Certification Program Manager Jobs in California

Job#: 3051127
Job Description:
Certification Program Manager
Location: San Francisco, California (Remote)
Role Overview
As Certification Program Manager, you will partner with the program leader to run and grow the certification and assessment program. You will own the operational side of the program, including vendor coordination, exam delivery, policies, key processes, and the data used to measure program effectiveness. You will also provide credentialing expertise related to exam security, policy design, and program evolution. You will work alongside a certification developer who owns exam content and a support team that handles first-line candidate support.
Key Responsibilities

• Act as the program leader's operating partner by owning delegated workstreams end-to-end, keeping the program moving between decisions, and stepping in for the leader with vendors, partners, support teams, and engineering stakeholders when needed.
• Serve as the operational point of contact for program vendors (exam delivery, proctoring, digital badging, certification preparation content), including managing regular cadences, escalations, change requests, service levels, and voucher and invoice reconciliation.
• Lead exam security and integrity initiatives with vendors, including proctoring configuration, security flag investigations, data forensics review, content exposure monitoring, and candidate integrity cases.
• Answer certification-related questions and escalations from partners and partner account managers, and develop partner-facing communications regarding program changes.
• Drive certification adoption across the partner ecosystem by tracking participation against program goals, identifying partners and regions requiring additional support, and planning campaigns, incentives, and enablement initiatives with partner management and marketing teams.
• Translate certification and assessment policies (retakes, recertification, appeals, misconduct) into operational processes and candidate-facing documentation, and manage the credential lifecycle, including renewals, verification requests, and revocations.
• Support learner success by handling candidate and partner support cases, owning escalated issues through resolution, and identifying trends that improve escalation paths and response processes.
• Own the program systems and tooling backlog by gathering improvement opportunities from support teams, vendors, partners, and program data, prioritizing enhancements, and partnering with engineering teams to implement upgrades.
• Own program analytics and reporting, including pass rates, item performance, retake trends, security metrics, dashboard management, and recurring leadership reviews.
• Leverage AI-powered tools and automation to streamline partner and candidate communications, accelerate reporting and analysis, improve operational efficiency, and reduce manual effort across the program.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience managing or serving as a key operator of a technology certification program, including hands-on ownership of exam delivery through a proctored testing vendor.
• Working knowledge of the credential development lifecycle (job task analysis, exam blueprints, item development and review, standard setting) sufficient to collaborate effectively with certification developers and vendors, as well as direct experience with exam security and candidate policies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret assessment data, including pass rates, item statistics, retake trends, and security-related metrics.
• Experience managing third-party vendors responsible for critical program functions, including scope management, escalation handling, and service-level monitoring.
• Experience working directly with partners, customers, and account teams regarding program-related questions and escalations.
• Experience managing complex, multi-workstream programs, including dependency tracking, risk management, and leadership reporting.
• Experience writing, implementing, and operationalizing certification policies, including appeals and misconduct processes.
• Hands-on experience using AI tools and automation technologies to streamline workflows, analyze data, and improve operational effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to build, document, and scale processes in evolving environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with partners, vendors, and executive stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building or scaling a certification program in a high-growth or fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with digital badging platforms and credential lifecycle management, including alternative credential types beyond traditional certifications.
• Experience supporting partner or channel programs within a technology organization, including how certifications support partner tiers, incentives, and enablement strategies.
• Experience integrating exam delivery systems, digital badging platforms, and internal applications such as identity management, CRM, or data warehouse platforms, including requirements gathering and user acceptance testing.
• Experience with support tools and ticket-based support workflows.
• Experience building program reporting in BI platforms or data warehouse environments, or partnering closely with analytics and data teams.
• Experience launching or delivering hands-on, practical, or performance-based assessments within a certification program.

Everforth Apex is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Everforth Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRateds Best of Staffing in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work in the United Kingdom and Mexico.
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