Associate Manager, Test Development

Company Description

***Please submit Resume and Cover Letter when applying***

The Center for Applied Linguistics is a nonprofit organization promoting access, equity and mutual understanding for linguistically and culturally diverse people around the world.

The mission of the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) is to promote language learning and cultural understanding by serving as a trusted source for research, resources, and policy analysis. Through its work, CAL seeks solutions to issues involving language and culture as they relate to access and equity in education and society around the globe.

CAL is located in Washington, D.C. For this position, the employee may choose to work in their preferred combination of in person at the D.C. office in a hoteling capacity, or remotely (up to 100% remote). CAL does not compensate or reimburse candidates for relocation expenses. This position is not open to candidates residing in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, or the U.S. Territories.

Job Description

The Associate Manager, Test Development plays a crucial role in managing the creation and refinement of test items for large-scale English language assessments. This position requires a dynamic individual with a strong background in educational assessment and project management, and a commitment to improving educational outcomes for K–12 English learners.

The Associate Manager, Test Development will work closely with cross-functional teams, including content experts, external consultants, and project stakeholders, to ensure the development of high-quality, reliable, and valid test items that align with language development standards and best practices.

This role involves balancing strategic oversight with hands-on test development tasks, ensuring adherence to rigorous quality control measures, and contributing to the continuous improvement of work processes to make a meaningful impact on the educational experiences of multilingual learners.

Essential Duties

• Coordinate with test development domain managers to monitor timelines, prioritize tasks, allocate resources, and adjust workflows as necessary to meet project deadlines and objectives
• Create and revise test specifications and item specifications, including updating test maps and blueprints and monitoring for topic coverage and overlap
• Update training materials and facilitate trainings for external test development consultants, test item reviewers, and internal audiences
• Organize logistics and preparation of materials for test development activities and reviews, such as item writing and bias/sensitivity and content reviews
• Coordinate the conversion of test items between computer-delivered and paper-based modes
• Communicate and collaborate within and across functional teams and external stakeholders throughout the test development process
• Ensure adherence to quality control procedures and standards for both paper-based and computer-delivered test items
• Prepare and maintain documentation and records (e.g., summary reports, electronic notes, spreadsheets)
• As needed, participate in reviews of test items and revisions to test items across language domains

Qualifications

Education and Experience

The Associate Manager, Test Development must have

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, in a relevant field (e.g., Applied Linguistics, Educational Assessment, TESOL), with at least four years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university, in a relevant field, with at least two years of relevant experience
• Experience developing multiple choice and constructed response test items for large-scale assessments

The ideal candidate for this role has

• Experience coordinating project work, including creating and implementing project plans
• Experience working with K–12 multilingual learners  
• Experience developing English language proficiency tests

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The Associate Manager, Test Development must be able to

• Work independently with minimal support/supervision
• Prioritize tasks appropriately, meet deadlines, and work well within a team
• Closely attend to details without losing sight of bigger picture
• Effectively coordinate and oversee others’ work in a remote environment

The ideal candidate for this role has

• Strong oral and interpersonal communication skills
• Excellent organization, planning, and time management skills
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills
• Proficiency with Adobe InDesign
• Proficiency with pro