26-31 Regulatory Exam Writer

The-Association-of-Professional-Engineers-and-Geoscientists-of-Albert; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta seeks a Regulatory Exam Writer to develop, review, validate, and maintain NPPE content for professional registration in Canada. You will collaborate with PPESG, subject matter experts, and regulators to create defensible questions and ensure alignment with exam standards.

The role requires extensive experience in technical writing, exam development, and cross-functional collaboration, with a focus on accuracy, ethics, and

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree in communications, public relations, or journalism.
• 5-8 years of related experience with demonstrated knowledge of communication best practices and ethics and some experience in technical writing, business writing, and internal communication.
• 5+ years of experience facilitating exam programs on a national scale for professional-level jobs
• Proven track record of successful project management and cross-functional collaboration
• Experience working with senior leadership and managing stakeholder relationships
• Equivalencies may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Develop, review, validate, and maintain high-quality examination content for professional registration or licensure of Engineers and Geoscientists in Canada.
• Conduct research and analysis in developing new questions for the NPPE.
• Conduct item analysis and make recommendations for revisions based on examination performance data.
• Incorporate revisions to address identified wording, structure, and alignment issues, ensuring the questions meet National Professional Practice Exam writing standards.
• Provide revised draft prepared for PPESG review.
• Integrate PPESG feedback from peer review, apply final wording and formatting standards, and approve item for field testing.
• Work with APEGA staff to identify exam needs, item trends and performance.
• Protect NPPE questions integrity by ensuring questions are handled only within secure, approved workflows.
• Create examination content that aligns with competency models, body-of-knowledge frameworks, and professional practice requirements
• Review examination items for technical clarity, accuracy, and relevance
• Research emerging trends and best practices in professional assessment and examination development
• Assists the PPESG with the review and assessment of new questions developed for consideration for experimental testing questions to ensure that they are appropriate for their jurisdiction, the profession, the NPPE Blueprint and for comprehension
• Ensures questions meet formatting, fairness, and participate in blueprint standards
• Keep questions organized and move through the review workflow, ensuring items are moved into the appropriate bin/folder at the appropriate stage
• Work with subject matter experts, committees, and external consultants to develop content
• Targeted follow up where needed to manage PPESG team members capacity and momentum
• Manage the PPESG volunteer group (recruiting, training, onboarding, item generation)
• Provides critical feedback directly in the question comments
• Project work (health of banks)
• Assist with PPEC workflow and reporting (Provides stats to support monthly reporting)

Skills

Attention to Detail

Writing Skills

Project Management

Cross-functional Collaboration

Technical Writing

Education

Post-secondary degree in communications

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Job Title: Regulatory Exam Writer

Reports To: Examinations Manager

Location: Edmonton

Employment Indicator: Full-time, permanent

Department: Registration

Division: Regulatory

Competition: 26-31

Position Summary

Reporting to the Examinations Manager, the incumbent is responsible for development, review, validation, and maintenance of high-quality examination content for professional registration or licensure of Engineers and Geoscientists in Canada. This involves working with the Professional Practice Exam Screening Committee (PPESG) in developing appropriate questions for a current, defensible, and relevant National Professional Practice Examination (NPPE) for assessing the professional, ethical, regulatory, and legal responsibilities of a practicing licensed professional for working with Canadian regulators, psychometricians, the role supports the regulator’s public protection mandate by developing appropriate assessment tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop, review, validate, and maintain high-quality examination content for professional registration or licensure of Engineers and Geoscientists in Canada
• Conduct research and analysis in developing new questions for the NPPE.
• Conduct item analysis and make recommendations for revisions based on examination performance data
• Incorporate revisions to address identified wording, structure, and alignment issues, ensuring the questions meet National Professional Practice Exam writing standards
• Provides revised draft prepared for PPESG review
• Integrate PPESG feedback from peer review, apply final wording and formatting standards, and approve item for field testing
• Work with APEGA staff to identify exam needs, item trends and performance
• Protect NPPE questions integrity by ensuring questions are handled only within secure, approved workflows
• Create examination content that aligns with competency models, body-of-knowledge frameworks, and professional practice requirements
• Review examination items for technical clarity, accuracy, and relevance
• Research emerging trends and best practices in professional assessment and examination development
• Assists the PPESG with the review and assessment of new questions developed for consideration for experimental testing questions to ensure that they are appropriate for their jurisdiction, the profession, the NPPE Blueprint and for comprehension
• Ensures questions meet formatting, fairness, and participate in blueprint standards
• Keep questions organized and move through the review workflow, ensuring items are moved into the appropriate bin/folder at the appropriate stage
• Work with subject matter experts, committees, and external consultants to develop content
• Targeted follow up where needed to manage PPESG team members capacity and momentum
• Manage the PPESG volunteer group (recruiting, training, onboarding, item generation)
• Provides critical feedback directly in the question comments
• Project work (health of banks)
• Assist with PPEC workflow and reporting (Provides stats to support monthly reporting)

Competencies, Skills & Attributes

Competencies

Core:

• Exemplifying Integrity
• Fostering Communication
• Results Orientation
• Service Excellence
• Teamwork

Functional:

• Attention to Detail
• Creativity and Innovation
• Integrated Marketing Communications
• Media and Public Relations
• Writing Skills

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of communication best practices and ethics.
• Proficiency in technical writing, business writing, and internal communication.
• Knowledge of competency-based assessment methodologies
• Understanding of psychometric concepts such as validity, reliability, and item analysis
• Knowledge of how to engage subject matter experts in developing, reviewing, validating, and refining examination content aligned with exam standards and professional practice expectations
• Capable of substantive and copy editing, as well as proofreading.
• Working application of Canadian Press and Chicago style guides.
• Training in CLEAR (Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation)
• Training in Measure Learning Assessment development, including knowledge of assessment design principles, item-writing best practices, blueprint alignment, question review and validation processes, and how exam items progress through development, field testing, analysis, and final approval.
• Participation in Item Writing Workshops, including knowledge of how to develop clear, defensible, blueprint-aligned exam questions and apply best practices for item structure, wording, fairness, and review.
• Participant of Canadian Network of Agencies for Regulation (CNAR)
• Ability to interpret and edit technical and jargon-heavy questions to fit the audience.
• Able to collaborate with internal departments and subject matter experts when developing various internal and external communication materials.
• Familiarity with modern website content management systems.
• Excellent organization and time-management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Able to function with a high degree of independence and to collaborate effectively across departments
• Exceptional written communication and technical writing skills
• Able to exercise sound judgement, impartiality, and attention to detail
• Build collaborative relationships with diverse subject matter experts and committees

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree in communications, public relations, or journalism.
• 5-8 years of related experience with demonstrated knowledge of communication best practices and ethics and some experience in technical writing, business writing, and internal communication.
• 5+ years of experience facilitating exam programs on a national scale for professional-level jobs
• Proven track record of successful project management and cross-functional collaboration
• Experience working with senior leadership and managing stakeholder relationships
• Experience in navigating pressure points in the workflow by remaining organized, solutions-focused, and respectful in all communications
• Able to balance accuracy, confidentiality, urgency, and relationship management when coordinating exam-content development and review
• Experience working with volunteer committees, subject matter experts, or advisory groups where influence, follow-up, and relationship-building are required without direct authority
• Equivalencies may be considered.