Director of Credentialing EducationAbout the opportunityReporting to the Vice President, Education, the Director of Credentialing Education provides strategic and operational leadership across CPA Canada's portfolio of new professional credentials, a growing suite of specialty, post-designation and sector-focused credentials that deepen the capability of CPAs and other finance professionals, and the supporting program operations.
The Director is responsible for developing and executing the credentialing strategy, leading the design, development, delivery, and continuous improvement of high-quality credential programs, including competency frameworks, curriculum, learning pathways and assessments, that support the evolving needs of CPAs and the broader profession. This includes overseeing the production and maintenance of the credential programs and materials in English and French, cultivating strategic partnerships with employers, government and industry stakeholders, as well as third-party education providers, and ensuring programs align with organizational priorities, industry trends, market demand, and learner expectations.
Working closely with the Vice President, Education the Director translates strategic priorities into operational excellence by ensuring the effective delivery of credential programs, enhancing learner experiences, and driving innovation, quality, and organizational performance. The role provides leadership across multiple functional teams within the Education Department, fosters collaboration with internal and external partners, and serves as the Vice President's delegate in governance, key partners, and operational matters as required.
With deep expertise/ strong background in adult learning, professional education, credential and program development, assessment, and strategic partnerships, the Director champions innovative, learner-centred credentialing solutions while advancing the mission and strategic objectives of CPA Canada's education strategy.
This hybrid role is national in scope and can be aligned to any of our CPA Canada offices or be fully remote within Canada, with some occasional travel as required. The targeted annual salary range for this position is $167,161 to $191,020 and is commensurate with experience. What you'll doIn this role, responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:
- Serve as a strategic partner to the Vice President, Education, providing insights, recommendations, and leadership on credentialing strategy, operational priorities, key partner engagement, and emerging credential opportunities.
- Develop and execute a strategic roadmap for CPA Canada's credentials portfolio, aligned with organizational priorities, the strategic direction, and the evolving needs of CPAs / learners, employers and other professional audiences.
- Oversee the design, development, production, delivery, and continuous improvement of new credentials from concept through launch and ongoing maintenance, including competency frameworks, curriculum, learning materials, applied cases, assessments, capstones and potentially stackable digital badges.
- Translate strategic direction established by the Vice President, Education and the Executive Leadership Team into actionable credential plans, operational priorities, and measurable outcomes.
- Develop business cases and recommendations for new credentials, informed by market and needs analysis, pricing and financial modelling, providing insights on delivery models, learning approaches, technology solutions, strategic partnerships, and operational requirements to optimize learner engagement and program effectiveness.
- Establish and maintain credential policies, standards, and processes, including admission, recognition of prior learning, progression and completion requirements, to support consistent program delivery, ensure quality, and enhance the learner experience.
- Drive innovation through the implementation of new tools, technologies, processes, and delivery models that enhance learning experiences, improve program quality, and increase operational effectiveness.
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with employers, government and industry stakeholders, advisory councils, external education providers, subject matter experts, instructors, volunteers, and other partners to support the development and delivery of high-quality credential programs.
- Lead the recruitment, development, and oversight of credential development and delivery resources, including employees, contractors, subject matter experts, and volunteers.
- Develop and manage the credentials portfolio budget, ensuring effective resource allocation, financial stewardship, and alignment with broader organizational planning processes.
- Partner with marketing and business development teams to support the launch and growth of each credential, and monitor performance indicators such as enrolment, completion, learner satisfaction and financial results.
- Provide leadership and contribute to enterprise-wide strategic initiatives, including workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, risk management, technology adoption, and performance reporting.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders across CPA Canada to enable integrated delivery of credentials, improve operational alignment, and advance shared organizational objectives.
What we're looking forThe ideal candidate will have the following qualifications and skills:
- Bachelor's degree or higher in education, business administration, accounting, finance, organizational development, or a related discipline. An advanced degree or certification in adult education, learning design, or a related field is considered an asset.
- CPA Designation would be considered a strong asset to this role.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in professional education, continuing education, credentialing, certification programs, corporate learning, or a related field, preferably within a professional association, regulated industry, or knowledge-based organization.
- Demonstrated experience leading the strategy, development, delivery, and continuous improvement of credential, certification or other complex education programs.
- 7+ years of leadership experience managing teams and leading multidisciplinary professionals, with a proven ability to develop talent, build high-performing teams, and execute strategic priorities.
- Strong experience in strategic planning, operational execution, budget management, and resource allocation, with the ability to balance organizational priorities with learner and partner needs.
- Deep understanding of adult learning principles, instructional design, assessment design, learning technologies, and emerging trends in professional education and digital learning environments.
- Experience developing and maintaining high-quality educational content, programs, and learning experiences that support professional development and competency growth.
- Strong project and portfolio management skills, with demonstrated success managing complex initiatives, multiple partners, competing priorities, and cross-functional teams.
- Exceptional relationship management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with executives, subject matter experts, external partners and volunteers.
- Experience working within a governance-driven environment, with an understanding of quality assurance, accreditation, regulatory requirements, or professional credentialing frameworks considered an asset.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data, insights, and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement and decision-making.
What it's like to work hereAt CPA Canada, we're proud to foster a welcoming and inclusive workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes health and wellness for all employees. We believe in offering a flexible and balanced work environment, where staff can thrive both professionally and personally. Our headquarters are located in downtown Toronto, with regional offices in Montreal and Vancouver. As part of the CPA Canada team, you'll enjoy competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, a robust defined contribution pension plan, and ongoing professional development opportunities. We also offer hybrid working arrangements, regular social events, and a strong employee volunteer program. At CPA Canada, we're always striving for improvement, working together to build a high-performing, innovative organization that creates value for Canadian CPAs and represents the profession, nationally and internationally.
Organization valuesWe create a collaborative and constructive culture through our values:
• Lead with Integrity • Customer First • Bold Thinking • Pursue Excellence • Continuous Growth
