Manager I, Programs: Assessment Development and Maintenance

Ncarb; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Paid parental leave

401k

Tuition assistance

Professional development

Job summary

NCARB is seeking a Manager I, Programs: Assessment Development and Maintenance in the Washington, DC metro area. The role supports the AVP of Programs: Assessments and leads content development, SOP execution, and project tracking within the department.

Responsibilities include coordinating with volunteers and committees, reporting progress, and ensuring training and documentation are up to date. A Bachelor’s degree or substantial related experience is required, with travel up to 30% possible.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or substantial related experience, training and education may substitute.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Experience applying Agile principles to project and program management is preferred.
• Proven ability to coordinate and manage multiple projects and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate cooperation and teamwork across the Council and department teams.
• Provide prompt, courteous, expert customer service to stakeholders.
• Lead or participate in departmental strategic initiatives and planning.
• Manage program content development and maintenance activities, including SOPs and reporting.

Skills

Communication skills

Agile experience

Project management

Data interpretation

Independent work

Travel availability

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or substantial related experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe PDF

Job description

Manager I, Programs: Assessment Development and Maintenance

Department: Programs

Reports To: Assistant Vice President, Programs: Assessments

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Range: Min- $90,101.7, Mid- $112,713.06

Salary is dependent upon experience

Work Location: Washington, DC Metro Area - HYBRID (2 days in-office)

About NCARB

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is a nonprofit organization made up of the architectural licensing boards of 55 U.S. states and territories. NCARB, in collaboration with licensing boards, facilitates the licensure and credentialing of architects to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Learn more about NCARB and how we achieve our mission by clicking here.

About the Position

The Manager I, Programs: Assessment Development and Maintenance supports the Assistant Vice President’s leadership in developing and maintaining fair and valid standardized assessments. This position works collaboratively within the department and across the Council to support team members in achieving shared goals and objectives.

The Manager I is responsible for managing and executing assigned content development and maintenance activities required for the continuous delivery of assessments. In collaboration with their supervisor, this position develops and leads assessment-related workplans; coordinates and executes standard operating procedures (SOPs) and assessment-related projects; and tracks and reports progress and outcomes towards achieving assessment objectives and goals.

To ensure proper service to all program stakeholders, the Manager I develops and participates in internal and external stakeholder training; maintains program documentation; and engages in escalated candidate customer service and Member Board support as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Open

• Facilitate cooperation and teamwork throughout the organization. Example: Willingness to collaborate across the Council, as well as with department team members.

Responsive

• Provides prompt, courteous, expert, respectful, and responsive customer service to internal and external stakeholders. Example: Consistent and timely communication with colleagues and NCARB customers.

Restless

• Embrace change and continuously evaluate/improve programs, processes, and policies. Example: Open to the innovation and exploration of new processes and ideas that better serve the Council.

Core Responsibilities – Department Specific

Strategic

• Contribute to the development of annual and long-range departmental plans, including scope of work for assessment development and maintenance.


• Contribute to the development and management of budgets and resource plans for assigned projects and initiatives.


• Lead or participate in assigned departmental strategic initiatives, and participate in assigned Council-wide strategic initiatives.


• Engage with volunteers, vendors, consultants, and other experts to gather insights, share best practices, and inform planning and decision-making.


• Contribute to the review and development of assessment-related policies, procedures, systems, and operational practices.

Program Management

• Keep supervisor informed of program and project status, progress, risk, and significant issues. Develop and present to supervisor proposed solutions to mitigate risks and issues.


• Maintain the security of confidential assessment, candidate, and vendor information.


• Serve as a staff liaison to assigned volunteer committees:
  
  
  
  • Develop and manage annual committee workplans, including requirements and success criteria to support program goals and objectives. Collaborate with other staff, vendors, and consultants as needed.
  
  
  • Utilize reports, dashboards, and performance metrics to monitor and report committee progress. Notify supervisor when progress does not align with expectations.
  
  
  • Manage communications with committee volunteers and others supporting the committee. Provide timely and respectful communications of homework assignments, meeting agendas, and other information.
  
  
  • Oversee completion of committee charges.
  
  
  • Determine committee training needs, collaborate with other staff to develop training as required, and ensure committee volunteers have received all necessary training.
  
  
  • Evaluate effectiveness of committee training and identify deficiencies.
  
