Learning Assessment Specialist (Nationals Only)

Introduction

Creative Associates International is a dynamic and fast-growing professional service firm that specializes in international development in the areas of education, democratic transitions, and stabilization in post-conflict environments. Based in Washington, DC, the firm has a field presence in 30 plus countries worldwide with a strong and diverse portfolio that includes global contracts with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other clients including the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defense. The firm has earned a solid reputation among its clients and missions worldwide and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

Program Summary

The Technical Assistance Program (TAP), funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is a five-year education and youth program that seeks to transform the organizational culture and improve the abilities within the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth to ensure officials can implement desired reforms. Creative and its partners will provide technical assistance in the development, roll-out, and tracking of policies and procedures to incorporate international best practices for public education and youth programming. Among the many activities in the Jordan Technical Assistance Program, it will support curriculum development, promote inclusive learning techniques, improve the skills of teachers and school managers, and other tangible activities that ultimately support changing the organizational culture within the two ministries and relevant agencies. The program will further support Jordan’s outreach and behavioral change communications initiatives that are aimed at creating a culture of reading, the inclusion of vulnerable children, and increased youth engagement.**

Position Summary:

TAP is seeking to recruit a Learning Assessment Specialist to support Examination and Testing Department at the Ministry of Education in building capacity to conduct diagnostic studies, setting benchmarking and targets, and establishing and operationalizing item banking system.

They shall act as an embedded staff at the Ministry to maintain timely and efficient support in collaboration and close consultation with TAP’s team.

They will provide professional technical input to MoE teams on Learning Assessment related functions, provide on the job coaching and capacity building activities, and follow up on the fulfillment of a quality implementation of the studies.

They will also work with the Ministry of Education M&E Unit of the Managing Directorate of Strategic Planning and Research and coordinate with TAP’s embedded M&E staff at the unit to support Ministry’s monitoring and evaluation functions. In addition to supporting the implementation process of the M&E framework for the Remedial Program.

Coordination, Reporting and Supervision:

This position will report to the MEL Director and will work closely with the Sr. Education & Youth Liaison Advisor.

Position Responsibilities:

Through a co-creation process and on the job coaching and structured capacity building activities, the Learning Assessment Specialist is expected to:

• Support the development, administration, analyzes, and reporting of the diagnostic assessments that will inform the remedial program design, implementation, monitoring, and revision

o Support the development of study plans and the creation and revision of test items, questionnaires, and tools to assess academic learning, life skills, and conditions of learning.

o Support the piloting of the tools and analysis of the results to create operational tools. Support the sampling, assessor’s training, data analysis, and reporting on the study results.

o Support in generating recommendations, lessons learned and providing insights and data for policy deliberations and integration of best practices as needed

• Support and lead capacity building activities related to study design, data analysis, benchmarking, item banking, and automation.

o Work closely with Examination and Research departments to assess the professional development needs of their technical staff and build capacity through day to day on the job support and structured training sessions.

• Support Examination in integrating item-banking system and e-tools in their relevant functions,

o Work closely with Ministry teams to develop assessment function automation plans**

o Develop specs **

o Support system operationalization and capacity building.**

• Support data collection process

o Work closely with the Ministry to develop and plan effective and efficient data collection. **

o Support the development of filed data collection protocols, and frameworks for data quality assurance and research ethics.

Required Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies, Education, Social Sciences, Evaluation Science, Business or Public Administration, or related field.

· At least five (8) years of general work experience and three (3) years of specific experience related to the position is required.

· Strong experience in psychometrics, construction of assessment tools, measurement, and statistical methods for sampling and analysis.

· Strong experience in using statistical software such as SPSS, and database management skills.

· Proficiency in survey-based research and managing different parts of a research project, such as instruments’ design, analyses, sampling methods research methodologies and techniques, and psychometrics.

· Sound experience in qualitative research and conducting literature reviews. The applicant should have familiarity and experience with secondary data analysis.

· Sound experience in assessment in educational setting, data analysis, and educational outcomes.

· Expertise in working with public and private sectors.

· Strong research / statistics (SPSS) experience and psychometric background.

· Excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to work with diverse members of the team.

· Demonstrated ability for effective organizational skills and ability to connect to the overall strategy while displaying attention to detail.

· Ability to synthesize and analyze quantitative and qualitative data and prepare and present reports effectively.

· Knowledge of the Ministry Education system institutional self-assessments and student outcomes assessment principles, methods, and techniques.

· Knowledge and understanding of integrated program planning, development, and administration within a public institution environment.

· Ability to plan, create, program, and manage statistical computer databases across multiple hardware and operating system platforms/environments.

· Advanced verbal and written communication skills.

· Technical leadership and supervisory skills, and the ability to motivate staff productivity and performance.

· Ability to analyze complex problems, interpret operational needs, and develop integrated, creative solutions.

· Experience in working with the MoE is highly desirable.

· Knowledge of Jordan’s development context, challenges, and opportunities.

· Proficiency with relevant computer software programs, especially MS Office.

· Proficiency in both Arabic and English languages is mandatory.