Senior Director of Testing Operations

Ascend is Brooklyn’s premier K–12 public charter network, committed to graduating high-achieving students who have access to boundless choice in their futures—not only through college acceptance, but through meaningful preparation for career readiness and thriving adult lives.

Across our schools, we pair rigorous academics with strong systems, supportive adult culture, and a deep belief in students’ brilliance and potential. Our work is grounded in the understanding that preparing students for long-term success requires excellence in instruction, intentional culture-building, and disciplined execution at every level of the organization.

At Ascend, adults are held to high standards because our students deserve nothing less. How we teach, lead, collaborate, and make decisions every day directly shapes the opportunities our students will have tomorrow.

Join us in shaping learning environments where curiosity is nurtured, excellence is the norm, and every student is prepared for a lifetime of boundless choice.

To learn more about Ascend, visit our website: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./

The Senior Director of Testing Operations is the network owner of instructional materials logistics, assessment administration, and state testing compliance. This role ensures that all instructional materials and assessments are planned, procured, delivered, administered, and monitored with precision, compliance, and consistency across the network.

This role does not set instructional vision, pedagogy, or assessment design. Instead, it partners closely with Academic Operations, Finance, Network Operations, and school leaders to translate academic plans into compliant, scalable, and well-executed operational systems. If the work involves instructional materials logistics, assessment administration, testing quality control, or state testing compliance, it lives with Testing Operations.

Instructional Materials, Procurement & Distribution

• Own the end-to-end lifecycle of instructional materials, including procurement, inventory management, distribution, returns, and disposition of unused materials.
• Develop, manage, and track instructional materials budgets; monitor spending and provide regular budget updates in partnership with the Finance team.
• Negotiate and manage curriculum- and assessment-related contracts, including platforms, licenses, and consultants.
• Design and maintain systems that ensure efficient, equitable access to instructional materials across all schools.
• Source and purchase instructional materials and monitor delivery timelines to ensure on-time arrival to all schools.
• Partner with the Network Operations team on logistics, distribution, returns, and donation of academic materials no longer in use.

School-Based Materials Support

• Design and manage ordering processes and systems for instructional materials that reduce burden on school teams.
• Communicate clear timelines for materials availability aligned to pacing and unit calendars to support instructional readiness.

Assessment Administration & Quality Assurance

• Plan, schedule, and execute all assessment cycles—including benchmarks, diagnostics, Regents, and AP exams—in partnership with Academic Operations.
• Develop and maintain assessment administration protocols, guidance, and quality “look-fors” to ensure consistent execution across schools.
• Provide schools with resources, tools, and supporting materials necessary for effective assessment administration.
• Monitor the quality, fidelity, and consistency of testing administration across all campuses.
• Conduct school visits during testing windows to provide real-time support, coaching, and troubleshooting.

• Serve as the primary liaison to NYSED on all assessment-related matters.
• Manage all aspects of state testing administration and compliance across the network.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation, including regulatory records and documentation of testing irregularities.
• Identify and proactively mitigate compliance risks related to testing and assessments.
• Directly manage and coach a team of 2–3 people to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely execution of…