  
  • Determine content development and review needs and impediments in collaboration with Test Development Coordinators. Determine committee volunteer homework assignments and meeting activities to achieve content development and review goals.
  
  
  • Monitor volunteer homework progress and completion, and address underperformance as needed.
  
  
  • Ensure initial submission and post-meeting reporting of continuing education credits.
  
  
  • Coordinate meeting logistics with NCARB meeting planners.
  
  
  • Prepare meeting minutes.
  
  
  • Compile volunteer feedback and identify opportunities for improvement based on feedback.
  
  
  • Complete annual volunteer evaluations, and facilitate evaluations by others, including Test Development Coordinators and volunteer workgroup coordinators. Participate in volunteer recommendations for future committee efforts.
  
  
  
  


• Review newly developed assessment content for conformance with assessment standards, and review for conformance with test content outline as needed. Identify common deficiencies and/or needed improvements.


• Manage assessment development and maintenance activities as assigned, which may include:
  
  
  
  • managing and organizing the item banks, including user access permissions;
  
  
  • maintaining and updating a list of critical resources used by item writers;
  
  
  • and managing the statistical review process and tracking necessary changes to items or item statuses.
  
  
  
  


• Manage the assembly and publication of test forms as assigned and in collaboration with psychometric consultants, including:
  
  
  
  • managing schedule of deliverables to meet consultant and organizational timelines and priorities;
  
  
  • implementing form and publication settings within the test delivery driver;
  
  
  • performing quality control of all form and publication settings prior to launch;
  
  
  • monitoring initial launch of new forms for potential errors;
  
  
  • and coordinating with consultants on assessment copyright requirements and submissions.
  
  
  
  


• Conduct testing of potential changes to assessment development and maintenance software and provide feedback as needed.


• Contribute to the development, maintenance, and ongoing review of assessment-related resources, documentation, and SOPs, and identify opportunities for improvements.


• Maintain a proficient level of understanding of assessment programs, rules, requirements, service standards, software, and technology. Maintain a basic level of understanding of other NCARB programs, products, services, policies, and requirements.


• Support team and departmental priorities by providing assistance across programs and functional areas as needed, including facilitation of volunteer workgroups.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communications

• Serve as a subject matter expert on NCARB programs and deliver internal and external training, outreach, and stakeholder engagement activities.


• Contribute to the development of training, outreach materials, stakeholder resources, and program communications that translate complex information and support diverse audiences.


• Partner with other departments to provide program messaging and support customers, Member Boards, volunteers, and other stakeholders.


• Review and recommend responses to escalated customer and Member Board concerns in a professional and timely manner.

Vendor & Contract Management

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with vendors and consultants.


• Collaborate with vendors as needed to support assessment goals and objectives.


• Monitor vendor compliance with contractual requirements, service standards, and program expectations; identify deficiencies.

Assessment Research

• Review psychometric performance reports of NCARB assessments and identify trends or anomalies.


• Evaluate emerging technology, trends, risks, and opportunities in the assessment industry to identify opportunities for program improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree: or a combination of substantial related experience, training, and education may substitute.


• Architect candidates preferred; must be licensed in at least one NCARB jurisdiction and meet all NCARB certification requirements.


• Three or more years of relevant experience in program management, systems integration, and/or architectural practice or related field with project management oversight.


• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to provide high-quality customer service, deliver presentations, and adapt messaging for diverse audiences.


• Demonstrated proficiency with technology and a broad range of software applications, including Microsoft Office and Adobe PDF applications.


• Ability to quickly learn, adapt to, and effectively apply new technologies, systems, processes, policies, and practices.


• Proven ability to coordinate and manage multiple projects, processes, and competing priorities while maintaining schedules, accuracy, and attention to detail.


• Understanding of basic statistical concepts and the ability to analyze and interpret quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends and inform decision-making.


• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and take ownership of assigned responsibilities and outcomes.


• Experience applying Agile principles and practices to project and program management preferred.


• Ability to travel domestically up to 30% of the year, including weekends and occasional work outside standard business hours

Benefits

NCARB's employees enjoy a comprehensive set of benefits that include strong support for health and wellness, some nice perks, and professional development.

Some highlights include:

• Competitive pay


• Medical, vision, and dental Benefits


• Paid parental leave


• Life and disability insurance


• 401k


• Tuition assistance


• All-staff outings and retreats


• Full access to LinkedIn Learning, supporting self-directed/curated professional development