Western Governors University

Assessment Strategist

Western Governors University$86K — $129K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree in a relevant field
  • 3 years of experience in developing high-stakes educational assessments
  • Knowledge of contemporary assessment practices and technologies
  • Experience facilitating workshops
  • Strong analytical skills for data-driven improvements

Responsibilities

  • Guide the strategy and design of formative and high-stakes assessments
  • Ensure assessments align with competency-based education and integrity policies
  • Lead continuous improvement of assessment quality and student outcomes
  • Collaborate with internal and external teams during assessment development
  • Monitor assessment portfolio health and report on metrics
  • Provide training and consultation on assessment practices

Benefits

  • Eligible for bonuses
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Flexible paid time off and sick time
  • Discounted WGU tuition
  • Retirement savings plan
  • Wellbeing programs and additional leave options including parental leave
Full Job Description
Job Description

Reporting to the respective school's Director of Assessment and Curriculum, the Assessment Strategist guides and supports the strategy, design, development, and maintenance of formative and high-stakes assessments within an assigned portfolio. This position collaborates with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure assessments meet the goals of the university and that assessment best practices have been followed. The Assessment Strategist oversees the full lifecycle for an assigned portfolio of assessment products, ensuring alignment with assessment integrity policies. This position manages assessment design, development, and continuous improvement efforts for WGU's online assessment content. The Assessment Strategist collaborates with critical stakeholders in academics, evaluation, and others to provide input about potential changes to the assessment or related technologies.

This is an on-site position located at our headquarters, 4001 South 700 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84107. You would work a hybrid schedule in the office 4 days a week, with 1 day remote.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Ensures alignment of assessments with best practices in competency-based education model and WGU assessment integrity policies.
Provides thought leadership and strategic vision for the continuous improvement of student outcomes and overall health and quality of assessments.
Ensures alignment of assessment traverse with proficiencies, skills and competencies in programs, courses, and non-degree offerings.
Translates requirements into clearly defined specifications and actions.
Contributes to models for formative and summative assessments.
Collaborates with internal and external partners throughout the design, development, and deployment of assessments.
Collaborates with the technology, design, and development teams to ensure the creation and adoption of flexible, valid, reliable, data-driven assessment tools.
As required, provides training, consultation, or guidance to team members and partners on assessment models, assessment design and development practices, and data-driven, evidence-based practices in assessment.
Consults with Program Development and Psychometrics teams on scoring methods, rubric development, and other assessment tools and models.
Collaborates with cross-functional stakeholders to explore and determine innovations and improvements to the existing student experience and processes based on data, key performance indicators, current practice, and emerging trends.
Collaborates with peers across colleges to ensure continuity of process and strategy for assessments
Monitors assessment portfolio health across the assessment lifecycle.
Achieves and reports on critical assessment metrics.
Provides student-facing responses to student appeals.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:
Demonstrated technical knowledge of high-stakes assessment development practices
Demonstrated ability to proactively and creatively solve problems related to assessment design and development
Practical understanding of teaching and learning, educational trends and research
Demonstrated skill in providing training as well as persuasively explaining complex assessment policy and best practices
Proven ability to analyze data to identify trends and drive improvement
Ability to build relationships and work effectively in a highly matrixed organization
Excellent organizational and project management skills, including the ability to effectively handle multiple tasks and pay attention to detail

Job Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
Master's degree in a relevant field
3 years of relevant professional experience developing high-stakes educational or licensure assessments at the course or program level.
Experience with contemporary assessment practices and technology (e.g., adaptive assessment, competency-based assessment, psychometrics, technology-enhanced items, prototyping and validating new item types, test designs, etc.).
Experience facilitating workshops.

Physical Requirements:
Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

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Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

About Western Governors University

Western Governors University (WGU) is a private, nonprofit online university based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The university was founded by 19 U.S. governors in 1997 with a mission to expand access to higher education. WGU offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, and healthcare. The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and has been recognized by the White House as an example of excellence in education innovation. WGU has a competency-based learning model, which allows students to progress through their coursework at their own pace based on their mastery of the material.
Learn more about Western Governors University
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