Team Leader, Statistical Software and Analytics

Position overview

The Team Leader, Statistical Software and Analytics (TLSSA) is responsible for the leadership and management of a team of researchers and data scientists, providing guidance and oversight to the work undertaken by the team.

The TLSSA has extensive experience in educational data analytics as well as expertise deploying data science tools and techniques to enhance and automate analytical workflows. An additional focus will be on accelerating the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine learning into ACER’s broader assessment design, analysis and reporting processes and products.

The TLSSA is expected to oversee development and maintenance of well-documented analytical scripts and programs developed by the team, in addition to working collaboratively with ACER IT to develop cutting-edge statistical and algorithmic software solutions using cloud-based web-stack technologies. The SSA team will support the business to get the most value out of these tools.

Position context

The Australian Council for Educational Research is an international, independent, not-for profit educational research and development organisation. Approximately 480 staff work for the ACER Group in Australia, India, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

The Measurement, Analytics and Technologies (MAT) Division is a key driver of ACER’s innovation in assessment science and data-driven solutions. It comprises two research programs:

• Methodology & Measurement 
• Data Science & Automation 

The Methodology & Measurement program focuses on advancing ACER’s capabilities in psychometric and statistical analysis, complex sampling, and quantitative research methods. It plays a critical role in maintaining ACER’s competitive edge by ensuring methodological rigour and fostering innovation in emerging areas such as computational psychometrics. The Data Science & Automation program is designed to modernise ACER’s data infrastructure and analytical workflows. It will lead the development of algorithmic and AI-driven automation across assessment design, analysis, quality assurance, and reporting. This program will collaborate closely with subject-matter experts and ACER’s IT team to build advanced statistical tools, new data products, and actionable insights. 

MAT supports both internal and external clients, delivering solutions that span the full learner lifecycle—from early childhood through to adult and professional education. The division’s work underpins ACER’s commitment to evidence-based assessment, innovation, and data-driven educational improvement.

ACER is committed to the professional growth of staff throughout their employment. It encourages and supports staff in a variety of ways to actively pursue professional learning, including with reference to the ACER Leadership Development Framework. ACER encourages all staff to consider ways in which they might make a leadership contribution to ACER's work.

Job responsibilities

• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders to identify opportunities and problems that are addressable by statistical and analytic software tools and applications, including through incorporation of AI and NLP techniques
• Lead and manage technical software and script requirements gathering and design, working closely with subject matter experts, clients, business stakeholders, and ACER IT
• Automate end-to-end data processing, analysis and reporting pipelines by leading integration of different software products and their outputs (e.g. ACER ConQuest and ACER Signum)
• Deliver operational syntax and software to agreed objectives, quality and technical standards, timelines, and budgets
• Build and maintain software products in collaboration with ACER IT to modern code standards that address and solve analytic problems for ACER staff
• Build new analysis software systems as needed to implement and extend models developed with the Methodology and Measurement team
• Develop and maintain familiarity with statistics, optimisation, estimation, and numerical methods – be able to take ideas from the literature and translate them into proof-of-concept code
• Work collaboratively with both internal and external project stakeholders to enable the delivery of high-quality bespoke analytic and statistical modelling tools and data products
• Identify and implement operational objectives and align these with appropriate software frameworks, languages, and methodologies

Additional responsibilities

• Supervise creation of user and technical documentation and other forms of project dissemination and communication
• Contribute to identifying opportunities aligned with team or ACER expertise
• Seek and apply feedback from frequent usability tests and ensure maintenance and testing policies and schedules that safeguard business continuity
• Actively contribute to and participate in continuous improvement activities to enhance the delivery of research and operational outcomes at ACER
• Lead, manage, develop and coach staff for optimal individual and team performance, helping ACER to build its capabilities and reputation in modern analytic methods
• Collaborate consistently with ACER IT, assuring that corporate security and technical standards are integrated into all projects

Organisational accountabilities

• Proactively work towards achieving individual, team and organisational objectives while demonstrating ACER’s leadership behaviours:
  • Developing Self – involves self-management, self-reflection and self-improvement
  • Embracing Change – being open to change and leading change when appropriate
  • Pursuing Excellence – ongoing search for new and better ways of working
  • Setting Directions – strategic thinking and planning for the future
  • Supporting Colleagues – supporting and contributing to the development of others
  • Working Collaboratively – building highly effective internal and external relationships
• Actively work to create an equitable, fair and harmonious work environment which is free from harassment, bullying and discrimination by demonstrating respectful and courteous behaviour towards others
• Proactively foster an inclusive and diverse work environment which encourages and respects different experiences and perspectives, and values diversity of thought
• Comply with all occupational health and safety requirements, including following safe work practices for self and others and identifying, assessing, and mitigating psychosocial risks
• Comply with all information security requirements, including completing regular security training and abiding by the standards and procedures laid out in ACER’s Information Security Management System
• Work in accordance with ACER’s policies and procedures

Skills, knowledge and experience

• Demonstrated people leadership and management skills and experience
• Demonstrated experience undertaking statistical or analytical software requirements gathering and translation of those into operational software and workflows
• Demonstrated experience building integrated pipelines and workflows to automate and streamline analysis and reporting processes
• Experience working on educational research or assessment projects
• Ability to communicate technical and applied approaches, concepts, and outcomes both verbally and in writing
• High-level organisational and project delivery skills, with the proven ability to manage varied and conflicting demands to deliver to quality standards, deadlines and budgets
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills including the ability to foster and develop effective working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders from culturally diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrated experience planning and delivering projects on time, on budget and within scope
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement and professional development

Desirable

• Demonstrated experience applying one or more machine learning, NLP or AI techniques to educational data sets
• Demonstrated experience embedding sophisticated algorithms into operational software

Education