Test Development Assistant, National Assessment of Educational Progress

AIR’s Employment & Economic Opportunity Program is seeking a Test Development Assistant to provide operational, development, and coordination support for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessment project as well as externally facing assessment and partnership initiatives.

This position has the flexibility to work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of AIR’s U.S. office locations but requires availability to participate in meetings across all continental U.S. time zones. This does not include U.S. territories. The position requires availability to participate in meetings across central and eastern U.S. time zones.

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

• Support all stages of assessment development, including but not limited to collecting, analyzing, and reviewing assessment items, survey questionnaire items, frameworks, development documents, item statistics, content standards, and reporting.
• Participate in the collection, collation, and analysis of comments on assessment materials from team members, clients, and multiple constituent groups.
• Perform user experience reviews of assessment platforms and quality control reviews of content integration into assessment platforms.
• Observe operational assessment activities including scoring, administration, and trainings (virtual and in-person, local to remote work location).
• Contribute to the development of presentations and concise written summaries for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Manage outreach, records, and follow-up activities for partnerships and client engagements to ensure coordinated and timely engagement.

• Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field.
• Familiarity with digital K–12 assessment, assessment frameworks, and U.S. content standards.
• Content knowledge in reading or English/language arts, science, or mathematics, including U.S. education standards (e.g., Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards), curricular programs, and assessment frameworks.
• Experience with document review and applying technical standards.
• One or two years of teaching experience.
• Experience working on operational assessments is preferred, but not required.

• Effective communication skills, especially for technical documentation and summaries, with close attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks under deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective internal and external working relationships.
• Self-starter with a proactive, solution‑oriented approach (“go‑getter”) who is comfortable engaging with stakeholders.
• Proficiency with common productivity and tracking tools (e.g., spreadsheets, shared documentation platforms).