K-12 Assessment Program Lead, Science

Job Purpose

The K-12 Assessment Program Lead, Science at Learning Explorer leads the development, alignment, and quality assurance of high-quality K–12 science assessment content, specifically benchmark assessments. This hybrid role requires deep subject-matter expertise, strong knowledge of state-specific standards and assessment programs, and the ability to manage complex development workflows across staff and contractor teams. This position ensures the delivery of high-quality benchmark assessments against firm schedules based on K-12 high-stakes testing windows. The K-12 Assessment Program Lead, Science plays a critical role in ensuring assessments accurately reflect state requirements and support educators' instructional decision-making. This role combines hands-on assessment development with program leadership, requiring both individual contribution and accountability for team outcomes, reporting to the Assessment Content Director.

Key Responsibilities

• Content Leadership & State Alignment
  • Maintain deep expertise in K–12 science content, instructional approaches, and state-specific academic standards and assessments.
  • Interpret state blueprints, test specifications, and guidance documents to ensure assessments accurately reflect state requirements.
  • Monitor and incorporate updates to state standards, testing programs, and related initiatives.
  • Identify and prioritize content gaps, collaborating with leadership to develop content roadmaps and enhancement plans.
• Assessment Development & Review
  • Develop, align, and review assessment items and assessments (hands-on development approximately 20–40% of time, depending on development cycle needs).
  • Oversee and enforce multi-layered quality review processes to maintain high standards across all deliverables.
  • Ensure assessment content is pedagogically sound, standards-aligned, and instructionally relevant.
  • Conduct senior-level reviews of items and assessments developed by team members to ensure content accuracy, alignment, and instructional quality.
• Project & Team Management
  • Plan, assign, and manage the work of staff and contractor subject-matter experts across item writing, alignment, assessment development, and review activities.
  • Manage development schedules and timelines to ensure on-time delivery of assessments and content updates against a firm schedule based on K-12 high-stakes testing windows.
  • Develop and deliver subject- and state-specific training and guidance for staff and contractors.
  • Serve as the science content lead on cross-functional initiatives supporting assessment product development (e.g., input to the assessment software development team).
• Process Improvement & Documentation
  • Evaluate and refine content development and review processes to improve efficiency, quality, and scalability.
  • Develop and maintain clear documentation, guidelines, and best practices for assessment development.
  • Leverage collaboration tools (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Trello, proprietary software) to support workflows (e.g., item development and alignment, assessment development and reviews) and documentation.
• Customer & Stakeholder Support
  • Coordinate responses to specific customer inquiries related to content, alignment, and assessment design.
  • Support issue resolution by partnering with Customer Success, Services, Product, and Data teams as needed.

Required Skills & Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in Science or Science Education; a Master’s degree is preferred.
• Significant professional experience in K–12 science assessment design and development, with either an assessment vendor or a public school district curriculum department, is required. Experience solely in postsecondary, corporate, or other non–K–12 assessment settings will not be considered.
• Experience teaching science in a public K–12 school setting; high school science preferred.
• Deep science content knowledge and understanding of K–12 learning standards at all grade levels; high school-level knowledge is necessary.
• Deep knowledge of NGSS learning standards and instruction, and a proven ability to design and develop NGSS-aligned assessment content are necessary.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage staff and contractor teams.
• Strong customer focus, with the ability to incorporate educator and district needs into decisions and deliverables.
• Strong ability to quantify, manage, and report on budget, labor costs, and resource utilization.
• Collaborative mindset with experience working cross-functionally.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and annual cycles of firm testing deadlines simultaneously, with flexibility to adapt to interruptions and shifting priorities to meet the needs of the business.
• Ability to adapt and embrace change, and support new strategies that drive program growth and improvement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Significant experience with K–12 assessment delivery platforms and content management systems.
• Significant experience with Google Workspace and Kanban-style productivity tools (e.g., Trello).

Key skills/competency

• K-12 Science Assessment
• NGSS Standards
• Curriculum Development
• Program Leadership
• Project Management
• Content Quality Assurance
• Instructional Design
• Team Management
• Stakeholder Communication
• Google Workspace