Senior Director-Level Industrial-Organizational Psychologist

Senior Director-Level Industrial-Organizational Psychologist

Practice/Department: Assessment Practice

Location: San Francisco, CA

Position Type: Full Time, Exempt

Location: Open to hiring in San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, and hybrid work environments with travel expectations of 30–50%.

About BTS: BTS is a global consulting firm focused on the transformative power of the people side of strategy. For nearly four decades, we have pioneered business simulations and digital learning experiences that help the world’s leading companies turn strategy into tangible results. Our innovative approach blends deep business insights with cutting‑edge developments in industrial‑organizational psychology, enabling targeted interventions that advance organizations and their talent simultaneously.

About the Role: As a Senior Director‑level Industrial‑Organizational Psychologist within the Talent Insights & Assessment Center of Expertise (COE), you will serve as one of our most senior practitioners—designing innovative, AI‑enabled, and scientifically rigorous assessment solutions while leading high‑impact client engagements. Through your work and counsel, you will meaningfully influence the COE’s direction by contributing advanced expertise, shaping new methodologies, and helping set the bar for excellence in assessment design and delivery. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, guiding them through complex talent decisions and enabling strategy execution through precise talent insights. You will also play a significant role in developing others within the COE, mentoring team members and helping strengthen BTS’s global assessment capabilities.

What You’ll Do:

• Design, develop, and validate custom assessment content (e.g., simulations, SJTs, interviews, psychometric tools) that integrate digital capabilities and ethical, scientifically grounded applications of artificial intelligence.
• Contribute to the COE’s innovation agenda by identifying emerging trends in behavioral science, leadership assessment, and AI—and translating them into practical enhancements to our solutions.
• Prototype and refine new methodologies, including adaptive assessments, digital simulations, predictive analytics, and AI‑assisted scoring models.
• Collaborate with product developers, data scientists, and COE leadership to ensure methodological rigor, responsible use of AI, and scalability of solutions.
• Client Leadership & Senior Advisory
  • Lead major client engagements, serving as the senior advisor to executives navigating workforce strategy, succession decisions, transformation efforts, and leadership capability development.
  • Translate strategy into talent insights, delivering clear, evidence‑based recommendations that influence enterprise‑level decision‑making.
  • Facilitate high‑impact client experiences—bringing cutting‑edge assessment approaches into complex consulting environments to drive meaningful change.
  • Illustrate the strategic and organizational impact of assessment solutions through compelling storytelling and executive‑level communication.
• Thought Leadership & Market Impact
  • Contribute to the development of practical tools, frameworks, and insights that strengthen BTS’s assessment offerings and reflect emerging trends in the field.
  • Represent BTS in external settings (e.g., client executive sessions, selective industry events, or partner forums) to share expertise and demonstrate the value of our assessment solutions.
  • Manage and grow client accounts, leveraging business development skills to expand BTS’s footprint in the assessment and strategy execution space.
• People Leadership & Internal Capability Building
  • Mentor and coach assessment professionals across levels, supporting growth in assessment design, delivery, report writing, and executive feedback skills.
  • Contribute to capability‑building initiatives that deepen the team’s expertise, elevate quality standards, and accelerate readiness for work with senior‑level business leaders.
  • Model excellence in scientific rigor, commercial orientation, client advisory skills, and innovation for colleagues across the global COE.
• Internal Influence & Contribution
  • Contribute expert perspective to COE working groups focused on methodology, standards, innovation, or product enhancement.
  • Share best practices across regions to strengthen global consistency, quality, and impact in assessment delivery.
  • Provide input into future COE priorities and investment areas, influencing direction through expertise rather than formal ownership.

What We’re Looking For:

• Master’s degree in Industrial‑Organizational Psychology with 17+ years of assessment experience, or a PhD with 15+ years of relevant experience.
• Deep expertise in assessment science, including psychometrics, validation, and the innovative application of digital tools and artificial intelligence.
• Proven success in business development, specifically in selling and delivering assessment solutions in a consulting environment.
• Proven success leading complex, high‑stakes client engagements and advising senior executives on talent strategy.
• Demonstrated contribution to innovative assessment methodologies, products, or digital/AI‑enabled solutions.
• Established thought leadership through publications, speaking engagements, research, or recognized expertise in the field.
• Strong influencing skills, with comfort leading without formal authority and operating as a senior expert within a global COE.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and executive presence, with the ability to translate complex findings into actionable insights.
• Track record of mentoring, developing, and elevating others’ capabilities.
• Eligibility to work in the US permanently without sponsorship is required

Why BTS: At BTS, innovation and collaboration are core to how we solve talent challenges. As a Senior Director, you will help shape the next era of assessment—pushing beyond traditional methods to explore AI‑driven insights, digital experiences, and new approaches grounded in behavioral science. You’ll work with talented colleagues around the world in a culture that encourages curiosity, experimentation, and bold thinking. From day one, you’ll play a significant role in influencing the evolution of our assessment work, deepening your craft, and making a transformative impact on the organizations we serve. If you are passionate about advancing the science and practice of assessment while operating as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, BTS offers an unparalleled opportunity to do so.

Salary Information

Annual Salary Range: $190,000 - $210,000

• This range is for Senior Director level roles. Starting salary is determined by experience and education/degree level