Want to join a great non-profit organization dedicated to the science and technology of decision making? INFORMS is looking for a Certification Program Manager to join our team.  We have a 50-person staff team located in Catonsville, MD.  This is a hybrid role with 2 days in the office.

The Certification Program Manager is responsible for the day-to-day administration and operation of the INFORMS certification program, ensuring its effectiveness, and compliance with industry standards. This role involves working with and serving the needs of the volunteer-run Analytics Certification Board (ACB), managing relationships with certification vendors, overseeing the ANAB accreditation process, and a strong collaborator with the Education and Practice department and INFORMS staff.

Success in this role includes continuous growth in the number of individuals completing INFORMS certification and maintaining overall financial health. To be successful, the individual must be a team player with strong certification and testing industry experience, exceptional organizational skills, and a passion for advancing professional standards. The individual will need to juggle diverse tasks, think quickly, and prioritize tasks using sound judgment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Program Management: 

• Work closely with the director to help develop and implement strategies to grow the certification program, aiming for increases each year.
• Work directly with the ACB chair on ACB Executive Committee and ACB committee activities, to help ensure meetings are productive and results in actionable outcomes. Create agendas, document meeting minutes, and track action items.
• Maintain accurate records, databases, and reports for the certification program. Uses available data to identify trends and make informed decisions, aiming to improve certification processes and candidate satisfaction.
• Assists director and marketing department to coordinate marketing efforts, including website, collateral material, candidate support materials, and email communications to ensure clear, consistent, and engaging messaging to increase program visibility and engagement.
• Handle candidate and certificant inquiries, appeals or disciplinary issues efficiently, aiming for a resolution rate within specified timeframes.
• Maintains the application and approval process and responds to requests for information.
• Liaise with contracted testing vendors, ensuring all agreements are current, invoices are accurate, and services meet program needs.
• Reviews certification program policies and procedures annually to determine the need for revision and updates.

• Represent INFORMS at related conferences and events, promoting the certification program and building strategic partnerships.

Oversee ANAB management:

• Ensure timely and accurate submission of annual surveillance reports and documentation.
• Act as a liaison with ANAB assessors to maintain accreditation status.
• Ensure INFORMS maximizes the value of its ANAB accreditation.

Exam Development: 

• Manage all exam development activities, including new exam creation and ongoing maintenance. Launch new exams within specified timelines and budgets.
• Plan and facilitate volunteer/SME meetings and activities, ensuring productive outcomes from job task analyses, item writing workshops, and item reviews.
• Coordinate with the psychometric partner for regular exam health checks and ANAB-required reports, maintaining high standards of exam integrity and validity.
• Recruit and maintain a diverse volunteer base, ensuring all committees and task forces have the necessary expertise and representation.
• Serve as the primary administrator of the certification item bank and publishing system, ensuring high-quality and secure exam content.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

• Exam Development: Experience in exam development, with an understanding of psychometric principles and best practices.
• Industry Standards: Knowledge of certification industry standards and regulatory requirements, specifically ANAB accreditation.
• Organizational Skills: Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• People Management: Strong people management skills, with the ability to lead, motivate, and develop volunteers and team members, regardless of whether the individual reports to you.
• Self-Motivation: Self-motivated and adaptable, comfortable working with minimal supervision and making independent decisions.
• Communication: Collaborative communicator, able to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders, using tact and diplomacy.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including SharePoint and Planner.
• Technical Knowledge: Knowledge of systems used in certification program administration preferred: content management, item banking, test delivery, digital badge, web editing.

Job Requirements:

• Education/Experience: Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent professional experience.
• Certification Experience – experience working with a certification management program.
• Travel: Flexibility to travel 2-3 times per year.
• Association Experience: Experience working with professional associations and volunteer management is a plus.

Physical Requirements: 

• Ability to be mobile onsite during conferences with the stamina to work long hours as required.

About INFORMS

The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) is an international scientific society dedicated to improving operational processes, decision-making, and management through the application of methods from science and mathematics. It is the largest society in the world for operations researchers, management scientists, and those working in related fields within engineering and the information, decision, mathematical, and social sciences.

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