication

Analytical thinking

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Psychometric judgment

Technical writing

Collaboration

Planning and organization

Problem solving

Education

Doctoral degree in measurement/psychometrics

Tools

R

SPSS

Winsteps

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Senior Psychometrician is a member of the Research & Psychometrics team responsible for providing psychometric oversight, analysis, and consultation in support of assessments that measure the competency of occupational therapy professionals. This role supports NBCOT’s certification programs by performing operational psychometric work, including practice analysis and standard setting, and performing applied research to provide actionable insights for improving assessments and processes.

Scope of Responsibility

• Operates with minimal supervision
• Plans and prioritizes work independently
• Contributes to complex projects and workflows and is recognized as a subject matter expert
• Exercises independent judgement in applying policies and solving routine to moderately complex problems
• Contributes to department initiatives with external influence
• Delivers outcomes that have a direct impact on the organization’s reputation and audiences

Job Responsibilities

Practice Analysis, Competency Modeling & Exam Specifications

• Designs and conducts practice analysis and competency modeling studies to identify and define the knowledge, skills, competencies, and other requirements necessary for effective occupational therapy practice
• Develops and validates competency frameworks and related models that support certification and assessment programs
• Develops examination specifications and content outlines based on empirical practice analysis findings

Psychometric Analysis, Scoring, and Standard Setting

• Establishes passing standards using appropriate psychometric methods to support valid score interpretations and defensible classification decisions
• Performs advanced psychometric and statistical analyses, including Rasch calibrations, DIF analyses, equating, scaling, and other related methodologies, to support assessment quality and fairness.
• Develops and implements scoring processes and algorithms and designs and generates score reports that provide meaningful feedback to test-takers and other relevant parties

Innovation and Assessment Design

• Designs, programs, and implements AI-driven tools and solutions to support psychometric analysis, exam development, and operational efficiency across NBCOT’s assessment programs
• Researches, develops, and evaluates innovative item types and assessment methods to enhance the measurement of knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies relevant to occupational therapy practice
• Explores emerging technologies and advances in assessment science to identify opportunities to strengthen NBCOT’s assessment programs and measurement practices

Research, Data Analysis, and Reporting

• Conducts psychometric research to improve assessment instruments and practices and to support evidence-based decision-making
• Prepares technical documentation and reports by summarizing complex psychometric and statistical information and clearly communicates findings to technical and nontechnical audiences, orally, in writing, and through data visualization.
• Designs, programs, and implements AI-driven tools and solutions to support psychometric analysis, exam development, and operational efficiency supporting NBCOT’s assessment programs
• Manages large datasets and databases to support psychometric analyses, reporting, and research while ensuring data integrity, documentation, and reproducibility

Psychometric Consultation, Collaboration, and Innovation

• Provides psychometric consultation on the design, development, interpretation, and use of assessments that measure the competencies of occupational therapy professionals
• Works collaboratively with colleagues and provides education, guidance, and consultation to internal teams on measurement-related principles and practices, to support valid and fair certification processes, tools, and decisions.
• Contributes expertise to professional organizations and participates in conferences, mentoring emerging professionals, and supporting initiatives that advance the field of psychometrics and certification.

And other job-related responsibilities as needed to support NBCOT’s mission, vision, and values.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Doctoral degree in a field directly related to measurement, assessment, psychometrics, statistics, educational measurement, quantitative psychology, industrial-organizational psychology or similar, along with 3+ years of experience in a psychometrician role, or equivalent is required.
• Strong knowledge of psychometric theory and fundamental concepts in measurement and assessment (e.g., validity, reliability, classical test theory, item response theory).
• Knowledge of research methods, including survey design, data collection, and interpretation of research findings
• Applied experience conducting job/practice analyses, standard-setting, and statistical and psychometric analyses to support assessment development, scoring, and evaluation
• Experience supporting certification, licensure, credentialing assessment programs is preferred
• Experience with practice analysis studies, standard-setting activities, or exam development processes is preferred.
• Knowledge of machine learning and natural language processing is an asset

Technical Proficiency

• Demonstrates expert knowledge of statistical and productivity software, such as R, SPSS, Winsteps, and Microsoft Excel
• Able to perform expert level tasks including advanced statistical and psychometric analysis, conducting research studies, and facilitating psychometric meetings

Competencies

• Communication
• Analytical and critical thinking
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Attention to detail
• Research and evidence-based decision making
• Psychometric judgment
• Problem solving
• Technical writing
• Adaptability and learning agility
• Autonomy and initiative
• Planning and organization
• Accountability
• Collaboration

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Work environment – Remote
• Candidates in the following locations are preferred: AR, DC, MD, MI, MO, NC, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV
• Work schedule – 35 hours per week (full-time)
• Travel expectations – 5-10% domestic travel
• Physical demands:
• Sitting, standing, and walking – frequently (2.5-5.5 hours/day)
• Fine hand manipulation and grasping/handling (typing, using small tools) – frequently (2.5-5.5 hours/day)
• Reaching above shoulder level – rarely (not daily)
• Bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, lifting, and carrying up to 50 lbs. – rarely (not daily)

Salary: $105,000 - $135,000 depending on experience and qualifications.

Join Our Team

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT®) is a national not-for-profit organization that provides certification to over 180,000 occupational therapy professionals. NBCOT develops, administers, and continually reviews its certification process based on current and valid standards that provide reliable indicators of competence of occupational therapy practice. Above all else, our mission is to serve the public interest. Initial certification from NBCOT is a requirement for licensure in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. We also work with state regulators and employers to provide information on credentials, professional conduct, and regulatory issues. NBCOT's certification programs have received and maintained accreditation from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Mission:

Serving the public interest by advancing client care and professional practice through evidence-based certification standards and the validation of knowledge essential for effective practice in occupational therapy.

Vision:

Certified occupational therapy professionals providing effective evidence-based services across all areas of practice worldwide.

At NBCOT, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) are an integral part of our mission and vision and having a diverse staff and inclusive workplace is one of the ways we put our values into action. We promote a culture where employees collaborate in an energizing environment while focusing on the high-quality work that makes us stand out in the certification industry.

We also believe that life-work balance is important and demonstrate this belief with a generous benefits package that includes:

• 35-hour work week
• over 30 paid days off each year
• paid medical insurance
• matched 401K plan and discretionary profit-sharing contributions
• annual bonus and salary adjustments
• covered life insurance and short-term and long-term disability
• voluntary benefits: vision, term life, critical illness, accident, and pet insurance

NBCOT is proud to be on The NonProfit Times' list of The Best Nonprofits to Work For since 2014.