Associate Director, Test Security Investigations

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Associate Director, Test Security Investigations based in the United States.** The Associate Director, Test Security Investigations will lead complex investigations involving fraud, testing misconduct, and score validity across high-stakes educational assessments. This role combines investigative expertise, data analysis, digital intelligence, and cross-functional collaboration to protect assessment integrity and fairness. You will manage cases identified through post-exam analytics, reports, tips, social media monitoring, and other sources of potential misconduct. The position offers significant exposure to advanced investigative techniques, data-driven risk detection, and emerging digital tools. You will collaborate with security, threat intelligence, data science, psychometrics, operations, and external partners to identify and mitigate evolving risks. The role also includes communicating findings with students, families, educators, and senior stakeholders with professionalism, clarity, and empathy. This is an impactful opportunity for an experienced investigator who enjoys solving complex problems and using evidence and technology to protect trust in assessment outcomes. ### Accountabilities: - Conduct thorough investigations into fraud, testing misconduct, and score validity issues across digital-based assessments within established timelines. - Review and evaluate evidence from telemetry, data analytics, interviews, social media detections, hotline tips, and internal referrals to develop well-supported case recommendations. - Assess incoming tips and referrals to identify actionable information, determine investigative priorities, and recommend appropriate next steps. - Manage investigative cases from initial identification through evidence gathering, analysis, interviews, documentation, and adjudication recommendations. - Apply consistent evidentiary standards when evaluating cases and collaborate with investigative colleagues and internal stakeholders to support fair and defensible outcomes. - Conduct pre-exam data analytics to identify higher-risk test takers and recommend appropriate mitigation measures. - Analyze post-administration data to identify risk trends across international markets and higher-risk U.S. states and communicate findings to managers. - Partner with Information Security, Platform Threat Intelligence, Data Science, Psychometrics, Operations, and other teams to identify emerging security threats and improve investigative processes and tools. - Execute structured communications processes for test-security inquiries, providing timely, responsive, and de-escalating support to customers. - Communicate investigative findings with students, parents or legal guardians, high school educators, and college educators when appropriate, using professional candor, clarity, and empathy. - Travel to test centers and conduct test-day observations to assess security compliance, support investigations, and identify broader risk trends. - Conduct overt and covert monitoring across social media platforms to detect, mitigate, and investigate unauthorized sharing of examination materials. - Review suspected examination-content images identified by external monitoring partners, validate potential exposure, collaborate on findings, and initiate investigations when appropriate. - Support the development and implementation of enhanced examination-content exposure and monitoring strategies. - Contribute to improvements in investigative analyses, processes, data tools, and risk-detection methodologies. - Share investigative insights and emerging threat patterns with colleagues to strengthen broader assessment security practices. ## Requirements - Demonstrated experience conducting thorough investigations into fraud, misconduct, or related integrity issues; experience in educational or assessment environments is preferred. - Strong investigative skills, including evidence gathering, evidence evaluation, interviewing, documentation, and case analysis. - Advanced search capabilities and experience using social media platforms and digital tools to gather, analyze, and interpret information. - Strong critical-thinking and analytical abilities, with demonstrated skill in using data and evidence to inform decisions and investigative actions. - Experience with data analysis and investigative analytics tools; familiarity with platforms such as Salesforce or Power BI is preferred. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to facilitate meetings and present findings remotely and in person to groups of 15 or more. - Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to collaborate across functions and drive stakeholders toward appropriate action. - Excellent proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. - Ability to work collaboratively with security, threat intelligence, data science, psychometrics, operations, and external partners. - Curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging technologies, with a willingness to independently learn and adopt new digital and AI-driven tools. - Learner’s mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement, constructive feedback, diverse perspectives, and iterative problem-solving. - Strong sense of accountability and a drive for impact, excellence, data-informed decision-making, and continuous improvement. - Collaborative and empathetic approach to working across different perspectives and building trust. - Bachelor’s degree is preferred. - Ability to travel domestically approximately 5–7 times per year for business purposes. - Ability to travel internationally approximately 3–4 times per year to support examination administrations. - Authorization to work in the United States is required. ## Benefits - Hiring salary range of $56,000–$95,000 USD annually. - Compensation determined based on factors including location, experience, qualifications, skills, impact, and market considerations. - Remote-first work arrangement across the United States. - Candidates located near designated offices may have the option to work fully remotely or use a hybrid schedule, with in-office work typically on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. - Flexibility to work remotely while participating in occasional in-person business meetings and activities. - Annual bonus opportunities. - Opportunities for merit-based salary increases and promotions. - Supportive, mission-driven workplace focused on fairness and expanding educational and career opportunities. - Opportunities for professional development, growth, and recognition. - Opportunity to work with innovative investigative technologies, data analytics, and AI-driven solutions. - Collaborative environment focused on learning, impact, and continuous improvement. - Occasional domestic and international travel to support business activities and assessment security.