Assessment Developer

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Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

Job Profile Summary:

The Assessment Developer (AD) is responsible for the development and maintenance of Western Governors University’s (WGU) objective and performance-based assessments. An AD facilitates design and development workshops using industry best practices to ensure assessment validity and reliability. The individual combines strategic and creative thinking with efficient, time-sensitive execution to drive the creation of assessments and mitigate risks.

Location: This position requires you to live in Utah and work at our headquarters: 4001 South 700 East Salt Lake City, UT 84107 with the ability to work a hybrid schedule in the office 3-4 days a week.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Manages the design and development process for both objective and performance assessments, including milestones and timelines, and tracks progress.
• Communicates project status updates to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Works with cross-functional teams to ensure projects have appropriate resources and realistic timelines and to solve any content-related issues regarding the assessments.
• Organizes and facilitates workshops for internal assessment development and review.
• Oversees subject matter expert involvement in the design, development, and review processes, as well as in the validation of an assessment’s congruency and accuracy.
• Maintains assessment design and development standards to ensure assessment integrity.
• Identifies and mitigates risks that may impact the quality or on-time delivery of assessments.
• Collaborates with the assessment team to define and execute assessment policies, processes, and best practices.
• Ensures alignment and consistency of assessments to WGU’s business objectives.
• Develops and implements item- and exam-level scoring guidelines and validates the successful implementation of these guidelines.
• Oversees assessment QA processes, identifying and resolving issues and trends, as required.
• Maintains knowledge of exam performance and makes necessary quality improvement adjustments throughout the exam lifecycle.
• Participates in cross-functional team to implement exam security measures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

• Ability to facilitate groups and meetings in person and remotely.
• Excellent written, oral, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills, time management skills, and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects effectively.
• Ability to manage schedules and commitments.
• Problem Solving Skills: Investigates appropriate resources and involves partners when appropriate; future-oriented; assesses what will help/hinder achieving goals; focuses on what is important.
• Interpersonal Skills: Deals with others in a considerate, respectful, and unbiased manner; approaches conflict proactively; solicits and shares feedback openly; listens with empathy and maintains composure.
• Accuracy: Draws on factual information garnered from careful cultivation of a broad knowledge of WGU’s goals and processes; investigates beyond assumptions.
• Adaptability: Course corrects behaviors and communication style to meet the needs of a wide range of situations; tackles obstacles appropriately; is comfortable with ambiguity.
• Reliability: Accountable to others; does what it takes to get the job done; actions are consistent with words; follows through on commitments; exhibits exceptional integrity.
• Attitude: Displays commitment to the organization and to personal growth; self-motivated and able to motivate and inspire others; asserts self appropriately to champion ideas; tells the truth in a direct and constructive manner.
• Initiative: Self-directs with a strong bias for action; leads the way in improvement of performance or processes; displays keen interest in students and organization.

Competencies:

Organizational or Student Impact:

• Accountable for decisions that impact individual students.
• Creates or facilitates learning experiences that support students‘ attainment of knowledge and skills.
• With specific guidance from senior faculty and program leaders, acts independently in executing teaching practice.

Problem Solving & Decision Making:

• Works on diverse matters of limited complexity.
• This position receives general direction from their immediate supervisor or manager.
• Able to effectively utilize resources to address student concerns and inquiries.
• Supports student needs to help them achieve course or program outcomes at the individual student level.
• Individual follows university and department established policies and best practices.

Communication & Influence:

• Communicates with students as appropriate to support student questions and needs.
• This role communicates with fellow faculty members as appropriate within and outside of the department.
• Expected to provide feedback regarding discipline and practice leadership.

Leadership & Talent Management

• Considered a contributing and collegial team member.
• Individual adheres to learning and operational quality guidance and instructions.
• Supports initiatives within the area of specialty.
• Displays a positive attitude toward change and supports change management practices.

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant disciplines or equivalent experience (master’s degree preferred).
• 3+ years of assessment design and development experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Project management experience
• Experience with both objective and performance assessment.
• Experience in online assessment and education.
• Experience managing vendor and external resources relationships.
• Strong experience with distance education and distance learning students.
• Terminal degree and all applicable licenses or certifications.
• Using AI development tools.

Physical Requirements:

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

Disclaimer: This Job Description has been designed to indicate the general nature, essential duties, and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this classification. It does not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications that are required of the employee to do this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. This Job Description does not constitute a contract of employment. The University may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.

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The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Pay Range: $62,300.00 – $93,500.00

How to apply: apply online

Full-time Regular Positions (FT classification, standard working hours = 40)

This is a full-time, regular position 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.

The University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

About Organization

We are driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs. Since its establishment in 1997, WGU has grown into a national university, serving more than 120,000 students from all 50 states.

The university continues to open doors for adult learners who need flexibility to achieve their education and career goals. WGU’s innovative competency-based academic approach makes it possible, allowing individuals to fit their education into their lives, not the other way around.

WGU was founded by the governors of 19 U.S. states. WGU is also supported by over 20 major corporations and foundations who believe in WGU’s commitment to producing highly competent graduates.