Research Director Cambridge Assessment Cambridge

Job Description: • 2-minute read •
Cambridge Assessment is currently looking to recruit an experienced Research Director to lead 28-person research team which is dedicated to supporting research requirements across the Cambridge Assessment Group, create new knowledge about assessment and its impact, and engage in international discussion of assessment.

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The Assessment Research and Development Division in Cambridge Assessment is unusual in the combination of its highly focussed technical work which supports the operation of the Group’s assessments, and work which has a major and prominent impact on policy and practice in a range of nations, including England. The Research Director post is essential for the effective management of this careful balancing of priorities and focus, for supporting all research staff in their lines of work, and ensuring take up and impact. The combination of attention to fine detail and understanding of broad strategy makes this an extremely demanding but rewarding role. The Research Division represents a remarkable concentration of expertise in education and assessment, and the Director needs to provide the highest level of support and guidance to the members of the division, as well as liaise with other researchers and research teams across the Group. The Research Director may find themselves working with high profile domestic and international organisations on one day, and with assessment practitioners the next. The post holder will need to reconcile conflicting demands and competing priorities on a constant basis, since the potential work far exceeds the capacity to deploy, even given the large size of the team and the breadth of its expertise. This requires a high level of knowledge, management expertise, professional judgement and ability to liaise and consult. The track record of the team has been one of high productivity, intensively accurate focus, and high impact. This needs to be maintained and - as complexity and regulation increases - enhanced. The Group considers high quality, leading-edge research to be essential to the Group's mission and objectives; the team needs constantly to meet this requirement.
The portfolio of work and the scale of responsibilities is demanding, but this in turn makes the work extremely rewarding. Few other research groups have had such an outstanding track record of supporting policy development around the world - from A level development strategy, GCSE grading models, development of new models of assessment in Science, and analysis and advice of the performance of assessment and of education systems.

Responsibilities:
• Co-ordinating governance of research planning and management - strategic development of research priorities, determining method, allocating resource, fine-tuning of effort and focus, and monitoring progress.
• Developing and managing dissemination strategy, working with agencies and organisations in England and abroad - representing both ARD and the Group at national and international meetings and events.
• Supporting deployment and development of state of the art method in research and development in assessment, and establishing this in ARD and the Group.
• Liaising with external policy organisations, funding agencies and research organisations on a range of issues - information-sharing, strategic development, awareness -raising regarding assessment.

As the ideal candidate, you will have:
• Relevant qualifications
• Technical understanding of assessment as well as an understanding of domestic and international assessment policy.
• You will have to demonstrate very strong management skills and excellent networking and identification of needs and priorities

Benefits
• Generous contributory pension
• 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Annual performance related bonus and increases (discretionary)
• Enhanced maternity/paternity pay and childcare voucher scheme
• Employee discount and cash back scheme at 1,200 retailers
• Cycle scheme
• Subsidised canteens
• Support for professional qualifications

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