Lead Specialist, Learning Scientist (Clinical)

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to add life to a lifetime of learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That’s why Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world’s leading learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn’t just what we do. It’s who we are.

Clinical Assessments has a long-standing reputation for gold-standard assessment solutions spanning cognition, memory, neuropsychology, behavior, occupational therapy, speech and language, early childhood, personality and academic achievement.

We are seeking an innovative Lead Specialist, Learning Scientist (Clinical) to lead research across portfolio domains, including academic achievement, speech and language, cognition, and/or early childhood assessment. The ideal candidate will combine expertise in academic or applied research with clinical experience administering, interpreting, or working directly with standardized assessments within speech-language pathology, literacy, academic achievement, and/or early childhood.

This individual will provide subject-matter expertise and research leadership, translating business strategy into clear research and product priorities. They will model positive leadership behaviors, foster a collaborative and inclusive culture, and bring a strong digital mindset, including the ability to apply AI and emerging technologies to advance research, product development, and innovation.

This position will report to the Lead Learning Scientist and can be remote or based in our San Antonio, TX, or Bloomington, MN offices.

This role aligns to industry-level titles such as Research Director, Clinical Assessment Design Manager, Clinical Assessment Manager or Clinical Research Manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Learning Scientist (Research Director) provides scientific, clinical, and research leadership throughout the development and ongoing evolution of assessment products. Working across Content, Product, Psychometrics, Design, Editorial, and Digital Development, this role helps translate scientific evidence, clinical needs, customer needs, and business strategy into innovative, high-quality assessment solutions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and lead research plans supporting new product development, product revisions, and portfolio priorities.
• Provide subject-matter expertise and scientific leadership in speech-language pathology, literacy, achievement, and/or early childhood assessment.
• Help define product scope and assessment design, ensuring solutions are scientifically sound, clinically meaningful, and aligned with customer and business needs.
• Lead and contribute to item development, review, and evaluation, applying research, clinical expertise, and assessment-development best practices.
• Partner with psychometricians and research colleagues to review and interpret data and psychometric findings 
• Identify opportunities to responsibly apply AI and emerging technologies to assessment development, research practices, workflows, and product innovation.
• Provide oversight of assessment materials, including digital interfaces, record forms, stimulus materials, manuals, administration and scoring resources, and visual and auditory stimuli.
• Support product commercialization and adoption by contributing scientific and clinical expertise to training, product support resources, presentations, and other customer-facing materials.
• Represent Pearson and contribute to its scientific leadership through conference presentations, technical papers, research publications, and other scholarly activities.
• Maintain flexibility in work hours, as needed, to collaborate with international colleagues, approximately 10% of the time.
• Travel approximately 10%.

ESSENTIAL BEHAVIORS

The successful candidate will be expected to provide leadership beyond their individual area of expertise and demonstrate behaviors that strengthen both the business and the broader team.

• Think strategically: Connect research and scientific priorities to portfolio and business strategy, anticipate future needs, and identify opportunities to evolve assessment solutions.
• Lead through influence: Build credibility as a trusted scientific and clinical expert, bring clarity to complex issues, and influence decisions across functions and levels.
• Collaborate and build trust: Foster an inclusive, respectful, and accountable environment, seek diverse perspectives, communicate openly, and build strong cross-functional partnerships.
• Drive results and accountability: Take ownership of outcomes, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage competing priorities, and help teams move complex work forward.
• Champion innovation and continuous improvement: Challenge established approaches when appropriate and explore new research methods, digital capabilities, AI, and emerging technologies that can improve products and ways of working.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Ph.D. in Speech-Language Pathology, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Early Childhood Development, School or Clinical Psychology, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• 5+ years professional experience in speech and language, literacy, academic achievement, school or clinical psychology, and/or early childhood.
• Clinical experience administering, interpreting, or working directly with standardized assessments, with a strong understanding of their use in real-world clinical or educational settings.
• Strong knowledge of test development, measurement principles, research methodology, data analysis, and psychometric principles, with the ability to apply these concepts to research and product decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to translate scientific and clinical evidence into strategic recommendations that balance scientific rigor, clinical relevance, customer needs, product priorities, and business objectives.
• Strong digital fluency and curiosity, including the ability to evaluate and appropriately apply AI and emerging technologies to research, assessment development, and evolving ways of working.
• A record of professional or scholarly contribution through activities such as conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, technical papers, professional training, or related work.

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 $95,000 - $115,000.

This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program, and information on benefits offered is here.

Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, Nov 10, 2026. This window may be extended depending on business needs. 

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