Senior Content Specialist (High School Earth and Space Science)

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.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a learning technology company committed to delivering connected solutions that engage learners, empower educators and improve student outcomes. As a leading provider of K–12 core curriculum, supplemental and intervention solutions, and professional learning services, HMH partners with educators and school districts to uncover solutions that unlock students’ potential and extend teachers’ capabilities. HMH serves more than 50 million students and 4 million educators in 150 countries. For more information, visit www.hmhco.com

The Senior/Lead Content Specialist provides expertise in content subject knowledge, teaching

pedagogy, content development, and assessment across HMH products and solutions. The

Senior/Lead Content Specialist will participate in strategic planning, build meaningful internal and

external relationships, share assessment and content area expertise in cross-organizational and

external meetings, propose projects to improve HMH assessment products and support the

enhancement of the content and industry expertise of the content team.

 

Contribute to the development of HMH products and solutions (75%) 

 

• Create and maintain high-quality assessment items/passages in accordance with assessment program needs, including supporting the development of items through their entire life cycle.
• Lead efforts to ensure the team is normed on quality and content expectations for assigned content area and grade levels.
• Engage in test construction and development efforts as required by assessment programs, attending to the specifications defined for each program.
• Participate in training vendors, item writers, and educators to develop and review items/passages in accordance with item development best practices.
• Facilitate and support meetings and collaborative efforts with partners, including developing ancillary materials as required.
• Provide expertise internally and externally in support of HMH’s operational products and solutions.
• Drive thought leadership that supports innovation and improvement of content in HMH products in concert with new developments in the field of assessment, including engagement with external experts in education and assessment.
• Lead major initiatives within HMH/NWEA division and act as a point of contact for Content Solutions, including communicating decisions/risks as needed.
• Collaborate with leadership to provide and advance content-specific thought leadership within current year product roadmap.

 

Provide content expertise (20%) 

 

• Keep abreast of new developments and technologies related to assessment or within area(s) of content expertise.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in content area(s) & assessments when collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development of new test designs, item and test prototypes, and other innovative assessment ideas.
• Generate ideas for improving processes and procedures.
• Share ideas for new products or product enhancements.

 

Other (5%): 

 

• Collaborate within project or program teams to ensure documentation of processes, quality of deliverables, and schedules/timelines are attended to.
• Lead some or all portions of development-specific projects/work efforts.
• Assist in the training and mentoring of vendors, consultants, and new/existing staff.

 

Skills

 

• Exceptional content subject area expertise (in one or more subjects) as well as understanding of content pedagogy and content assessment
• Deep knowledge of assessment best practices, assessment design, and item development
• Ability to work collaboratively and as a sole contributor; including the ability to provide unique solutions to simple, complex, and nuanced problems.
• Well-developed communication skills and the ability to maintain effective relationships and communicate throughout the organization, as well as with external parties
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to find innovative solutions to problems

 

Educa