Description

Smithbucklin, a 650-person, employee-owned professional services company with more than 70 years of success serving the association market, with primary offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C., is looking for a Certification Lead to join our Education and Learning Services team in our Chicago or Washington DC office.

The Certification Lead is accountable for leading the overall delivery of Certification programs for their assigned clients. The Certification Lead acts as a certification specialist and develops and implements program components of certification strategy and delivery. This role is accountable and responsible for certification program management, certification operations oversight, client certification financial management, certification team management, vendor management and oversight of all aspects of program delivery for assigned clients. The Certification Lead is a senior coordinator or in the manager job family.

What You Will Do:

• Strategy Support: The Certification Lead supports the development and implementation of all aspects of certification program strategy:
• Supports the development of certification program strategies, operationalizes these strategies, provides solutions and innovations that are tailored and relevant to client needs to support the overall business strategy and achievement of program outcomes
• Contributes to program design for the certification, understands the goals and scope of the program and consistently monitors need for growth and/or change
• Continually works with cross-functional client teams to implement innovations that enhance client outcomes, profitability, productivity and efficiency
• Certification Management: The Certification Lead is responsible for applying certification best practices for planning and managing delivery of all aspects of certification programs including:
• Program Development & Management
• Coordination of and communications to Subject Matter Experts (SME) including certification governing boards, subcommittees, and exam development volunteers
• Implements and updates all certification policies and procedures (including initial application, recertification, reinstatement, ethics, CE, and exam development)
• Oversees the exam development and delivery process
• Conducts the program accreditation and reaccreditation processes (as applicable)
• Ensures implementation and adherence of accreditation standards into the certification program (as applicable)
• Consults on and manages preferred or approved provider programs (as applicable)
• Develops and manages the continuing education program
• Oversees implementation of standards and compliance for testing accommodations (ADA Compliance)
• Lead the RFP process as required; leads vendor sourcing, selection and management
• Including psychometricians, testing software companies and certification and accreditation software
• Develops methods for program evaluation in coordination with vendor partners
• Ensures examination delivery and oversees candidate management
• Manages and oversees preparation and delivery of onsite exam
• Project Management
• Works with Education Directors and/or leads development of client certification program project plans
• Manages project plan and project scope, identifying issues and developing contingency plans.
• Proactively communicates project status, program deadlines, identifying any areas of concern and addresses issues to ensure program outcomes are met.
• Identifies problems and proactively seeks out methods to improve self-performance and/or efficiency of an operation or task
• Coaches team members to ensure strong performance, customer care, and engagement
• Facilitates continuous communications between staff and various stakeholders to meet the needs of client organizations
• Manages regular reporting to stakeholders.
• Financial Management
• Manages financials including developing client budgets, tracking against budget and forecasting
• Works with senior staff to understand client scopes and ensure team is supporting in compliance with parameters; elevates potential new scope to ensure financial modeling and presentation to the executive directors.

This Role Might Be for You If You...

• You thrive in a fast-paced, client-facing environment and enjoy taking ownership of complex programs from strategy through execution
• You are highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining strong communication with stakeholders
• You enjoy collaborating with cross-functional teams and volunteers, and can influence without direct authority

Basic Qualifications:

• 5+ years of certification management experience
• Ability to travel up to 30%, possibly both domestic and international (travel may include weekends)
• Knowledge of certification terminology and competencies
• Knowledge of exam development and delivery technology and processes
• Advanced education in certification program management preferred
• Familiarity with accrediting bodies and their program requirements
• Proficiency with basic computer programming, including the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Excellent communication skills to speak to and connect with volunteer leaders to keep certification boards and SMEs engaged and productive
• Ability to balance the needs of the organization with the desire and skillset of the volunteers available
• Budget management, developing a budget with assumptions, and forecasting
• Strong negotiation skills

Where Do You Fit?
Whether you are just beginning your career or are a mid- or senior-level professional, working at Smithbucklin will offer you countless opportunities to develop transferable skills, acquire meaningful knowledge and gain rich experiences at an accelerated pace. By working collaboratively with smart, ambitious, multi-talented, genuine and hardworking colleagues, you will build meaningful, deep and enduring relationships that will serve you well throughout your career, regardless of your chosen path. In addition, as a 100 percent employee-owned company, Smithbucklin offers all of our people - regardless of position or compensation - an equal chance to experience the fulfillment and reap the benefits of ownership. As owners, our employees control the destiny of Smithbucklin and are unified in the goal of building a great, enduring company.

Smithbucklin is a hybrid work environment with in-office days established as Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Employees will work a standard 40-hour week, with the possibility of additional hours based on project deadlines.

Smithbucklin considers several factors when determining compensation, including a candidate's recent coursework, training, experience, and certifications, among other considerations. The expected pay for this role is $78,000-$85,000 in Chicago, $82,000-$90,000 in DC.