Senior Director, Academic Measurement Research

Overview

At ACT Your Work Makes a Difference

Education has power – a power that changes lives forever. It creates opportunities that lift up individuals, their families, and sparks societal change that echoes through generations to come. From our grassroots we have fought the good fight for fairness in education, and we remain devoted to helping anyone who struggles to access that power. This is what matters to us and we must do better -- we’ve never been more sure of our purpose.

ACT Education Corp. team members are part of an organization dedicated to an important mission: Helping people achieve education and workplace success. Advancing the mission internally, by helping team members achieve education and workplace success of their own, is core to our values. ACT values a diverse workplace and is committed to fostering an inclusive environment in which every team member has equal opportunity to grow.

We want our team members to have the well-being and confidence they need to do their best work, in an environment where both they and the company thrive. To support this, our total rewards include company paid life insurance, medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) with company contributions, paid holidays, paid time off, and so much more. You can find a comprehensive list of our benefits here.  

We are seeking a Senior Director, Academic Measurement Research to help us fulfill that mission.

The Senior Director, Academic Measurement Research will be responsible for leading a team that executes evidence-based measurement and learning strategies to drive business outcomes. Plays a critical role in shaping the research strategy and agenda to ensure our products and services reflect the latest in academic skills and competency measurement, and drive ACT’s strategy, goals and mission. Ensure products and services address market and industry needs, align with industry and quality standards, maintain validity and reliability.   

The finalist will be hired at the salary and level commensurate with their qualifications. For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary in the range of $170,000 to $190,000. ACT manages salaries within the range based on relevant factors including, skills, experience, and internal equity. The position is not incentive eligible.

 Location: Remote (can also be onsite or hybrid if in Iowa City, Iowa area)

 A day in the life:

• Provide leadership and direction in development, implementation and support of a research agenda integrating theoretical and practical aspects of validity and educational score use
• Lead the team who serves as subject matter experts in evidence to support validity and efficacy claims, and execute on research to support these claims
• Participate in thought leadership in the design of validity arguments and theories of action for assessments of academic and college success
• Increase visibility of ACT research through publications, presentations, and presence across relevant national and international research communities
• Develop and maintain relationships with industry leaders and academic researchers to stay up-to-date with the latest science and trends
• Continuously evaluate and optimize processes and methods, incorporating feedback and new insights
• Manage team of researchers, providing direction, coaching and mentorship
• Manage academic research staff to promote their development, improve the quality and impact of research, and build additional staff expertise

Role Progression

• Within 1 month, you will work to gain a comprehensive understanding of ACT and the MRD group, as well as gain a high-level understanding of ACT’s products and customers.
• Within 3 months, you will begin working to develop and understand the research agenda and needs. You will also begin meeting with key stakeholders to gather insights on current challenges and opportunities.
• Within 6 months, you will be able to understand and develop your team’s group identity within the organizational structure. You will also have established excellent trust and rapport with internal and external stakeholders and have a firm grasp on responsibilities. You will also be positioned to consult with senior leaders on strategic efforts.

 This could be the job for you if you have (minimum requirements):

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in assessment, with 5 years in a leadership role
• Strong track record of scientific research and dissemination through peer-reviewed channels (e.g., journal articles, conference proceedings, books, book chapters, conference presentations)
• Recognized expertise in measurement, psychometrics, and research design
• Proven ability to manage and lead teams of researchers in a comprehensive measurement and validity agenda
• Demonstrated leadership in the design and development of research studies on high-stakes educational assessment
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts to a variety of internal and external audiences
• Ability to manage change and navigate positively in an environment experiencing change at a fast pace

• Ph.D. or Ed.D  educational psychology, measurement, psychometrics, quantitative psychology, or a related field required.

About ACT

When ACT was founded in 1959, it disrupted the assessment industry with a new approach to helping students better understand their readiness so they could take steps to improve it.  By leveraging our expertise and authority in assessment and research, we will again disrupt the industry—helping more people learn, better measure their progress, and improve their navigation through life’s transitions. 

More than ever before, ACT is fulfilling its mission of helping people achieve education and workplace success. We’re doing it by pushing the boundaries of learning innovation through the work of our people, who we call team members because we’re all in this together.

We know transformation does not come without challenge. That’s why ACT invests in a variety of experiences for team members to strengthen their connections, explore ideas, learn from customers, and celebrate success.

Learn more about working at ACT at act.org!

ACT is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. ACT participates in E-verify. ACT's online position announcements are intended only to provide general descriptions of employment opportunities; none of the information provided for any position should be interpreted as a commitment by ACT to specific terms and conditions for employment.

Application FAQs

**If you have received an ACT employment-related communication from an email address that is not affiliated with @act.org and/or that requests personal or financial information, please do not reply. Instead, reach out to us at careers@act.org with the details. ACT's recruitment team appreciates your interest in working with us to transform college and career readiness pathways for all learners and wishes you the best of luck in your career journey.**