Assistant Director-Statewide Assessment (Education Specialist IV)

The work we do matters! Hiring Agency: Education - Agency 13 Location: Lincoln, NE Hiring Rate: $40.574 Job Posting: JR2026-00024500 Assistant Director-Statewide Assessment (Education Specialist IV) (Open) Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed): 04-08-2026 Job Description: Join the Nebraska Department of Education as Assistant Director of Statewide Assessment, and support strategic leadership and direction related to the development, implementation, and refinement of Nebraska’s Statewide Assessment System! This is your opportunity to be a part of the team focusing on continuous improvement of Nebraska assessment. The team is looking for candidates who are collaborative, have strong communication skills, and a visionary growth mindset as this position will support the work of balanced assessment systems and work to increase assessment literacy across the state of Nebraska! Join us to make an impact on instructional strategies that move student learning forward. Currently on a contract? Don’t worry! We’ll wait for the right candidate to be released from their contract. **The Nebraska Department of Education does not sponsor or transfer non-immigrant work visas for these positions.** Office Location: This position is assigned to our office located at 84th & O St, Lincoln, NE. Pay Grade 11: $84,393.74/year ($85,448.66 after annual increases on 6/29/2026) This rate is based upon available budget funds; any offer will be made at this rate. Teammates Enjoy In addition to being part of meaningful work and making a difference through public service, our Total Compensation package includes an approximate $31,600 in additional Benefits value! See full benefits information at https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits Competitive benefits, paid time off, and retirement 79% employer-paid health insurance, dental, vision, long and short-term disability, flex spending and health savings accounts, employee discount program, and more! Generous vacation and sick leave earnings each year (starting at 12 days each!), plus a variety of other leave types 156% state-matched retirement for state plans, or 101% state-matched retirement for school plans Thirteen paid holidays per year Essential Functions Assists the Director of Statewide Assessment to recommend, develop, implement, and administer methods and procedures to enhance the reliability, usability, effectiveness, and efficiency of Nebraska’s Statewide Assessment System to support teaching and learning, continuous school improvement, and professional learning. Participates in development of requests for proposals and oversees the link between technical requirements of statewide assessment and a balanced assessment system. Provides technical assistance to Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) offices, school districts, educators, and ESUs on matters related to assessment systems. Facilitates communication and builds relationships between NDE staff, internal and external stakeholders, and business and industry partners to organize, facilitate, and deliver information sessions, workshops, and training regarding the statewide assessment system. Assists with development of statewide summative general assessments, preparation of materials, and all aspects of statewide summative alternate assessment. Provides NDE Assessment representation to assigned federal grant projects. Assists with completion of annual and biennial budgets, and approves expenditures. Collaborates to complete peer review submissions. Oversees technology decisions, implementation, and communications for state summative and formative assessment, acting as liaison to the Nebraska Information Technology Commission (NITC). Provides leadership in the hiring, supervision, and potential discipline of staff. Conducts performance management activities including establishing annual goals related to the strategic plan, holding check-in meetings to discuss goal progress, and completing performance appraisals. Facilitates a continuous learning environment by promoting professional development to ensure all employees have the opportunity and skills to be efficient and effective in meeting the goals of the agency. Delegates work and projects appropriately among staff. Maintains regular & reliable attendance, possesses a valid driver’s license and travels independently, and works in a variety of settings. Working Conditions and Travel: This position requires approximately 50% of work time spent in an office environment; the remaining 50% is spent traveling or working in alternative sites such as schools, educational service units, conferences, and meetings. There is also approximately six days of overnight travel per year. Requirements / Qualifications Minimum Qualifications: Master’s degree in the field of education or related subject area, three years of successful preK-12 teaching or school administration experience in an approved or accredited Nebraska school, or equivalent teaching or school administration experience in another state or country, and eligible for/possess a current Nebraska Teaching or Administrative Certificate per §79-807. NOTE: A Nebraska Teaching or Administrative Certificate per 92 NAC 21 must be possessed by the time the candidate begins employment at the Nebraska Department of Education and an active certificate maintained while in the Education Specialist position. Substitution: Bachelor’s degree in education or equivalent Master of Arts in Teaching per 92 NAC 21, five years of teaching or school administration experience in an approved or accredited Nebraska school or equivalent teaching or school administration experience in another state or country, and eligible for/possess a current Nebraska Teaching or Administrative Certificate per §79-807. Preferred Qualifications: Successful school administration experience and experience with English Language Arts, math, or science content, standards, assessment, accountability, data, and professional development. Experience developing items for the (NSCAS) testing process. If you have any questions about this posting or working at NDE, please email us at [email protected]. If you're currently employed by the State of Nebraska, please don't apply through this external career site. Instead, log in to Workday and open the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing page. You can access Workday anytime through the Link web page: https://link.nebraska.gov/ Benefits We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation. Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits Equal Opportunity Statement The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics. We are seeking talented individuals to join our team in careers that make a difference in the lives of Nebraskans. Once you've had the opportunity to explore our current open positions, apply for those of interest to you. Click here for a video tutorial. Contact [email protected] for additional support. Check back on your candidate profile to see the status of your submitted applications, as well as any new postings that might interest you! Thank you for your interest in joining our team! State Government is one of the largest and most diverse employers in Nebraska. Whether it's helping a vulnerable child, advancing public health, making highways safer, or preserving our natural resources, the work we do matters!