As we continue to expand our portfolio of professional credentials, we are seeking a Certifications Manager to lead the evolution, growth, and execution of our Verified Luxury Certifications program.
Location Remote
Travel Occasional travel may be required for team meetings, industry events, and professional development activities.
Employment Type Full-Time
Department Learning Products & Services
About the Role
The Certifications Manager is responsible for the overall success of the Verified Luxury Certifications portfolio, including current and future credentials.
This role functions similarly to a product manager, overseeing the certification lifecycle from concept and development through launch, maintenance, continuous improvement, and learner engagement.
Working closely with the Vice President of Learning Products & Services, the Certifications Manager will help define and execute the long-term strategy for Forbes Travel Guide's certification ecosystem, ensuring certifications remain relevant, engaging, scalable, and aligned with industry needs.
The ideal candidate thrives at the intersection of learning, technology, content, analytics, and stakeholder management.
What You'll Do
Certification Strategy & Portfolio Management
• Partner with senior leadership to define the vision and strategic roadmap for the Verified Luxury Certifications portfolio
• Develop and manage certification product roadmaps and enhancement initiatives
• Identify opportunities for new credentials, specialization pathways, and continuing education offerings
• Monitor industry trends, learner feedback, and certification performance metrics
• Recommend strategic improvements to strengthen program value and market relevance
Certification Program Ownership
• Oversee the end-to-end certification experience from enrollment through credential attainment
• Manage certification governance, standards, processes, and documentation
• Coordinate certification launches, updates, and future program expansion
• Ensure consistent learner experiences across all certification offerings
• Drive ongoing program optimization and operational excellence
Content & Assessment Management
• Partner with Instructional Design teams to oversee the development and maintenance of:
• Certification exams
• Study guides
• Learning resources
• Candidate preparation materials
• Ensure all certification content remains accurate, defensible, current, and aligned with program objectives
• Prioritize content updates and enhancement initiatives
• Support ongoing exam maintenance and quality assurance efforts
Learner Experience & Platform Optimization
• Collaborate closely with LMS and technology teams to continuously improve the learner journey
• Evaluate user experience, platform functionality, and learner feedback
• Identify opportunities to reduce friction and improve engagement throughout the certification experience
• Support the optimization of enrollment, onboarding, assessment, and credentialing workflows
Community & Continuing Education
• Provide strategic direction for the certifications community ecosystem
• Partner closely with the Community Lead to establish engagement goals and community initiatives
• Oversee the development of continuing education opportunities that extend value beyond certification achievement
• Support webinar programming, masterclasses, industry thought leadership, and professional development experiences
• Monitor learner retention and ongoing engagement metrics
Cross-Functional Leadership
• Collaborate with Learning Products & Services, Instructional Design, Operations, Technology, Marketing, and Commercial teams to execute strategic priorities
• Partner with marketing stakeholders on learner communication strategies, engagement journeys, and retention campaigns
• Support go-to-market readiness through collaboration with internal sales and partnership teams
• Communicate certification roadmap updates and program enhancements to relevant stakeholders
Analytics & Continuous Improvement
• Track and report on certification performance metrics
• Analyze learner behavior and engagement trends
• Develop recommendations based on data and learner feedback
• Create visibility into program health, growth opportunities, and strategic priorities
What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
• 5+ years of experience in program management, product management, learning and development, education, certifications, or related fields
• Experience managing complex, cross-functional initiatives
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to balance strategic planning with operational execution
• Experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders and business functions
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with certification, credentialing, or assessment-based programs
• Experience managing educational products or learning portfolios
• Familiarity with instructional design and adult learning principles
• Experience with LMS platforms and learner experience optimization
• Experience with community engagement or membership-based programs
• Hospitality, luxury service, professional development, or workforce education experience
• Experience working with data, reporting, and performance analytics
Success in This Role Looks Like
• A thriving and scalable certifications portfolio
• High-quality, industry-relevant exams and learning resources
• Seamless learner experiences across The Academy ecosystem
• Strong learner engagement and retention
• Successful launches of future certification programs
• Effective stakeholder alignment across multiple teams
• Continuous improvement driven by learner insights and performance data
If you're energized by building programs, improving learner experiences, and transforming ideas into scalable solutions, we'd love to hear from you.
Why This Role Is Different
Unlike a traditional Learning & Development Manager, the Certifications Manager serves as the product owner of the certification ecosystem, responsible for shaping the strategy, roadmap, content evolution, learner experience, and future growth of the credential portfolio. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys thinking strategically while collaborating across content, technology, marketing, operations, and community engagement to bring innovative learning products to market.
