Consultant - Senior Psychometrician for the Foundational Learning Study, Education Section

About This Role

This consultant role provides targeted technical assistance to the National Assessment Wing (NAW) and Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE) for activities related to the National Achievement Test (NAT) and Foundational Learning Study (FLS). The work ensures that Pakistan's first national foundational learning evidence base is completed, benchmarked, and reported to international standards without methodological discontinuity or delay. The role involves psychometric analysis, scaling, and national reporting of the FLS-2026 dataset.

Responsibilities

• Provide targeted technical assistance to NAW/PIE for NAT- and FLS-related activities
• Extend large-scale administration to English-medium schools
• Complete psychometric analysis and benchmarking across English, Urdu, and Sindhi languages of instruction
• Prepare SDG 4.1.1 reporting documentation
• Deliver knowledge transfer to NAW/PIE staff

Requirements

• Advanced PhD university degree in psychometrics, educational measurement, statistics, or a related field
• At least 10 years of experience in large-scale learning assessment, including item response theory (IRT), item calibration, equating, and scaling
• Excellent written and spoken English

Nice to have:

• Proven experience setting foundational learning benchmarks aligned with the GPF/MPL framework
• Working knowledge of UIS/GAML technical criteria and SDG 4.1.1 reporting requirements
• Experience designing and analyzing assessments across several languages of instruction
• Experience in South Asia, and in working with national assessment bodies and ministries
• A track record of building the capacity of government assessment teams
• Direct experience of the FLS-2026 instrument design, pilot analysis, or large-scale administration

Important Details

• Contract duration: 4 months
• Working arrangement: Home-based with travel
• Application deadline: 29 Oct 2026 Pakistan Standard Time

Application Process

Applicants should submit a technical proposal of no more than five pages, including:

• Understanding of the assignment: A brief summary showing understanding of the FLS-2026 context, the assessment design, and SDG 4.1.1 reporting requirements
• Methodology: The proposed approach to psychometric analysis, calibration, scaling, and pilot-to-scale equating in English, Urdu, and Sindhi, and benchmark setting aligned with GPF/MPLs
• Work plan: A timeline matching the deliverables and deadlines in the ToR, including the two planned trips to Islamabad
• Capacity building: How knowledge transfer to NAW/PIE staff will be delivered
• Relevant experience: Two or three examples of similar assignments, with links to or samples of technical reports or SDG 4.1.1 documentation (where available)

Applicants should also attach:

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal for National candidate TMC0007033.docx, Financial proposal for International candidate TMC0007033.docx
• A detailed technical proposal

About the Company

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. The Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE), established under the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFEPT), houses the National Assessment Wing (NAW), which is mandated to design and implement assessments that measure student learning outcomes at a national scale.