Job Description - State Assessment Director (00620) (26141201)
Position Title:
State Assessment Director (00620) - (26141201)
This first review of applications will be May 13, 2026. Please submit the following required documents on the State of Montana Careers website:
For a complete job description, please email opi.careers@mt.gov
To be considered for this position, you must reside in Montana.
Why you would enjoy working here; Office of Public Instruction employees are a passionate group of professionals dedicated to leading and supporting our education system. We house a diverse collection of experiences with the 200+ unique individuals we employ. Our specialists further OPIs purpose with applicable knowledge in education, health, research and analysis, nutrition, finance, administration, human resources, licensing and regulation, information technology, and many others. We are proud to serve 149,000+ students pre-K to grade 12, their parents and guardians, 400+ school districts, 16,000+ educational professionals, and 3,000+ adult learners.
Benefits of working for OPI:
Work/life balance
Family friendly
Dedicated and caring colleagues
Health coverage
Retirement plans
Paid vacation, sick leave, and Holidays (combination of up to 38 per year)
Opportunities and room for professional growth
Public service loan forgiveness-Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF.
Job Overview:
The Director of Assessment serves as the states program manager for the Montana Comprehensive K12 Assessment System (MontCAS), providing overall leadership for the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the statewide assessment system.
The Director ensures statewide assessments are aligned to Montanas content standards and meet rigorous technical quality standards, including validity, reliability, accessibility, and fairness for all students, including English Learners (ELs) and students with disabilities. This role leads both the administration of statewide summative assessments and the advancement of innovative assessment models, including the Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year (MAST) system, supporting the evolution of more responsive and instructionally meaningful approaches to measuring student learning.
MontCAS includes the following statewide assessments:
This role provides leadership for assessment policy, federal compliance, vendor partnerships, and data systems to ensure accurate, timely, and actionable reporting of results. The Director ensures compliance with federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Title III-Language Acquisition for English Learners, including appropriate inclusion, accessibility, accommodations, and reporting for English Learners and students with disabilities. The position works closely with agency leadership, educators, and national partners to ensure assessment systems support instructional decision-making and provide meaningful information to students, families, educators, and policymakers, including school and district accountability systems.
A central responsibility of this position is the leadership and oversight of a complex, multi-vendor assessment ecosystem, including end-to-end procurement strategy and contract lifecycle management. The Director leads RFP development, vendor selection, contract negotiation, and performance-based contracting, ensuring all vendors meet contractual, technical, security, and timeline requirements across multiple assessment programs. This includes coordinated oversight of partners responsible for test design, technology platforms, item development, scoring, psychometrics, reporting systems, accessibility supports, and secure administration systems. The Director ensures system interoperability, alignment to state standards, and accessibility requirements while proactively managing vendor performance, mitigating risk, and driving continuous improvement across all deliverables.
The Director oversees the development and delivery of statewide professional learning to build educator capacity in assessment literacy, including test administration, test security, appropriate use of accommodations, and effective interpretation and use of results.
The Director maintains ongoing communication with system test coordinators across Montanas 300+ school systems through multiple channels, including newsletters, webinars, training, and site visits. The position also communicates regularly with agency and state leadership regarding assessment policy, administration, testing irregularities, and reporting.
This position supervises 5.0 full-time staff and additional temporary staff who support training and technical assistance to school districts. The Director manages an annual budget of approximately $4 million, primarily funded through a federal assessment grant, with some additional state general fund support.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors):
Knowledge of personnel management practices and techniques
Knowledge of state and federal laws
Knowledge of federal grant and contract management, including compliance and reporting requirements.
Knowledge of motivation and supervision.
Knowledge of standards-based assessment design and alignment to academic content standards.
Knowledge of state education governance, including roles of the Board of Public Education and OPI in standards and assessment policy.
Knowledge of teaching and learning principles as they relate to assessment design and use of data.
Skilled in strategic leadership and long-term systems planning.
Skilled in supervising and developing diverse teams across technical and program areas.
Skilled in collaboration and representing the agency in cross-agency, state, and national partnerships.
Skilled in verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to analyze, interpret and summarize information accurately and clearly.
Ability to multi-task, adapt to changing priorities, and meet deadlines while demonstrating accuracy, attention to detail, perseverance.
Ability to handle sensitive issues and maintain confidentiality.
Ability to effectively present technical and complex information to various audiences.
Ability to develop written materials and internal content with attention to details
Ability to develop and manage work plans, projects, and performance timelines.Ability to manage budgets, contracts, and financial planning processes.
Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):
Bachelors degree in education, assessment, measurement, research, statistics, data science, or a related field.
Five (5) years of professional experience in K12 education or assessment.
Three (3) years of experience in a supervisory, lead, or project management role.
Preferred Experience:
Masters degree in education, assessment, measurement, research, statistics, or a related field.
Experience working with large-scale assessment systems at the district, state, or consortium level.
Experience with federal education programs or accountability systems.
Other combinations of related education and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Does this sound like you?
Please tell us how and why by submitting your resume online, including any veterans or disability preference documentation. When submitting the required documents, you must check the relevant document box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application for this position. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process.
OPI is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
This position is in the TRS retirement system.
Applicant Pool Statement: If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection. Training Assignment: This agency may use a training assignment. Employees in training assignments may be paid below the base pay established by the agency pay rules. Conditions of the training assignment will be stated in writing at the time of hire.
Salary: $
42.57 - 42.57 Hourly
Telework Eligibility: Telework Eligible (Full-time telework is not available. Telework schedule must be supervisor approved.) Benefits Package Eligibility: Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan
Number of Openings
: 1 Employee Status: Regular Schedule: Full-Time
Job Type
: Standard
Shift
: Day Job
Travel
: Yes, 10 % of the Time
Primary Location
: Helena
Agency: Office of Public Instruction Union: 000 - None
Posting Date
: Apr 30, 2026, 2:10:03 AM
Closing Date (based on your computer''s timezone)
: Ongoing
Required Application Materials: Resume
Contact Name: Human Resources | Contact Email: opi.careers@mt.gov | Contact Phone: (406) 444-2673 The State of Montana has a decentralized human resources (HR) system. Each agency is responsible for its own recruitment and selection. Anyone who needs a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the agency''s HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.
State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.