Who We Are
NWEA® is a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt that supports students and educators through research, assessment solutions, policy and advocacy services, professional learning and school improvement services that fight for equity, drive classroom impact and push for systemic change in our educational communities. For nearly 50 years, NWEA has developed innovative pre-K–12 assessments, including their flagship interim assessment, MAP® Growth™ and their reading fluency and comprehension assessment, MAP® Reading Fluency™. For more information, visit NWEA.org to learn more.
What You’ll Do
The Lead Assessment Designer- Early Learning is responsible for the development, ongoing improvement, and execution of processes for Early Learning Reading and Mathematics assessment products. This role requires content-area leadership and a high level of knowledge and skill in all phases of item and test development. The Lead Assessment Designer will lead projects, ensuring timeliness and quality within budget. The Lead Assessment Designer will also offer suggestions to improve processes and quality and contribute to strategic opportunities (e.g., partner calls with existing or potential clients, responses to RPFs). Finally, the Lead Assessment Designer will serve as an example to colleagues, focusing on commitment to high-quality products that improve student outcomes.
Responsibilities
- Create and review passages, items, and tests, items, providing feedback and guidance to internal staff and contractors.
- Drive innovation through test designs and product improvements, firmly grounded in industry best practice.
- Serve as a subject-matter expert in Early Learning pedagogy and assessment when collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
- Lead projects, tracking deliverables to ensure timeliness and quality within budget and communicating progress and concerns to leadership, along with proposed solutions. Ensure budget allocations align with targets.
- Support development of program and product roadmaps and strategies which reflect evidence-based and equitable practices.
- Create and maintain process documentation and ancillary materials, reflecting a commitment to both quality and efficiency.
- Lead efforts to promote process improvements, establishing metrics and measuring gains.
- Collaborate with the manager to implement coaching and formal training as necessary, informally supporting staff in completing project tasks for timeliness.
What You’ll Need
- Bachelor’s degree (B.S. or B.A.) in Education or another relevant field.
- Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant field is preferred.
- Minimum of 5 combined years of teaching experience and experience as a test development specialist, with a focus on Early Learning (K-3).
- Dual Language program experience (Spanish/English) or similar experience working with multi-lingual learners is preferred.
Skills and Abilities
- Proficiency in industry standards for item and test development.
- Familiarity with research design, data analysis, psychometric concepts, and measurement principles.
- Content expertise in the Science of Reading, Early Literacy, and Early Numeracy.
- Comfort working as high as grades 4-5 in ELA and/or Math content.
- Strong collaborative skills with the ability to work extensively with peers to achieve common goals.
- Creative problem-solving for managing resource and schedule challenges.
Salary Range: $95k – $112k
Application Deadline:
The application window for this position is anticipated to close on March 25, 2026. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. The posting may be available past this date but is not guaranteed.
HMH is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, family status, marital status, pregnancy, gender identity, ethnic/national origin, ancestry, age, disability, military status, genetic predisposition, citizenship status, status as a disabled veteran, recently separated veteran, Armed Forces service medal veteran, other covered veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity. We actively participate in E-Verify.
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