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Role Description

Are you an assessment design expert who has shaped how professional competence is measured in high-stakes environments? Have you worked with task-based or performance-oriented assessments that moved organisations beyond traditional exam formats? Would you value the opportunity to build applied assessment capability within one of the world’s most respected professional qualifications?

CFA Institute is evolving its global credentialing and certificate programmes towards more applied, skills-based assessment. We are seeking a Director, Assessment Design to introduce and advance task-based, scenario-based and performance-oriented approaches within our high-stakes assessments. This is a newly created, strategic individual contributor role with broad cross-functional influence. You will work in close partnership with Exam Development, Psychometrics, Product and Learning Content teams to design defensible, scalable assessment models that measure real-world professional competence across CFA Institute programmes.

What You’ll Do

• Design and develop task-based, scenario-based and performance-oriented assessment components that complement traditional exam items.
• Apply Evidence-Centered Design principles to define claims, evidence and task models before item development begins.
• Translate real-world professional tasks into assessable activities that measure applied competence.
• Partner with subject matter experts to create diverse assessment formats including:
  • constructed-response,
  • case-based and performance tasks.
• Develop scoring approaches, including human scoring rubrics and AI-assisted models with human oversight.
• Contribute to technology-enabled assessments such as spreadsheet, workflow or coding-based tasks.
• Collaborate with psychometric and product colleagues to ensure validity, reliability, fairness and defensibility.
• Introduce applied assessment approaches into established workflows without disrupting operational integrity.
• Pilot and scale new assessment models within high-stakes, globally delivered professional qualifications.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading assessment design within high-stakes credentialing, licensure or large-scale testing environments, ideally within professional associations or applied assessment-focused organisations.
• Demonstrated expertise in Evidence-Centered Design, including defining claims, evidence and task models prior to item development.
• Proven experience designing task-based or performance-oriented assessments beyond traditional multiple-choice formats.
• Strong understanding of assessment validity, reliability, fairness and defensibility in high-stakes contexts.
• Experience developing assessment frameworks, tools or exemplars that build organisational capability.
• Experience influencing and collaborating across matrixed, cross-functional environments without direct authority.
• Experience designing or implementing technology-enabled or simulation-based assessment tasks preferred.
• Experience developing scoring rubrics, including AI-assisted scoring approaches, preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred but not essential.

Benefits

• Shape and define a newly established capability across globally recognised credentialing and certificate programmes.
• Influence the evolution of a gold-standard professional qualification at a pivotal moment.
• Establish yourself as a recognised internal authority in applied assessment design.
• Expected salary range: US $130,000-$180,000 / UK £90,000-£120,000 per year.
• Eligibility for an annual incentive bonus.
• 12% employer contribution to a 401(k)/pension plan.
• Comprehensive medical benefits package.

Company Description

CFA Institute are the global leader in investment excellence and ethics. With nearly 200,000 charterholders across 160 markets, we drive professional growth, ethical behavior, and better markets. We care about our employees’ well-being, offering industry-leading benefits like:

• Comprehensive health coverage for you and your family.
• Generous leave and time off.
• Competitive retirement plans.
• Flexible work options.
• Wellness, education, and support programs.