Assessment Development Specialist II
About The Position
The Assessment Developer plays a critical role in designing, developing, and continuously improving valid, reliable, and secure assessments aligned with program-level outcomes and institutional learning goals. This role requires advanced knowledge of concept-based curriculum, competency-based education (CBE), and best practices in educational assessment design and evaluation. Working in collaboration with academic leadership, faculty, subject matter experts (SMEs), curriculum designers, and psychometricians, the Assessment Developer contributes to the creation of both formative and summative assessments—ranging from multiple-choice exams to complex performance-based tasks and simulations. This role ensures all assessments reflect principles of backward design, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and regulatory compliance, including alignment to accreditor expectations such as NWCCU, CCNE, and QSEN. The Assessment Developer also supports institutional integrity by advancing secure testing practices, implementing innovative assessment technologies, and providing training and consultation to faculty and curriculum teams on best practices in assessment development and evaluation.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Educational Assessment, Curriculum & Instruction, Psychometrics, Instructional & Assessment Design, or a related assessment discipline.
- Minimum of three years of progressive experience in assessment design and development, ideally in higher education, licensure, nursing, or competency-based education (CBE) environments.
- Demonstrated expertise in designing concept- and competency-based assessments aligned to program outcomes using backward design and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. Skilled in both formative and summative models, including performance-based and rubric-aligned assessments.
- Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent assessment projects across development cycles. Experience collaborating cross-functionally with faculty, SMEs, instructional designers, and directors of assessment to ensure alignment, quality, and timely delivery.
- Working knowledge of assessment-related standards from accrediting and regulatory bodies such as NWCCU, CCNE, ACEN, QSEN, and the AACN Essentials. Committed to ethical, secure, and equitable assessment practices.
- Skilled in analyzing assessment data to evaluate learner performance, drive continuous improvement, and support program evaluation.
- Proficient in using Learning Management Systems (LMS), particularly Canvas, to implement, administer, and analyze assessments.
- Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and drug screen.
Nice To Haves
- Experience prototyping and validating new assessment types, including adaptive testing, simulation-based assessments, and next-generation question formats. Familiarity with item-level psychometric analysis (e.g., item difficulty, discrimination, reliability metrics).
- Familiar with tools and dashboards used for assessment, reporting and improvement cycles.
- Familiarity with exam platforms (e.g., ExamSoft, Respondus) and tools for authoring and managing assessment content.
Responsibilities
- Assessment Design and Development
- Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
- Quality Assurance and Accreditation Alignment
- Faculty Development and Capacity Building
- Design and develop concept-based, competency-driven assessments that support institutional and programmatic outcomes across prelicensure and graduate nursing programs.
- Create varied assessment types—including traditional item formats, authentic assessments, adaptive tests, and technology-enhanced items—to accommodate diverse learner needs and performance contexts.
- Develop detailed scoring rubrics and performance evaluation criteria to ensure fair, transparent, and consistent grading practices.
- Ensure that assessments are mapped to learning outcomes, program competencies, and relevant clinical or simulation-based experiences.
- Integrate UDL principles and accessibility standards into all assessment tools and deliverables.
- Partner with SMEs, faculty, psychometricians, and curriculum design teams to validate and pilot new assessments, ensuring psychometric rigor and real-world relevance.
- Participate in blueprinting sessions and assessment mapping reviews to support alignment with instructional content and learner engagement strategies.
- Incorporate feedback from peer reviews, data analytics, and learner performance trends to iteratively improve assessment quality.
- Ensure all assessments meet internal standards for quality, rigor, and defensibility, including alignment with accreditation standards and guidelines.
- Apply item analysis and post-assessment review processes to monitor assessment performance and inform continuous improvement.
- Maintain compliance with assessment security protocols, including secure item banks, test delivery systems, and audit trails for high-stakes assessments.
- Contribute to faculty and curriculum team training on assessment design, rubric calibration, and data-informed evaluation practices.
- Develop tools, templates, and guides to support assessment literacy and alignment across programs.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
