Diploma Exam Lead, English Language Arts 30-2

Role Responsibilities

Lead the development of English Language Arts 30-2 diploma exams, ensuring assessments across Alberta are fair, modern, and impactful.

The Diploma Exam Lead, English Language Arts (ELA) 30-2, is responsible for overseeing the design, development, scoring, and reporting of Alberta’s English Language Arts (ELA) 30-2 diploma exams. This role ensures assessments are valid, reliable, and aligned with provincial standards through strong subject matter expertise.

The position leads the development of multiple exam components each year, including written response and reading assessments, as well as machine-scored field tests to support exam quality and consistency. The role also supports the transition from paper-based to digital exams and contributes to evolving marking practices within a digital assessment environment.

The Diploma Exam Lead works with psychometricians and internal partners to coordinate communication of exam results and develop materials to support understanding of exam development and standards among educators and stakeholders. The role also leads and collaborates with teachers and working groups involved in exam development, marking, and validation processes, and may supervise contracted resources. 

As a key leader within the English language arts 30-2 education community, the Diploma Exam Lead maintains strong connections with educators to stay informed of classroom practices, shares assessment expertise, and keeps current with research and innovations in large-scale and online assessment.

The Diploma Exam Lead, English Language Arts (ELA) 30-2 is accountable for the following activities in the branch:

• Produce high-quality, valid and reliable diploma exams to ensure fairness to students
• Oversee the English Language Arts (ELA) 30-2 marking sessions for each diploma exam administration period
• Collaborate with staff in and from other sectors and branches of the ministry
• Actively work with school authorities and teachers

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

• Build Collaborative Environments: This position requires strong consultation and communication to build and maintain a collaborative and cooperative environment with internal staff, teachers involved with working groups and marking sessions, and key stakeholders.

• Agility: This position must recognize the changing landscape of education, anticipate changing priorities, and embrace the challenges presented by working with teachers from across the province. This position must also proactively incorporate change into processes as the sector transitions to digital exams.

• Drive for Results: This position understands the expectations of the ELA 30-2 curriculum, takes initiative, maximizes resources, engages others, and looks for opportunities during challenging times.

• Develop Networks: This position must develop networks, establish credibility and build trust with teachers and stakeholders to ensure the development and scoring of the ELA 30-2 diploma exams are fair, valid, and reliable.

Qualifications

Master’s Degree in a related field plus five years related experience or equivalent as described below.

Equivalency: Bachelor’s Degree in a related field plus seven years of related experience.

Must have a valid permanent Alberta Teaching Certificate

The position requires the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Must be a subject matter expert in English language arts to ensure that the English Language Arts (ELA) 30-2 diploma exams are a fair, valid, and reliable assessment of student knowledge.
• Must have teaching and leadership experience at the school, jurisdictional, and/or provincial level. 
• Advance knowledge of issues, trends, and research in large-scale assessment specifically related to English Language Arts (ELA) 30-2. 
• Sound project management skills, organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment, and a high level of comfort working in an evolving digital environment.

Assets:

• Leadership experience or experience with provincial assessment development, marking and scoring.
• Experience with AI and digital components (aligned with shift to digital platforms).

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 

Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

This is a permanent onsite position working full-time (36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday).

The position is in Edmonton.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part time or full time.

Applications without an appropriate cover letter or appropriate resume will not be considered.

The final candidates for this position will be asked to undergo an academic and reference check and provide suitable security screening and may be asked to complete a written exercise and/or assessment.

The final candidate may undergo pre-employment checks and reference checks.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

•    Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
•    Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
•    Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
•    Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
•    Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
•    Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.