This is a permanent full-time position commencing May 2025
The School Curriculum and Standards Division supports the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) by providing administrative and secretariat services and implementing its decisions. The Authority ensures quality curriculum, assessment, and standards to empower all Western Australian students to become confident, creative learners and active, informed citizens who contribute positively to society. Within this framework, the Examinations, Certification, and Testing (ECT) Directorate plays a vital role in delivering essential educational services and initiatives.
The Examinations, Certification and Testing (ECT) Directorate is responsible for implementing the logistics for the delivery of Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) course examinations and Externally Set Tasks (EST). It develops and maintains strategies to acknowledge student performance, including the development of online exam structures, and designs, implements, and evaluates educational measurement activities in Years 11 and 12, such as the moderation of external assessment activities.
The Directorate also manages the logistics for the delivery of the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) across Western Australia and oversees the design, development, and analysis of tests for the Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA), ensuring the integrity of literacy and numeracy assessments. Additionally, it ensures that data is collected, assured, analysed, and reported within required timelines, facilitates a strong interface between schools and the Authority for data transfer, and manages all reporting requirements while assuring the efficacy of data reported to stakeholders.
The Role
This position is responsible for conducting high-quality measurement analyses for a range of reporting requirements, including national reports, internal system-level reports, school reports, and parent reporting. The role involves designing and implementing equating studies to ensure consistency in test scaling across year groups and calendar years, as well as collaborating with subject matter experts to enhance assessments. The Principal Consultant provides expert advice on psychometric principles, ensuring the validity and reliability of assessment instruments and their reporting.
This position requires engagement with internal and external stakeholders, including tertiary institutions and national bodies, to contribute to assessment and reporting discussions at state and national levels. The Principal Consultant plays a key role in supporting the delivery of online assessments and ensures the integrity and timely delivery of data for programs such as NAPLAN and OLNA. The role also involves providing customised data sets for research purposes, offering technical assistance for assessment-related queries, and maintaining effective records in line with departmental policies.
Professional Benefits
We are conveniently located in Cannington and our employees enjoy a range of benefits which include:
- 11.5% employer contributed superannuation, increasing to 12% by July 2025.
- Flexible working arrangements are genuinely considered to create healthy work life balance including;, flexible working hours and part-time arrangements
- Generous leave entitlements including annual, personal, long service and parental leave
- Professional development opportunities and study leave/assistance
- Access to salary packaging (in accordance with relevant industrial instruments)
Want to know more?
Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Jonathan Ainge, Manager K-10 Testing ECT on (08) 9442 9464 or emailing jonathan.ainge@scsa.wa.edu.au
We are committed to building the leadership capability of our people (Building Leadership Impact).
Equity and Diversity
We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our workplaces and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.
Eligibility
To work with us, you must:
- be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
- consent to a National Criminal History Check with the Department's Screening Unit.
- obtain or hold a current Working with Children Check
More information about employment eligibility can be found on our website and in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).
Application Instructions
Apply online in two easy steps:
Step 1: Select Apply for Job
Complete the online application form, including details of two (2) work related referees, preferably one being your current line manager.
Step 2: Attach your documents
Your application should include:
- A CV of up to two (2) pages outlining your employment history and professional learning summary relevant to this position
- A three (3) page statement addressing the following selection criteria as outlined in the attached JDF:
- Demonstrated highly developed understanding of Rasch measurement and its application in an educational context.
- Demonstrated ability to design and development highly sophisticated assessment tools suitable for a range of educational areas.
- Demonstrated high level understanding of contemporary issues related to the assessment, measurement and reporting of student performance.
- Demonstrated comprehensive analytical and research skills in an educational context.
- Demonstrated highly developed written and oral communication skills and a proven ability to work as a member of a team.
- Demonstrated highly developed organisational, planning and decision-making skills, including the capacity to work to deadlines.
It is recommended you have your attachments ready before selecting Apply for Job.
Your application must be received before the closing date and time. Late applications will not be accepted.
For technical support submitting your application, you can call the Department of Education’s Recruitment team on (08) 9264 4127 for assistance.
Advertised Vacancy Number: DOE951278
Applicants assessed as suitable may be considered for similar vacancies that arise in our branch within the next 12 months. This includes circumstances where this position becomes subsequently vacant should the successful applicant decline or vacate the advertised position.
The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.
Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Wednesday, 23 April 2025
