Careers at Smarter Balanced

Communications Specialist - 44979

Independently oversees a comprehensive communications program for a unit or school with moderately complex communications requirements. The communications program usually includes written, visual, digital and electronic communications. Works with management to develop and execute organizational communication and market branding strategy. Designs and implements information campaigns.

The communications specialist serves as a collaborative team member of the communications and member services teams in a remote context to support external communication projects and to facilitate member related events and correspondence.  The incumbent utilizes organizational skills and attention to detail to manage and track multiple tasks with limited supervision.

 

Initial Review Date: 11-15-2022 (posted until filled)

 

Director of Communications - 45256

Involves developing, implementing or executing a comprehensive, multidisciplinary communications program; involves work in multiple communications disciplines for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.

 

Initial Review Date: 11-28-2022 (posted until filled)

 

Director, Psychometrics - 46906

Receives assignments in the form of objectives with goals and the process by which to meet goals. Provides direction to staff according to established policies and management guidance. Administers policies that directly affect subordinate staff. Recommends changes to department policies and practices. Identifies risks and responds accordingly. Provides priority setting and work flow analysis.

The Director, Psychometrics supervises the psychometricians and psychometric work for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, and reports to the Deputy Executive Program Officer (DEPO), Psychometrics and Research. The Director, Psychometrics will address complex issues and risks with novel solutions consistent with high stakes issues that are important to the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. The Director manages and directs analyses and provides technical guidance regarding the technical measurement aspects of assessments that are part of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. The Director applies extensive knowledge as an educational measurement professional with an in-depth understanding of psychometrics and/or other statistical analysis techniques designed to support educational assessments and research projects of broad scope and complexity. This role requires a combination of responsibilities for managing people and individual projects. The candidate is expected to have strong management skills combined with advanced training, expertise and proven skills in test development, psychometrics, research, writing and speaking to technical and non-technical audiences, and project management for large scale assessment programs.

The Psychometrics and Research unit identifies, prioritizes, and manages changes and improvements to the Smarter Balanced assessment system, while helping to ensure that the formative, interim and summative components of the system are aligned. The Psychometrics and Research unit develops a strategic vision and leads psychometric analyses, research and data analyses in support of the technical quality of the assessment system.

 

Initial Review Date: 01-05-2023 (posted until filled)

 

Deputy Executive Program Officer, Content for Teaching and Learning - 47231

Involves managing a significant, independent academic or research program. Formulates program strategies and goals. Plans, directs and controls program budget and other related resources.

Reports to the Executive Program Officer (EPO) and serves as a source of innovation in designing assessment tools and resources that support local and statewide improvements in educational policy as well as support teaching and learning. Creatively solves complex problems and advances the field of large-scale assessment focused on equity in education through a balanced assessment system (summative, interim, and formative). Responsible for overseeing staff who develop assessment items, teacher materials and professional learning resources. Collaborates with the Deputy Executive Program Officer, Psychometrics and Research regarding test design and defining blueprints supported by a high-quality item pool that meets rigorous technical criteria and serves the diversity of educators and students who use the resources. Collaborates with Product Management and other executives to create product vision, provide input to the roadmap, and support research-driven decision-making regarding product features and functionality that improve educator capacity to help students learn more. Mentors, guides, and develops department staff by providing opportunities for learning and feedback. Partners with the Program Leadership Team to support key cross-departmental priorities, including an efficient test production process and new research exploring innovations. Establishes operational objectives, and defines work plans and assignments to the team. Aligns department objectives to the Smarter Balanced strategic plan and roadmap. Uses sound judgment to reprioritize work based on new information and creative problem-solving. Responsible for preparing and managing the team budget in consultation with EPO. Prepares ongoing presentations for Consortium stakeholders (state departments of education) and national organizations.

 

Initial Review Date: 01-09-2023 (posted until filled)

 

Lead, Accessibility and Inclusion - 47551

Uses advanced technical skills related to learning management systems, multimedia design, assessment systems, communication tools, streaming media platforms, and multimedia creative applications to meet unique and often "new" requirements related to accessible and inclusive online ELA/literacy and math assessment design and development. Provides strategic analysis of accessibility and inclusion policies, collaborating with Content for Teaching and Learning and Psychometrics and Research. Serves as central point of contact for other departments, innovations, and member contact.

