International Assessment Expert

Job Posting Organization:
FHI 360 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions for human development. Established in 1980, FHI 360 operates in more than 60 countries and has a workforce of over 4,000 employees. The organization focuses on various sectors including health, education, and economic development, and is committed to safeguarding the welfare of everyone who engages with its programs.

Job Overview:
The International Assessment Expert will be instrumental in modernizing the national student assessment system in the Solomon Islands to align with the reformed senior secondary curriculum. This role involves a comprehensive review of the existing national assessment framework, providing strategic recommendations for its enhancement, and designing standardized assessments that accurately measure student learning outcomes. The expert will ensure that these assessments are consistent with competency-based education and international benchmarks such as PISA, TIMSS, and EGRA/EGMA. A significant aspect of this position is the integration of inclusive, gender-sensitive, and formative assessment practices into both classroom instruction and national-level testing. The expert will collaborate closely with curriculum developers and teaching and learning materials (TLM) teams to ensure that assessment content aligns with the updated curriculum and supports broader system goals such as equity, climate resilience, and practical skill development. Additionally, the expert will provide technical assistance to improve school-based assessment practices and enhance teachers' abilities to utilize data for instructional decision-making. Capacity building is a central focus of this assignment, which includes delivering professional development programs, facilitating workshops with national stakeholders, and developing guidance materials to institutionalize sustainable assessment practices. By supporting the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) and local partners in data collection, analysis, and reporting, the expert will help ensure that assessment data is used effectively to inform policy, monitor progress, and continuously improve learning outcomes across the senior secondary education system.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Review the existing national assessment framework and provide actionable recommendations for improvement.
• Design and implement standardized student assessments at key grade levels in line with international best practices (e.g., PISA, TIMSS, EGRA/EGMA, PIRLS).
• Ensure alignment of assessment systems with the new senior secondary curriculum and competency-based learning objectives.
• Provide technical guidance on data collection, analysis, and reporting mechanisms to monitor student progress and learning outcomes.
• Support the integration of assessment practices into newly developed teaching and learning materials.
• Work collaboratively with curriculum and TLM developers to incorporate inclusive, gender-responsive, and disability-sensitive assessment approaches.
• Build capacity of national counterparts through training workshops, coaching, and development of guidance materials on assessment design and implementation.
• Offer technical assistance to improve school-based formative assessment practices and teacher use of assessment data.
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations to ensure assessment reforms are contextually relevant and owned by national actors. 1
• Contribute to policy recommendations and the development of technical and final project reports, including sustainability planning.

Required Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree (or PhD) in Education, Educational Assessment, Curriculum Development, Educational Measurement, or a related field is required.
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in student assessment, curriculum evaluation, and education program development is required, with 10+ years preferred.
• Proven expertise in competency-based education and curriculum alignment with assessments and TLMs.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating large-scale education assessments.
• Strong knowledge of international assessment frameworks such as PISA, TIMSS, EGRA/EGMA, and PIRLS.
• Experience aligning assessment practices with curriculum reforms in developing countries; experience in Pacific Island nations is preferred.
• Strong training and capacity-building skills for teachers, curriculum developers, and policymakers.
• Excellent analytical, data interpretation, and report-writing skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in cross-cultural, multi-stakeholder settings.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or higher in relevant fields such as Education, Educational Assessment, Curriculum Development, or Educational Measurement. This educational background is essential to ensure that the expert has the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to effectively contribute to the modernization of the national assessment system.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in student assessment, curriculum evaluation, and education program development. Candidates with 10 or more years of experience will be preferred. This experience should include a proven track record in designing and implementing large-scale education assessments, as well as expertise in competency-based education and curriculum alignment with assessments and teaching and learning materials.

Languages:
While the job posting does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the international context of the role. Knowledge of local languages may be beneficial but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
This position is remote but requires significant travel to Honiara, Solomon Islands. The job posting does not specify a deadline for applications, nor does it detail the contract duration or seniority level. However, it emphasizes FHI 360's commitment to equal opportunity and safeguarding, ensuring a non-discriminatory hiring process. The organization also offers a competitive benefits package and supports a healthy work/life balance.