Senior Research Scientist

Pearson; United States; Remote; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational services company is looking for a Senior Research Scientist to join its Psychometric and Research Services group. The role involves applying advanced psychometric techniques to support assessment programs and conducting cutting-edge research. Ideal candidates will hold a doctoral degree and possess significant experience in the field, with strong skills in project management and communication. This position offers an opportunity to influence educational outcomes by developing innovative testing methodologies.

Qualifications

• Three years of relevant job experience in psychometrics.
• Familiarity with educational trends in operational assessment.
• Ability to apply psychometric techniques effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychometric support to assessment programs.
• Conduct research studies and analyses for item calibration.
• Coordinate with teams on test form design and field testing.

Skills

Psychometric techniques

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Doctoral degree in educational measurement or related field

Tools

SAS

R

SPSS

C++

Job description

Pearson is the world’s learning company, operating in nearly 200 countries around the world, with over 20,000 employees. We provide content, assessment and digital services to schools, colleges and universities, as well as professional and vocational education to learners to help increase their skills and lifelong employability prospects. We aim to support learners throughout their lifetime for every moment that matters – whether this is exam preparation and success, graduating from university, getting a new job, studying for a postgraduate degree, changing career, or looking for a new challenge.

From world-class assessment to virtual learning and beyond – we create the products and services that help tens of millions of people reach their goals each year. And we make sure our products fit with our key sustainability targets – to make learning accessible to everyone, to lead responsibly, and to give the next generation the skills they need to shape a better world.

Our vision is to have a direct relationship with millions of lifelong learners and to link education to the way people aspire to live and work every day. To do that, we will collaborate with a wide group of partners to help shape the future of learning. Our purpose is to help people make progress in their lives through learning.

We also believe we are at our best when we harness the unique skills, perspectives, and backgrounds of every employee.

The Senior Research Scientist position described here is part of the Pearson Psychometric and Research Services group, which is part of the US School Assessment group and larger Assessment and Qualifications team. Pearson research scientists provide the full range of psychometric support to state and national customers, develop innovative techniques and processes, and conduct cutting-edge research studies.

The education, experience, and responsibilities associated with this position include:

Education and Work Experience

Doctoral degree in educational measurement or a related field from a nationally recognized institution of higher education

AND at least three years of relevant job experience, preferably with the complete range of psychometric issues that are faced with operational assessment programs or significant grant-funded research projects

Familiarity with Psychometric Techniques or Techniques Associated with Other Relevant Areas of Expertise

Demonstrates the ability to effectively apply, design, and train others in solutions utilizing psychometric techniques—including classical test theory, item response theory, test equating, scaling and linking, and standard setting—to new and unique operational testing settings

OR has experience applying and designing techniques utilizing the scientist's specific area of expertise to new and unique settings

Assists in budgeting, coordinating of resources, and training

Familiarity with Software Packages and Programming Languages

Applies packages and programming languages commonly used in psychometric work or measurement research (e.g., SAS, R, SPSS, WINSTEPS, IRTPro, PARSCALE, C++, MPLUS) to new and unique settings faced in operational testing programs or research projects

OR experience with software (Matlab, IDL, PERL, Java, Javascript, XML) associated with the scientist's specific area of expertise and ability to apply these packages to new and unique settings faced in operational testing programs or significant research projects

Scaling and Equating

Demonstrates skill with common scaling and equating designs to review and create technical documentation (including technical specifications)

Conducts, guides, and designs analyses for item calibration, linking, and equating

Designs, documents (including technical specifications), conducts AND/OR coordinates the efforts of others (including external verifiers), in item calibration, linking, and equating analyses

Grants, Research, and External Funding

Designs research studies and research analysis specifications

Identifies study limitations, study parameters, and funding requirements to complete proposed research

Coordinates study resources, completes study documentation, and conducts formal reports for written or oral presentation as contractually obligated

Test Construction/Field Testing

Organizes and coordinates with other research scientists, data analysts, subject-matter experts, and/or the client all aspects of test form design and construction and field test item preparation and review

Proposal Development

Coordinates technical designs for proposals and writes associated text

Serves on proposal review teams as necessary

Demonstrates familiarity with costing process

Knowledge of Educational Trends

Identifies implications of relevant national and state trends in education for operational assessment programs or research projects and clients

Proposes measurement plans and provides client advice based on these implications as appropriate

Upholds the principles defined by the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing

Communication Skills, Technical Presentations, and Client Contact

Demonstrates communication skills, (oral, written, and business), necessary to function effectively in a leadership role with internal and external clients

Communicates about and provides guidance on state and national educational issues

Effectively tailors technical presentations to different audiences (e.g., client groups or technical advisory committees)

Provides guidance for similar presentations made by other research scientists

Makes presentations at national conferences

Submits manuscripts for publication

May serve as the primary contact for Psychometric and Research Services (PRS), (e.g., represents PRS in meetings and other communications), for internal and external clients for multiple testing programs or research projects, or for a single large and complex testing program or research project

Project and Talent Management

Demonstrates project management skills necessary to lead and direct all PRS-related aspects of multiple assessment programs or research projects, or a single large and complex assessment program or research project

Understands roles of different departments and how these impact PRS deliverables, schedules, costing, and scope

Exhibits management skills necessary to provide costs, staffing input, and strategic plan information for specific projects to upper management

Supports hiring process through applicant interviewing

Provides career plan information

Organizational Behavior

Aligns goals with department goals

Provides advice for, creates, and documents new and existing processes

Working Location and Travel

Willingness to travel as necessary

1145405

Job: Research, Efficacy, and Psychometrics

Job Family: LEARNING_&_CONTENT_DEVELOPMENT

Organization: Assessment & Qualifications

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Req ID: 20182

#LI-REMOTE