Lead Psychometrician

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

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.

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:
 

Grade: Faculty 510

Pay Range: $104,200.00 - $156,300.00

Job Description

The Lead Psychometrician provides services to the Program Development Department of Western Governors University (WGU). This individual acts in a consulting role within the department, providing expertise in the measurement and design of assessments. The Lead Psychometrician ensures the accuracy and validity of assessments and gathers and analyzes data instrumental to improving students' performance at WGU.

 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Analyzes and interprets data from various types of assessments using a variety of statistical methods.
• Coordinates and/or performs statistical analyses required for score reporting and data interpretation.
• Documents technical operating procedures and statistical guidelines for various programs related to educational measurement.
• Performs and interprets data analyses such as item analyses and reliability analyses.
• Creates graphs, charts, tables, and dashboards based on statistical analyses.
• Trains other psychometricians on WGU processes and procedures.

Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills within the team and with stakeholders
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Attention to detail in one's own work
• Ability to manage multiple projects efficiently
• Ability to work well with a team
• Ability to produce analyses quickly in a rapidly changing environment
• Strong technical skills, including Microsoft Office, especially Excel, and capacity or experience with SAS, R, or other analytical or statistical packages.
• With limited oversight, the ability to apply statistical methods like multiple regression and mixed models to complex data sets.
• Under the guidance of a more senior team member, the ability to facilitate groups and meetings in person and remotely.

Competencies: 

Organizational or Student Impact:

• Accountable for decisions that impact the portfolio.
• Leads program/course initiatives to improve key results.
• This individual is a go-to person at the program/course level.
• May actively contribute to initiatives at the university, college, or cluster level.

Problem Solving & Decision Making:

• Resolves problems that require broad-based consideration of variables at the program/course level.
• Work is situational and highly complex, and difficulties faced require detailed information gathering and analysis at the program/course. 
• Acts as a technical advisor and may assist in completing tasks to achieve team deliverables.

Communication & Influence:

• Communicates with leadership and stakeholders.
• Drives feedback and continuous improvement recommendations to discipline/practice leadership.
• Attends professional conferences and association meetings focused on the faculty member’s discipline or practice area and engages in discourse with fellow attendees.
• May contribute to WGU initiatives.

Leadership & Talent Management

• Considered a psychometric and assessment expert
• A source of advice, mentoring, and counsel within the team.
• Leads program, course, or practice learning and quality initiatives within assigned portfolio.
• Establish coverage within and between teams to meet expectations.
• Implements workflows and optimizes team resources.
• Model sound change management practices.

Job Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in Psychometrics, Psychological Measurement, Educational Psychology, or related field (e.g., Industrial/Organization Psychology) with an emphasis on quantitative methods or psychometrics
• Three (3) years of experience in testing, research, or closely related fields such as statistics and data analysis

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in Higher Education
• Multidisciplinary experience would be an added value
• Applied experience with CTT & IRT

Physical Requirements:

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

Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) 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.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.