Senior Consultant - Assessment Developer

Position Summary (the reasons the position exists; a summary of what the is position is responsible for): 

The Assessment Specialist II plans, develops, and evaluates tests and testing programs and related products that are closely aligned to the current subject-area standards and student-learning objectives and leads discussions with clients and stakeholders on the assessment of subject-related constructs. 

This role applies strong content knowledge to add significant value to item writing, item review, test assembly, and discussions at committee meetings, and is knowledgeable about current standards and trends. 

This Assessment Specialist II functions at a high level of knowledge and skill in all phases of test development, including item writing, review, and evaluation, test assembly, and scoring. 

The Assessment Specialist II works independently and as part of a team and may also work with outside experts in field of specialty. Additionally, the incumbent regularly provides guidance and training to less experienced assessment specialists. 

Responsibilities (indicate 5-10 key responsibilities/tasks that effectively describe the position; List from most important to least important): 

• Write and review items, gather and resolve feedback from multiple sources on items and evaluate item acceptability after testing 

• Participate in and manage constructed-response scoring activities, including work with faculty consultants or state department staff 

• Approve items for use on tests, evaluating both content and psychometric properties 

• Devise strategies for improving outside item writer results; develop item writer training materials; plan and lead item writer training meetings; monitor work with outside item writers 

• Design and develop new assessments and innovative products and services; develop new blueprints and item types, working with project team and client 

• Write rules for test creation system, assemble pretests, tests and/or Computer-Adaptive Testing (CAT) pools; review tests and participate in CAT simulation activities; assist in preparation of Special Test Additions 

• Respond to Supervisor Irregularity Reports (SIRs) and candidate inquiries, review responses to candidate inquiries to ensure accuracy and appropriate responses; investigate possible copyright violations; review and make recommendations for security cases 

• Work with client committees -- organizing meetings, recruiting and training committee members, recommending committee members, organizing review materials, developing training materials and agendas, explaining and summarizing analysis results and advising on measurement issues 

• Work directly with client content representatives to obtain signoff on items and tests; may attend client launch meetings, planning meetings and update meetings 

• Plan and develop program publications and interpretive test preparation materials 

• Participate in teacher training activities 

• Plan and conduct reliability, validity or comparability studies 

• Train others in application of item statistics and assembly of tests 

• Work with Statistics staff during the test assembly process to obtain signoff on statistical parameters of forms 

• Plan, manage and direct test development activities as a lead for one or more program teams, possibly as a member or leader of a test creation team 

• Manage the item evaluation process for one or more programs, use feedback from committee meetings and department staff to improve item quality for a program 

• Make recommendations on scoring problem items 

• Coach staff as appropriate 

• Serve on policy and planning committees with increasing responsibility 

• Serve as an organisation’s spokesperson on matters of test development in field of specialty 

• Direct projects, delegate work, and monitor progress 

• Create, implement, and monitor item development plans 

• Undertake and oversee small special development projects 

• Monitor budget requirements for one or more projects 

• Adhere to ethical standards and comply with the laws and regulations applicable to your job function