Managing Director – Assessment, Human Capital

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California, +4 more states.

📋 Description

• Set the strategic direction and oversee the growth, impact, and performance through a portfolio approach to project-based initiatives.

• Align research efforts, technical assistance, partnerships, talent management, operations, and business development to enhance impact and growth.

• Provide strategic and operational guidance for AIR’s Assessment & Human Capital initiatives.

• Offer strategic leadership for established assessment and measurement projects while ensuring technical quality, rigor, fairness, and relevance.

• Advance AIR’s position as a leader in AI-enabled assessment, measurement, and human performance research.

• Shape responsible AI research, standards, and solutions for valid, fair, transparent, secure, and trustworthy assessments in education and the workforce.

• Lead the development of methodologies for measuring AI literacy, human-AI collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, professional judgment, and other essential competencies.

• Develop and implement growth strategies across AI, assessment, workforce systems, and human performance domains.

• Lead and support business development and capture initiatives within federal, state, philanthropic, and commercial markets.

• Recruit, develop, and retain senior leaders in research, technical, operational, and project management roles.

• Provide coaching, mentorship, and support to staff and leaders throughout the organization.

• Collaborate across disciplines including assessment, psychometrics, data science, AI, education, workforce development, behavioral science, technology, and program implementation.

• Lead and manage complex, high-impact projects and teams, ensuring timely delivery and responsiveness to client needs.

• Build and maintain relationships with government agencies, educational institutions, employers, assessment organizations, technology firms, foundations, professional associations, and other partners.

• Develop strategic partnerships that combine AIR’s expertise with complementary external capabilities.

• Represent AIR in client engagements, professional associations, conferences, publications, convenings, and thought-leadership activities.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of 15 years of relevant experience.

• 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; or a Master’s degree with significant leadership experience in a related area.

• Proven experience in leading a portfolio of complex projects, including direct oversight of major initiatives and accountability for strategy, financial performance, staffing, and project execution.

• Significant leadership experience in education and workforce assessments, measurement research, AI/data science, or a closely aligned field.

• Strong knowledge of assessment and measurement, including contemporary challenges affecting large-scale K–12, postsecondary, workforce, skills-based, or competency-based assessments.

• Familiarity with generative AI and emerging AI applications in education and/or workforce assessment or measurement research.

• Demonstrated capacity to identify emerging market trends and translate them into organizational strategy, research agendas, capabilities, partnerships, or business opportunities.

• Experience in developing or implementing innovative assessment or measurement methodologies is preferred, including AI-supported, performance-based, simulation-based, adaptive, or automated-scoring methods.

• Strong strategic leadership and organizational management abilities.

• Profound understanding of assessment and measurement, along with the emerging implications of AI for education and workforce systems.

• Proficiency in connecting technical and research expertise with client needs, market opportunities, and organizational strategy.

• Ability to articulate complex assessment, research, AI, and technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Effective written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Strong skills in business development, client engagement, and relationship management.

• Proven ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams and senior staff members.

• Capacity to collaborate effectively across organizational and disciplinary boundaries.

• Ability to navigate multiple strategic and operational priorities in a collaborative and fast-paced environment.

• Commitment to technical rigor, responsible innovation, evidence-based practices, equity, and continuous learning.

• U.S. citizenship is required.

• Candidates must obtain clearance through the National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) system upon hire.

• Selected candidates will undergo reference and background checks.

🏝️ Benefits

• AIR’s Total Rewards Program.

• Equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer.

• Reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the employment process.

• Drug-free work environment.

• Child safeguarding measures and reference/background checks for selected candidates.