Analysis of project requirements requires in-depth evaluation and understanding of content standards and assessment development best practices, including assessment development that aligns to the organization's goals on accessibility and inclusion. Interacts with senior internal and external personnel, utilizing an exceptional command of communications that represents the organization. Assumes responsibility for major components of accessibility resources in the assessment and resources development processes at Smarter Balanced. Provides guidance to other assessment and curriculum designers to ensure consistency and high quality in alignment with organizational goals. Works with technical experts and service providers to ensure the Smarter Balanced assessment system addresses the depth and breadth of the member states' standards in an authentic manner that serves as signals for high quality instruction. Exercises judgment in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for creating high quality accessible and inclusive assessments in grades 3-8 and high school. Oversees internal teams and provides content leadership for accessibility and inclusion. Manages / oversees contracts and budgets related to development workstreams.

 

Initial Review Date: 01-30-2023 (posted until filled)

 

Lead, Mathematics - 53106

Uses advanced technical skills related to learning management systems, multimedia design, assessment systems, communication tools, and multimedia creative applications to meet unique and often "new" requirements related to online mathematics assessment design and development. Analysis of project requirements requires in-depth evaluation and understanding of content standards and assessment development best practices, including assessment development that aligns to the organization's goals on accessibility, equity and inclusion. Reports to the Director of Mathematics. Interacts and collaborates with Psychometrics and Research and Accessibility and Inclusion personnel to ensure that assessment content meets quality, technical, and accessibility standards. Assumes responsibility for components of the mathematics assessment development at Smarter Balanced. Provides guidance to other assessment designers to ensure consistency and high quality aligned to organizational goals. Works with technical experts and service providers to ensure the Smarter Balanced assessment system addresses the depth and breadth of the member states' standards in an authentic manner that serves as signals for high-quality instruction. Exercises judgment in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for creating high-quality accessible and inclusive assessments in grades 3-8 and high school. Collaborates with internal teams and provides content guidance for the discipline.

 

Initial Review Date: 06-08-2023 (posted until filled)

 

Quality Control Analyst - 49727

Uses advanced quality management concepts and objectives to resolve highly complex quality control issues for large-scale, high stakes educational assessment materials. Regularly works with internal and external experts from multiple disciplines (e.g., technology, psychometrics, academic content) on issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. Exercises judgment in selecting quality control methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results. Responsible for quality control programs and proposals with broad impact across assessment material production and the organization as a whole. Develops and oversees the implementation of new quality control programs and processes.

 

Initial Review Date: 03-21-2023 (posted until filled)

 

Lead Product Manager, Tools for Teachers - 50481

Uses skills as a seasoned, experienced professional with a full understanding of product / service development practices to resolve a wide range of issues. Manages the roadmap and development of products and enhancements of diverse scope, size, impact and budget within the Smarter Balanced Tools for Teachers suite.  Demonstrates sound judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions to design, financial, marketing, or administrative problems. Builds requirements, prioritizes roadmap enhancements, creates long-term integration plans, and facilitates product development life cycle of aspects of the reporting product. Interfaces with membership to establish deep understanding of member needs and layered user personas to drive customer satisfaction and achieve business impact. Manages product development work through matrixed staffing resources.

 

Initial Review Date: 04-04-2023 (posted until filled)

 

Lead Product Manager, Reporting - 50817

Uses skills as a seasoned, experienced professional with a full understanding of product / service development practices to resolve a wide range of issues. Ability to manage the roadmap and development of products and enhancements of diverse scope, size, impact and budget within the Smarter Balanced Reporting suite, customized reporting tools for states. Demonstrates sound judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions to design, financial, marketing, or administrative problems. Builds requirements, prioritizes roadmap enhancements, creates long-term development plans (e.g., API), and facilitates product development life cycle of aspects of the reporting product. Interfaces with membership to establish deep understanding of member needs and layered user personas to drive customer satisfaction and achieve business impact. Manages product development work through matrixed staffing resources.

 

Initial Review Date: 04-10-2023 (posted until filled)

 

Senior Director, Product Management - 52824

Independently manages and provides technical direction for product management of all products within Smarter Balanced assessment system. Develops the long-term vision and goals, policies and procedures, as well as managing ongoing operations of product management unit including staff, budget, resources, and multi-year product roadmap. Leads team of product management supervisors and professionals in building requirements, prioritizing roadmap products, conducting market/competitive research, and facilitating product development life cycle for Smarter Balanced summative, interim, and formative assessments (teacher resources). Interfaces with membership to establish deep understanding of member needs and layered user personas to drive customer satisfaction and achieve organizational impact. Manages product development work with direct and matrixed staffing resources.

 

Initial Review Date: 05-24-2023 (posted until filled)