Senior Director of Certification

Job Description

American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS)

Location: Remote – United States

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Salary Range: $110,000–$120,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications

Travel: Limited

About ABPS

The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) is a nationally recognized physician certification organization dedicated to advancing physician excellence through innovative, high-quality certification programs that improve patient care.

ABPS partners with physician leaders across multiple specialties to develop and administer rigorous certification and continuing certification programs. We are seeking an experienced certification leader to help guide the next phase of our certification, assessment, and continuing certification initiatives.

The Opportunity

ABPS is seeking a Senior Director of Certification to provide leadership and strategic direction for the organization's Certification Department.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this position oversees both Certification Operations and Test Development, including physician credentialing, examination administration, psychometric services, certification policy, continuing certification, and relationships with physician leaders and external vendors.

The Senior Director will also play a significant role in the continued development and expansion of ABPS's Continuing Certification and Portfolio Certification programs and in identifying opportunities to improve certification processes through technology, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and automation.

This position regularly works with ABPS executive leadership, the Board of Directors, Certification Council, Specialty Boards of Certification, physician subject matter experts, psychometric consultants, and testing vendors.

Key Responsibilities

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• Provide leadership and strategic direction for Certification Operations and Test Development.
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• Lead and supervise Certification Operations and Test Development staff.
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• Oversee physician credentialing, certification administration, examination administration, and continuing certification.
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• Lead the continued development and expansion of ABPS Continuing Certification and Portfolio Certification programs.
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• Provide oversight of examination development and psychometric services.
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• Work with psychometric consultants on examination blueprints, standard setting, item analysis, validity, reliability, technical reporting, and continuous quality improvement.
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• Oversee item banking, examination security, score reporting, and testing vendor relationships.
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• Ensure certification and examination programs meet recognized standards for quality, fairness, reliability, validity, and defensibility.
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• Represent the Certification Department before the ABPS Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Certification Council, and Specialty Boards of Certification.
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• Present certification reports, psychometric findings, strategic initiatives, and policy recommendations to physician leadership and governance bodies.
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• Build strong working relationships with physician volunteers, subject matter experts, consultants, vendors, and staff.
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• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and the candidate and Diplomate experience through technology, artificial intelligence, automation, process improvement, and data analytics.
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Qualifications

Education

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• Bachelor's degree required.
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• Advanced degree preferred in healthcare administration, business administration, public health, education, educational measurement, psychometrics, industrial-organizational psychology, or a related field.
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Experience

The ideal candidate will bring:

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• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in physician certification, high-stakes testing, educational assessment, psychometrics, credentialing, professional certification, or a closely related field.
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• Leadership experience involving Certification Operations and/or Test Development within a physician certification organization or comparable high-stakes certification environment.
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• Experience developing, implementing, or administering continuing certification, maintenance of certification, longitudinal assessment, portfolio-based assessment, or similar professional competency programs.
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• Experience working with psychometric consultants and high-stakes examinations.
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• Experience with examination blueprint development, standard setting, item analysis, validity, reliability, and technical reporting.
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• Experience supervising professional staff and managing multiple complex projects or programs.
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• Experience presenting to boards of directors, physician governance bodies, committees, or executive leadership.
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• Experience working with physician volunteers, subject matter experts, testing vendors, and consultants.
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Knowledge & Skills

Successful candidates should demonstrate:

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• Strong knowledge of physician certification or professional certification.
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• Understanding of high-stakes testing and psychometric principles.
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• Knowledge of examination development, item banking, examination security, standard setting, and score reporting.
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• Familiarity with continuing certification, longitudinal assessment, and portfolio-based approaches to professional competency.
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• Strong executive communication and presentation skills.
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• Excellent organizational, analytical, and project management abilities.
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• Ability to build consensus and maintain productive relationships with physician leaders and volunteer boards.
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• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.
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• Interest in using technology, artificial intelligence, analytics, and automation to improve certification programs and operations.
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Work Environment & Travel

This is a full-time remote position within the United States .

The position requires participation in regular virtual governance and leadership meetings, including some evening meetings and occasional weekend meetings supporting examination development and organizational activities.

Limited travel includes:

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• Annual ABPS Summer Leadership Meeting in Tampa, Florida.
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• Approximately two in-person examination development workshops annually.
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• Occasional conferences, vendor meetings, or other organizational events.
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Why Join ABPS?

This is an opportunity to take a senior leadership role in a national physician certification organization at an important point in its evolution.

The Senior Director of Certification will have the opportunity to:

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• Help shape the future of ABPS certification and continuing certification.
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• Lead both Certification Operations and Test Development.
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• Work directly with nationally respected physician leaders.
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• Help modernize certification processes and programs.
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• Contribute to the development of innovative portfolio-based and continuing certification pathways.
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• Influence the use of technology, data, and artificial intelligence within physician certification.
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• Work remotely while maintaining a meaningful leadership role within the organization.
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How to Apply

Qualified candidates should submit a resume and cover letter outlining their relevant experience and interest in the position to View email address on ziprecruiter.com . Please include “Senior Director of Certification” in the subject line.

Salary Range: $110,000–$120,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.