NTA General Manager Assessment R&D Recruitment 2026

National Testing Agency (NTA) is hiring 1 General Manager - Assessment R&D and Psychometrics (GM-ARP) at its Head Office in New Delhi. If you have a Ph.D. in Psychometrics, Educational Measurement, Statistics, or an allied field with 12+ years of post-Ph.D. experience, you can apply by email. Applications must reach NTA within 30 days of the advertisement's publication on 25 July 2026 — that works out to around 24 August 2026. This is a 3-year contract role reporting directly to the Director General.

National Testing Agency (NTA) General Manager - Assessment R&D and Psychometrics Recruitment 2026 - 1 Post

NTA is the autonomous body under the Ministry of Education that conducts JEE (Main), NEET (UG), UGC-NET, CUET, CMAT, GPAT and other major national exams for crores of candidates every year, across 500-plus cities in India and at select international centres. It is now looking for a senior research leader to head its Assessment R&D function. The GM-ARP will be the principal authority within NTA on test validity, reliability, and fairness, and will lead item banking, item-response theory (IRT), classical test theory (CTT), computer-adaptive testing (CAT), psychometric analysis, normalisation algorithms, accessibility-related innovations, and pilots of new assessment formats. You will also be NTA's key interface with academic partners such as IITs, IISc, IISERs, IIMs, and central universities, as well as international testing organisations like ETS, College Board, Cambridge Assessment, and ATP, on research collaborations. This is one of the most academically critical leadership roles at NTA, ideal for senior psychometricians, statisticians, or measurement scientists looking to shape India's testing ecosystem.

Who Can Apply?

• Qualification: Ph.D. in Psychometrics, Educational Measurement, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science (with an assessment/AI focus), Educational Psychology, or an allied discipline from a recognized university. In exceptional cases, a Master's degree with substantial research experience and peer-reviewed publications may also be considered.
• Experience: Minimum 12 years of post-Ph.D. (or equivalent) experience in assessment research, psychometrics, item banking, large-scale testing, or measurement science.
• Of these, at least 5 years must be at a senior leadership level — for example, Head of Assessment R&D, Senior Psychometrician, Director of Research, or senior faculty with research-administration responsibilities.
• You should have a proven track record of leading research projects involving large-scale data, statistical modelling, and translating research findings into operational practice.
• Desirable: Prior experience with national or international testing organisations (ETS, College Board, Cambridge Assessment, Pearson, or major Indian assessment bodies), hands-on work with item-response theory (IRT), classical test theory (CTT), computer-adaptive testing (CAT), differential item functioning (DIF) analysis, and psychometric software such as R, Python, SAS, Stata, Winsteps, ConQuest, and flexMIRT.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong command of measurement theory, statistical methods, and modern psychometric techniques
• Excellent research design and data-analysis skills, with the ability to interpret complex statistical outputs and translate them into operational decisions
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences, including the public, media, and judiciary
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams of researchers, statisticians, content experts, and technology specialists
• High personal integrity, intellectual rigour, and the ability to handle confidential examination material with absolute discretion

Age Limit

• You should preferably be below 58 years of age as on the last date of application.
• Relaxation: May be considered for exceptional candidates with strong academic or research credentials in psychometrics or measurement science.

Salary

• You will get a consolidated monthly remuneration, based on your qualifications, experience, and industry benchmarks.
• The package is described as competitive and negotiable for exceptional candidates.

Selection Process (No Written Exam)

NTA will select the GM-ARP through the following steps:

1. Shortlisting: Based on your qualifications, experience, research record, and overall suitability for the position.
2. Personal Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed before a Selection Committee, with the option to present on assessment R&D and psychometrics strategy for NTA.

Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview call — NTA reserves the right to fix its own shortlisting criteria and the number of candidates called for interview.

How to Apply

1. Download the application format at Annexure-I from the notification on nta.ac.in.
2. Fill in your personal, educational, and employment details.
3. Attach your detailed CV, a list of peer-reviewed publications and research projects, and a vision statement (maximum 2 pages) on assessment R&D and psychometrics excellence at NTA.
4. Attach self-attested copies of your certificates in support of your qualifications and experience.
5. Email your application to dir-admin@nta.gov.in with the subject line "Application for the Post of GM - Assessment R&D and Psychometrics, NTA".
6. Make sure your application reaches NTA within 30 days of the advertisement's publication date.

Note: This engagement is purely contractual and does not confer any right to regular appointment or absorption in NTA. Given the sensitivity of examination material, the selected candidate will need to sign a non-disclosure agreement and proactively disclose any conflicts of interest with item writers, academic partners, or candidate-coaching organisations.

Important Dates

• Advertisement Publication Date: 25 July 2026
• Last Date to Apply (by Email): 24 August 2026 (within 30 days of publication)

• Build and curate NTA's secure item banks across JEE, NEET, CUET, UGC-NET, and other major examinations
• Lead psychometric analysis after every examination cycle, including item difficulty, reliability, and validity checks
• Run statistical equating across multiple shifts and days to keep scoring fair for every candidate
• Drive pilots on computer-adaptive testing and AI-assisted item generation
• Lead research on examination accessibility for candidates with disabilities
• Build research partnerships with IITs, IISc, IISERs, and international testing organisations
• Publish technical reports and represent NTA at national and international assessment forums
• Build, lead, and mentor NTA's in-house Research and Development team