Leidos Health & Services Sector is seeking a Behavioral Science Task Leader/Senior Contributor to support the Department of Defense’s personnel testing and assessment mission. The Behavioral Science Task Leader/Senior Contributor provides senior-level leadership and technical oversight for behavioral research, assessment development, and measurement efforts supporting DoD’s personnel testing enterprise. This role directly contributes to research, psychometric evaluation, test design, and operational improvement of accession-related assessments.

**This job posting is in anticipation of future work**

The contract provides comprehensive scientific, analytic, and operational support to the DoD for the development, administration, evaluation, and continuous improvement of its personnel testing and assessment programs. Support includes behavioral science research, psychometric analysis, test development, operational test administration, data collection, statistical modeling, and technical assistance for computer-based and paper-and-pencil testing systems—including the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), language proficiency tests, and other accession-related assessments. The contractor delivers research studies, analytic products, test specifications, scoring algorithms, technical documentation, and system support to ensure the validity, reliability, fairness, and operational effectiveness of DoD’s testing enterprise used to classify and select individuals for military service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead teams to develop assessment items, instruments, and research protocols.

• Direct statistical analysis of behavioral and assessment data.

• Ensure quality and defensibility of testing methodologies.

• Oversee documentation, study execution, and research compliance.

• Coordinate work across multidisciplinary technical teams.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Educational Measurement, Cognitive Science, Human Factors, or related behavioral science field, plus 15 years of related work experience OR a Master’s degree in a behavioral science field plus 12 years of related work experience OR a Ph.D. in a behavioral science field plus 10 years of related work experience.

• Experience:

  • Experience in applied behavioral science, test development, psychometrics, or large-scale research programs.

  • Demonstrated experience leading test development teams, content review panels, or multidisciplinary research groups.

  • Experience supporting high stakes testing programs, preferably within the federal government, military, or national assessment organizations.

  • Strong background in designing and executing validation studies, psychometric analyses, survey development, and instrument evaluation.

  • Experience developing technical reports, test specifications, scoring plans, and supporting documentation aligned to APA/AERA/NCME standards.

  • Experience coordinating with IT, psychometrics, data science, and operational stakeholders to integrate behavioral science requirements into broader system workflows.

• Skills:

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

  • Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.

  • Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

  • Demonstrated ability to work independently as a member or leader of a team.

  • Demonstrated ability to plan, prioritize, and manage own work and the work of others.

  • Demonstrated commitment to meeting high standards for product and service quality.

  • Desire to learn and develop inventive methods that respond to client needs.

  • Ability to lead assessment development, research activities, measurement strategies, and methodological decision-making with a high degree of scientific rigor.

  • Competency in leading the development of constructs, specifications, items, forms, scoring rubrics, surveys, and supporting materials from conception to operational readiness.

  • Ability to manage timelines, deliverables, data workflows, and staff assignments while ensuring quality and compliance with accepted testing standards.

  • Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical and scientific concepts for multiple audiences, including senior leaders, operational personnel, and other technical domains.

  • Skill in reviewing research plans, analytic outputs, test materials, and technical documentation to ensure completeness, defensibility, and accuracy.

• Security Clearance: Must possess or be able to obtain a DoD Common Access Card (CAC) and successfully complete a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint check and a National Agency Check with Written Inquiries (NACI) check. US Citizenship is required.

• Location: This position is eligible for 75% remote work with occasional on-site work as required by customer and/or contract needs. Candidate must be located or willing to relocate within commuting distance of Seaside, CA.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with or within the DoD.

• Familiarity with DTAC and its mission and objectives.

• Familiarity with DoD or federal personnel testing, recruiting, or classification processes.

• Knowledge of military accession, recruiting, and classification processes.

• Experience with Human Subjects Protection, IRB/OMB reviews, and research compliance.

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Original Posting:

January 14, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.