Managing Director, Assessment & Human Capital

American Institutes for Research•Chicago, NC

2d•$170,000 - $230,000

About The Position

The American Institutes for Research (AIR) is seeking a Managing Director to grow its Assessment & Human Capital (AHC) work. The role sets strategy, builds business, develops talent, fosters innovation in AI-enabled assessment and workforce strategies, and supports high-quality research, technical assistance, and measurement initiatives. The Managing Director will help position AIR as a national leader in understanding and measuring human capabilities in an AI-enabled world, with a particular focus on the intersection of education and workforce assessments and AI. The position provides leadership across large-scale K–12 assessment, workforce assessment, skills and competency measurement, and related research and technical assistance. The Managing Director provides strategic and operational leadership for AIR’s assessment and measurement work, advancing technical quality, rigor, fairness, and relevance. The role also advances responsible AI research and solutions, develops approaches to measuring emerging competencies, and leads growth strategy and business development across federal, state, philanthropic, and commercial markets. The position leads and develops senior staff and multidisciplinary teams, oversees complex projects, and builds relationships and partnerships with clients and external organizations. The Managing Director represents AIR through client engagements, professional associations, conferences, publications, convenings, and other thought-leadership activities. The role may be performed remotely within the United States or from a U.S. office location; U.S. territories are excluded. This position is open to U.S. citizens only. Upon hire, the incumbent must obtain clearance through the National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) system.

Requirements

At least 15 years of experience and a Ph.D. in education, psychology, psychometrics, measurement and evaluation, statistics, public policy, industrial/organizational psychology, workforce development, social science, data science, or a related field with substantial senior-level experience; alternatively, a master’s degree with significant related leadership experience.
Demonstrated experience leading a collection of complex projects, including direct leadership of major projects and responsibility for strategy, financial performance, staff, and project delivery.
Significant leadership experience in education and workforce assessments, measurement research, AI/data science, or a closely related field.
Strong knowledge of assessment and measurement, including contemporary issues affecting large-scale K–12, postsecondary, workforce, skills-based, or competency-based assessment.
Knowledge of generative AI and emerging AI applications in education and/or workforce assessment or measurement research.
Demonstrated ability to identify emerging market trends and translate them into organizational strategy, research agendas, capabilities, partnerships, or business opportunities.
Strong strategic leadership and organizational management skills.
Strong understanding of assessment, measurement, and the emerging implications of AI for education and workforce systems.
Ability to connect technical and research expertise with client needs, market opportunities, and organizational strategy.
Ability to communicate complex assessment, research, AI, and technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
Effective written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong business development, client engagement, and relationship management abilities.
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams and senior staff.
Ability to collaborate effectively across organizational and disciplinary boundaries.
Ability to manage multiple strategic and operational priorities in a collaborative and fast-paced environment.
Commitment to technical rigor, responsible innovation, evidence-based practice, equity, and continuous learning.
Position is open to U.S. citizens only.
Must obtain clearance through the National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) system upon hire.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing or implementing innovative assessment or measurement approaches, including AI-supported, performance-based, simulation-based, adaptive, or automated-scoring approaches.

Responsibilities

Set strategic direction and oversee the growth, impact, and performance of a portfolio of project-based work.
Align research, technical assistance, partnerships, talent, operations, and business development to maximize impact and growth.
Provide strategic and operational leadership for AIR’s Assessment & Human Capital work.
Lead established assessment and measurement work while maintaining standards of technical quality, rigor, fairness, and relevance.
Advance AIR’s leadership in AI-enabled assessment, measurement, and human performance research.
Shape responsible AI research, standards, and solutions that promote valid, fair, transparent, secure, and trustworthy education and workforce assessments.
Lead development of approaches for measuring AI literacy, human-AI collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, professional judgment, and other relevant competencies.
Develop and execute a growth strategy that expands AIR’s leadership in AI, assessment, workforce systems, and human performance.
Lead and support business development and capture efforts, including building a strategically aligned opportunity pipeline across federal, state, philanthropic, and commercial markets.
Recruit, develop, and retain senior research, technical, operational, and project leaders; coach and mentor staff and leaders.
Collaborate across AIR to integrate expertise in assessment, psychometrics, data science, AI, education, workforce development, behavioral science, technology, and program implementation.
Provide leadership and oversight for complex, high-impact projects and teams, ensuring timely, high-quality delivery, technical rigor, client responsiveness, collaboration, and operational performance.
Build and maintain relationships with government agencies, education systems, employers, assessment and technology organizations, foundations, professional associations, and other partners.
Develop strategic partnerships that combine AIR’s expertise with complementary external capabilities.
Represent AIR through client engagements, professional associations, conferences, publications, convenings, and other thought-leadership activities.