Advanced Specialist, Learning Scientist
Measurement & Learning | School Assessment
Role Overview
We are seeking an Advanced Specialist, Learning Scientist ( Early Assessment and Learning Systems) to guide the design, alignment, and continuous improvement of early learning assessment and instructional support systems across literacy and numeracy @contexts.
This role sits within the Measurement & Learning team and operates at the intersection of Early Learning, Measurement, Product, Content Development, Learning Science, Technology, and Partner Strategy. The role is responsible for helping ensure assessment and learning experiences for young learners remain developmentally appropriate, instructionally meaningful, and aligned to evidence-based early learning practices.
The role supports early learning strategy across Pearson's formative assessment system, Navvy+ with an emphasis on coherence between formative learning systems designed to support standards mastery and screening/progress monitoring systems designed to support early identification and intervention planning.
This role also helps guide strategic decisions related to early literacy and numeracy product development, instructional supports, state screening/progress monitoring requirements, external partnerships, thought leadership, and emerging opportunities related to early learning systems.
Early Learning Systems Strategy
Provide strategic guidance related to early literacy and numeracy assessment and learning systems across formative, screening, and progress monitoring @contexts
Help evaluate product readiness, evidence alignment, and feature gaps related to state screening/progress monitoring requirements and approved provider lists
Support development of strategic plans and recommendations to strengthen alignment to evolving state, policy, and funding expectations related to early learning and identification
Help ensure coherence between formative learning systems designed to support standards mastery and screening/progress monitoring systems designed to support early identification and intervention planning
Stay informed on emerging policy, research, and instructional trends related to early literacy, early numeracy, MTSS, dyslexia legislation, and early identification initiatives
Early Learning Product & Content Guidance
Provide early learning expertise and developmental guidance related to assessment content, instructional supports, learning materials, and student experiences for PreK-early elementary learners
Partner with Product, Measurement, Content, UX, and Technology teams to help ensure products and learning supports remain developmentally appropriate for young learners
Support guidance related to foundational literacy, numeracy, and communication development; developmentally appropriate assessment experiences; student engagement and motivation; instructional scaffolding; family communication and reporting approaches; and standards-aligned learning pathways
Explore innovative and developmentally appropriate approaches for eliciting, understanding, and supporting early learner thinking, reasoning, communication, and skill development
Help guide decisions related to supplemental learning supports, instructional activities, and learning materials for early learners
Support evaluation of instructional quality, educational usefulness, and alignment of learning supports and instructional materials
Help guide developmentally appropriate and family-centered communication approaches related to student growth, learning supports, and early learning progress
Learning Supports & Instructional Ecosystems
Provide strategic guidance for early learning instructional support ecosystems connected to assessment evidence
Help guide decisions related to teacher-facing instructional supports, supplemental instructional materials, independent and teacher-facilitated learning activities, high-quality instructional materials (HQIM), external instructional partnerships and content providers, responsible use of AI-assisted learning supports and instructional materials, and cross-standard instructional and pedagogical supports
Help guide developmentally appropriate and educationally responsible use of AI-assisted supports for young learners
Help ensure instructional supports meaningfully support both student learning and teacher instructional understanding
Support coherence across assessment systems, instructional supports, intervention planning, and learning experiences for young learners
Research, Writing & External Leadership
Support responses to RFPs, grants, state opportunities, and strategic partnership initiatives related to early learning systems
Contribute to internal enablement and guidance materials supporting onboarding, implementation, commercialization, partner engagement, and educator understanding related to early learning systems
Contribute writing, guidance, and subject matter expertise for proposals, presentations, white papers, and thought leadership materials
Represent Pearson in conversations with partners, clients, states, and external organizations related to early learning initiatives
Contribute to external thought leadership related to early literacy, early numeracy, formative assessment, screening/progress monitoring, and instructional support systems
Help translate complex early learning research and policy developments into practical guidance for cross-functional teams and external stakeholders
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner closely with Product, Measurement, Learning Science, Content, UX, Technology, AI Science, and Commercialization teams
Collaborate with psychometricians, researchers, instructional experts, and content specialists to guide early learning system decisions
Support alignment between assessment evidence, instructional supports, reporting approaches, intervention systems, and learner experiences
Help guide developmentally appropriate reporting, communication, and engagement approaches for young learners and families
Support long-term visioning and innovation discussions related to intelligent early learning systems
Required Qualifications
Advanced degree in Early Childhood Education, Reading/Literacy, Mathematics Education, Learning Sciences, Educational Psychology, Educational Measurement, Curriculum & Instruction, or a related field
Deep understanding of early literacy and/or early numeracy development and evidence-based instructional practices
Experience working within early learning, assessment, intervention, MTSS, or instructional support systems
Strong understanding of developmentally appropriate practices for PreK-early elementary learners, Familiarity with screening, progress monitoring, formative assessment, and early identification practices
Strong understanding of evidence-based early literacy and early numeracy practices, including emerging policy and instructional trends related to early identification and intervention
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience writing proposals, guidance documents, presentations, or thought leadership materials
Experience collaborating across cross-functional educational product or assessment environments
Ability to communicate effectively with educators, partners, clients, and state stakeholders
Strategic thinking skills with the ability to evaluate product gaps, opportunities, and alignment needs within evolving early learning landscapes
Comfort exploring, testing, and prototyping AI-assisted approaches related to learning supports, instructional experiences, and early learner engagement
Preferred Qualifications
Experience supporting products or initiatives related to early literacy screening, dyslexia identification, foundational reading skills, or early numeracy systems
Familiarity with state screening/progress monitoring requirements and approved provider processes
Experience evaluating or guiding high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) or supplemental learning supports
Experience contributing to RFPs, grants, policy initiatives, or external partnership opportunities
Familiarity with formative assessment systems and assessment-as-learning principles
Experience supporting instructional ecosystem strategy, digital learning supports, or intervention systems
Familiarity with AI-assisted instructional supports or intelligent learning systems
Experience contributing to conference presentations, publications, technical documentation, or thought leadership initiatives
Curiosity about emerging approaches to intelligent early learning systems and evidence-based instructional innovation
Design Philosophy
Early learning experiences should remain developmentally appropriate, engaging, and instructionally meaningful
Assessment should support learning, not simply identify performance
Early identification should lead to meaningful instructional response and learner support
Instructional supports should empower both educators and learners
Human-centered educational design should guide innovation in early learning systems
Innovation should remain grounded in evidence-based literacy and numeracy practices
Why This Role Matters
This role is foundational to helping ensure early learning systems meaningfully support young learners, educators, and families during critical stages of literacy and numeracy development. By grounding assessment, instructional supports, and early learning experiences in evidence-based practices and thoughtful system design, this leader will help shape coherent early learning ecosystems that support both early identification and meaningful learning growth.
Compensation at Pearson is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific location. As required by the California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York State, New York City, Vermont, Washington State, and Washington DC laws, the pay range for this position is as follows:
The minimum full-time salary range is between $110,000 - $125,000.
This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program, and information on benefits offered is here.
Applications will be accepted through Monday, July 6, 2026. This window may be extended depending on business needs.
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Who we are:
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.
Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.
If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing TalentExperienceGlobalTeam@grp.pearson.com.
Job: Research, Efficacy, and Psychometrics
Job Family: LEARNING\&\CONTENT_DEVELOPMENT
Organization: Assessment & Qualifications
Schedule: FULL_TIME
Workplace Type: Remote
Req ID: 24266
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