Online Assessment Specialist

Role Responsibilities

As part of the Provincial Assessment Branch, the Online Assessment Specialist plays a vital role in delivering and continuously improving Alberta’s provincial assessment programs in an increasingly digital environment.  
 
This position ensures operational excellence and protects the integrity of large-scale assessments while driving the transition to innovative, technology-based solutions. By combining technical expertise with pedagogical insight, the role supports the modernization of assessment practices aligned with Alberta Education and Childcare’s commitment to fairness, accessibility, and quality in student evaluation.

As part of the Provincial Assessment Sector, this role operates within a complex organizational context that involves collaboration across multiple internal teams and external partners. The position works closely with technology providers, such as Vretta, and engages with school authorities, educators, and other stakeholders to ensure the DAP is reliable, secure, and user-friendly. The responsibilities include 

• Managing quality assurance processes
• Troubleshooting technical issues 
• Providing timely support to ensure smooth exam administration across diverse educational settings, including international schools
• Analyzing existing processes, recommending improvements, and championing change while ensuring business continuity

This role requires a forward-thinking mindset to explore emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), and evaluate their potential to enrich assessment design, delivery, and data analysis. Building capacity among staff and stakeholders to effectively use these tools is a key part of this mandate. 

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.

To effectively fulfill the responsibilities of the Online Assessment Specialist role, the following competencies are essential:

• Agility
• Creative Problem Solving
• Building Collaborative Environments
• Systems Thinking

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standards 

• Masters degree in related field with 5 years of experience; or equivalent as described below. 

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

For application consideration, you must attach a cover letter explaining your qualification and suitability for this role.

The following knowledge, skills or experiences are considered as assets:

• Advanced communication skills, verbal, non-verbal and written, with a variety of audiences.
• Effective interpersonal skills including problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution and mediation.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams building linkages with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to liaise with sector staff, as well as form strong and cooperative working relationships with staff in other Department areas
• Advanced facilitation skills.
• Knowledge of applicable department policies and standards, guidelines and processes.
• Knowledge of best practices, research and delivery options for online assessment services
• Detailed knowledge of online assessment design, strategic directions and priorities.
• Knowledge of related legislation and frameworks (e.g., Education Act, Provincial Assessment Directive; Guide to Education; POPA).
• Broad knowledge of information technology trends, emerging technology and best practices.
• Knowledge of related structures and policies of school authorities.
• Ability to work innovatively and creatively to leverage technology.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office and other M365 tools such as Teams and SharePoint for use in analytics, communication, and enhancement of workplace processes.
• Awareness and understanding of current and emerging test administration related environmental factors that threaten test security and test score validity and reliability, and the ability to use that information to propose and develop processes and procedures to mitigate those threats.
• Working knowledge of existing methods of developing paper and online assessments.
• Expertise in developing online assessments in a variety of platforms.
• Working knowledge of administrative structures of school authorities, schools, and the Ministry.
• Working knowledge of assistive technologies during standardized assessments.
• Working knowledge of mainstream computing platforms including Windows, MacOS and Google Admin Console/Classroom ecosystems.  

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 permenant full-time position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Working location will be Edmonton, Alberta.

Candidates are required to submit resume and cover letter that succinctly demonstrate their qualifications against the job requirements, including education, experience, and relevant competencies. It’s important for applicants to ensure their resume and cover letter clearly articulate how their past work experiences align with the role’s qualifications and needs.

Resumes must include precise employment dates (month and year) to assist in assessing attention to detail skills.

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

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate.

Links and information on what the GoA has 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.