Overview
We are looking for a Senior Research Manager to join our internationally renowned and diverse research team in support of IELTS research activities. In this pivotal role, you will conduct impactful research that contributes to Cambridge University Press & Assessment's (CUP&A) mission of ensuring quality and driving continuous improvement across our testing portfolio, with a particular focus on IELTS. You will collaborate effectively across the IELTS partnership—Cambridge University Press & Assessment, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia—and advance the IELTS research agenda, ensuring the accuracy, comparability, and fairness of test scores, while exploring opportunities for innovation and improvement. Your work will be instrumental in delivering CUP&A's ambitions through targeted research for IELTS and, more broadly, for language assessment as a whole.
Responsibilities
* Identifying, designing, and conducting empirical research to gather validity evidence for a test, ensuring the quality of the test.
* Performing data analysis and statistical modeling, including psychometric analyses, to support evidence-based decision-making.
* Contributing to a validity argument and providing empirical evidence to support test recognition, helping learners and institutions make informed choices.
* Conducting fairness and comparability studies to identify and address biases in measurement, promoting equity and inclusivity in assessment.
* Preparing technical reports, documentation, and presentations to communicate findings clearly and effectively to diverse stakeholders.
* Ensuring compliance with professional testing standards, upholding integrity and trust in our assessments.
* Liaising with internal and external stakeholders and communicating complex methodologies in an accessible way, fostering collaboration and shared understanding.
* Working across teams and partner organizations as required, embracing cross-functional teamwork and global partnership.
Qualifications
* An advanced degree in language assessment, applied linguistics, educational measurement, psychometrics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
* A deep understanding of language learning and assessment, with demonstrated expertise in delivering research projects using a range of methodologies.
* Strong quantitative and/or mixed methods research skills, with proficiency in using data analysis software such as SPSS, SAS, R, and Python.
* Experience in areas such as applied AI (for learning and/or testing), natural language processing (NLP), corpus linguistics, human-computer interaction, or test validation, or willingness and interest to learn.
* Experience and knowledge of fundamental aspects of assessment are essential for this role, with specialist training available if needed.
* The ideal candidate will also have effective written and oral communication skills, with the ability to explain research ideas and technical concepts to both specialist and non-specialist audiences and demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and confidence in managing professional relationships, both within the organization and with external partners.
Additional Information
Cambridge University Press & Assessment is an approved UK employer for the sponsorship of eligible roles and applicants under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please refer to the gov.uk website for guidance to understand your own eligibility based on the role you are applying for.
Why join us
Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential. You'll belong to a collaborative team that's exploring new and better ways to serve students, teachers and researchers across the globe - for the benefit of individuals, society and the world. We are committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where it's safe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics, cultural, or social background, and we value diversity of thought and approach.
Benefits
* 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
* Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance
* Discretionary annual bonus
* Group personal pension scheme
* Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary
* Green travel schemes
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