Senior Specialist, Certification Research

Summary  The Senior Specialist, Certification Research executes critical certification-specific research initiatives that support SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exam validation, industry studies, and accreditation compliance. This role plays a pivotal part in cross-organizational research efforts, including practice analysis, post-exam surveys, and the HR Careers Study, ensuring the certification program remains rigorous, data-driven, and aligned with industry standards. The Senior Specialist also plays a key role in cross-functional collaboration, ensuring seamless communication with external vendors, accreditation bodies, and internal SHRM stakeholders, including business intelligence and certification teams. This position requires strong project management skills, research expertise, and the ability to integrate complex data across teams to support the continuous advancement of SHRM’s certification programs and related initiatives. Responsibilities: Responsible for all certification research and validation efforts for the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP examinations including practice analyses, validation studies, and industry research. Oversee both interim and full practice analysis projects, managing the end-to-end research process (e.g., conducting focus groups, survey programming, data collection, analysis, and technical report development). Assess and refine exam content using psychometric and AI-driven methodologies, ensuring compliance with statistical thresholds for SHRM certification exams. Conduct item analysis using classical test theory (CTT) and item response theory (IRT) methodologies to enhance the quality, validity, and fairness of SHRM’s item banks. Translate technical findings into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders. Analyze certification exam data and research-related metadata using statistical software (e.g., Excel, SPSS, R) to ensure data integrity and inform key program decisions including data cleaning, score reporting, post-exam survey analysis, and certification outcomes reviews to enhance program effectiveness. Manage multiple large datasets related to certification research, accreditation compliance, and industry benchmarking. Lead data-driven evaluations of practice analyses, HR Careers Study, post-exam surveys, standard setting research, and certification program effectiveness. Serve as the primary lead in preparing annual accreditation application data sets and compliance reports. Oversee and contribute to cross-organizational research initiatives by collaborating with SHRM leadership on certification-specific research and strategic program development. Align certification research with industry best practices, accreditation standards, and SHRM’s strategic priorities. Develop and publish technical reports documenting certification research findings, validation studies, and psychometric analyses. Ensure consistency in research documentation and continuity with previous validation reports. Act as the primary liaison for subject matter experts (SMEs) participating in certification research initiatives, including practice analyses, competency studies, and longitudinal industry research (e.g., HR Careers Study) for SHRM certification examinations. Support the development and maintenance of certification-related products and resources for HR professionals, leveraging certification research insights. Evaluate SHRM Boost platform psychometric data to assess the feasibility of preview items for inclusion in SHRM Learning System content and other SHRM educational products. Collaborate with SHRM Marketing and Communications teams to translate research insights into compelling content for certification marketing campaigns, promotional materials, and stakeholder communications to ensure the accurate representation of data-driven results and certification program benefits. Other duties as assigned, to include participation in external research initiatives, strategic efforts to enhance certification programs, accreditation reviews, and benchmarking studies. Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree in Business Psychology, Behavioral Science, Data Science or related field and a minimum of 5 years of directly related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology, Research, or related field preferred. Experience in a high-stakes global testing program/environment is required.   Certifications SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP desired but not required.   Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Demonstrated experience in certification or licensure programs, with a strong understanding of testing program operations, exam validation, and accreditation requirements. Extensive knowledge of   s and exam validation methodologies, including item analysis, p-values, point-biserial correlations (PBIS), differential item functioning (DIF), and reliability/validity measures. Proficiency in Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT) and their applications in certification programs. Strong data analysis and statistical skills, with proficiency in Excel, SPSS, R, or other statistical software to conduct data cleaning, synthesis, and interpretation of large datasets related to certification and exam research. Ability to review, synthesize and interpret complex data from multiple large datasets, consolidating, analyzing, and communicating effective insights to both technical and non-technical audiences (e.g., leadership, practitioners, and certification vendors).  Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to develop technical reports, research publications, and stakeholder presentations. Strong presentation and facilitation skills, with experience presenting certification research findings, psychometric data, and exam performance insights to both academic and practitioner audiences. Additional Notes Physical Requirements Must be able to perform essential duties satisfactorily with reasonable accommodations. Work is generally done sitting, talking, hearing and typing. Visual acuity to use a keyboard, prepare and analyze data and figures; transcribing, viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.   Work environment Work is regularly performed in a combination of professional office and home office conference settings and routinely uses standard office equipment. Role is based out of our HQ office in Alexandria, VA #LI- Hybrid    The hiring range for this position is $88,000 to $112,000 per year. This range is an estimate and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications. SHRM offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package. The benefits for this position include professional growth and development, health, dental, vision, well-being, health savings, flexible spending, retirement, open leave, and annual discretionary bonus and incentives.

Salary : $88,000 - $112,000