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Job Title


Specialist, HR Certification & Assessment Products


Company : SHRM


Location : Alexandria, VA


Created : 2026-04-16


Job Type : Full Time


Job Description

Specialist, HR Certification & Assessment Products SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting todays evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Alexandria, VA SHRM SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together.  As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces.  With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally.  Are you interested in growing your career with us? If so, we encourage you to explore our available career opportunities and join our team at SHRM today! Don’t see your dream job? Apply here to join our talent community! To view our Statement of Accessibility, click here. keywords: summary,job description,work environment,teamwork,leadership,training,develop,data,coordinate,performance,quality assurance,write,support,experience,skills,communication,knowledge,education Salary $70,000 to $85,000 per year Overview: The Specialist, HR Certification & Assessment Products is responsible for providing HR subject matter expertise throughout the exam development process, facilitating trainings with global SHRM-certified subject matter experts (SMEs) in support of exam development and other assessment-related products to achieve the bi-annual item-development goals, and leading form assembly efforts for the SHRM-CP® exams. This position will work collaboratively with the Exam Development team, infusing generative AI (GAI) in partnership with external global SMEs to validate content and present the highest quality certification exams. This position ensures that SHRM certification exam item content accurately represents HR practice as defined by the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (SHRM BASK) and are formatted to comply with SHRM certification style guidelines, align with bias and cultural sensitivity guidelines, are technically accurate, and align with the content in the SHRM BASK intended to be tested by the exam items utilizing GAI technology. In addition, this position involves project work focused on the development and sustainability of ancillary testing products or exam-related content offered by SHRM, including those offered to support other SHRM departments’ content-related projects. This position must maintain the highest level of exam security standards, handle sensitive exam item content and other exam-related intellectual property, while maintaining strict access to sensitive information that would otherwise compromise the integrity of the SHRM certification program. Work Environment: Hybrid Position (3 Days In-Office, 2 Days Remote): * This position follows a hybrid work schedule, with Tuesday through Thursday in office and Monday and Friday remote.  Employees must be available during standard business hours, with core hours beginning between 8:00AM – 9:00AM and concluding between 5:00PM – 6:00PM. Travel: 0 – 10%. Entity of type mon.domain.model.Label with id: 4119 Entity of type mon.domain.model.Label with id: 8409 Entity of type mon.domain.model.Label with id: 63 Responsibilities: * Lead the SHRM CP® item development and publishing lifecycle to ensure consistency, quality, and timely workflow progression through collaboration with the exam development team members. * Develop high-quality SHRM CP® and SHRM SCP® exam items and/or other SHRM assessment content using GAI tools to enhance content accuracy aligned to certification industry standards, the SHRM BASK, and overall assessment reliability. * Collaborate with the Specialist, HR Certification Content to identify item development needs and coordinate the secure transfer of items that have successfully completed the item development process. * Coordinate and assign SHRM-CP form assembly reviews, compiling reviewer feedback, and finalizing all required materials in accordance with the publishing timeline agreed upon by SHRM and appropriate vendor partners. * Functions as the lead and process owner for the Certification Exam Preview app vendor management, directing the upload, configuration, and alignment of domain-specific question sets to accurately measure baseline participant proficiency and inform optimal SHRM exam level placement decisions. * Coordinate the assessment intake and upload process by collecting, verifying, and preparing assessment content. * Maintain SHRM assessment app platform through accurate item entry, metadata management, version control, and coordination with internal stakeholders. * Lead the planning, setup, execution, and budget management for the conference lounge, ensuring a seamless attendee experience and alignment with event objectives. * Collaborate with the SHRM Events team to plan and coordinate all logistics for the certification celebration, including programming, timelines, and onsite support. * Contribute test-development and/or HR content expertise on various item review projects to improve and/or enhance exam item content for increased performance and sustainability. * Gather data and/or critical incidents by working with SMEs, converting the critical incidents to scenarios using available tools including GAI to author the situational judgment items and to initiate the review processes. * Proofread, edit, and finalize SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP item content with the exam team to ensure alignment with the SHRM BASK and adherence to SHRM certification style guide standards. * Maintain and adhere to strict exam development security practices to maintain, transmit, secure, house, or otherwise handle secure test content, training materials, sensitive documentation, or any other source of SHRM Certification intellectual property restricting access to the SHRM Certification Exam team, or others outside of SHRM (vendor partners, SME participants, etc.) who are permitted access to sensitive materials. * Lead training and facilitate progress of SME workgroups assigned to complete various quality control components of exam item development including but not limited to conducting technical editorial review sessions to edit exam content. * Train SMEs to validly align content to the SHRM BASK and review exam content through SHRM’s bias and cultural sensitivity guidelines. * Conduct other quality control measures of newly developed exam items developed using all available tools including Finetune Generative AI (GAI) item development tools for exams and other SHRM departments’ content projects. * Collaborate with other team members to maintain and update the SHRM Certification Style Guide, SHRM Reference Library, and other exam development training and/or support documents. * Function as one of an internal team of resident SHRM BASK experts who work collaboratively to complete the work of the department; must be skilled at engaging members and nonmembers of SHRM on an on-going basis to complete the work of the department and other departments as assigned. * Write, co-write, or edit publications on topics related to the SHRM BASK or on SHRM certification in general including test preview product content, study guide publications, other guidelines and directions for effective candidate use of SHRM-written preparation and test-preview products to improve the customer experience of testing candidates.  * Make presentations as needed internally and externally. * Collaborate with various SHRM Teams on content & assessment development projects as assigned that use GAI. * Support SHRM website updates to the certification webpages to improve user experience and/or ensure important certification-related updates are made in a timely manner reflective of adjustments to the SHRM BASK or other critical processes/information are adjusted.  * Perform other duties as assigned. Entity of type mon.domain.model.Label with id: 473 Entity of type mon.domain.model.Label with id: 295 Entity of type mon.domain.model.Label with id: 499 Entity of type mon.domain.model.Label with id: 1003 Entity of type mon.domain.model.Label with id: 1375 Entity of type mon.domain.model.Label with id: 1328 Entity of type mon.domain.model.Label with id: 362 Entity of type mon.domain.model.Label with id: 395 Entity of type mon.domain.model.Label with id: 639 Entity of type mon.domain.model.Label with id: 464 Requirements: Education: * Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Industrial-Organizational Psychology or relevant field required. * Master’s degree in HR, Business, Industrial-Organizational Psychology or relevant field preferred. Experience: * Minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience, including exposure to HR generalist responsibilities. * Experience working with or supporting large-scale testing programs or in-test and item-development (including volunteer SME work) preferred and/or willingness to learn if other requirements are met. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:   * Ability to effectively leverage artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies to streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and improve overall work quality. * Strong project management skills, with the ability to anticipate and adapt to shifting priorities, manage competing deadlines, and flex with the natural ebbs and flows of workload. * Proven facilitation skills with the ability to assist in leading meetings, drive collaboration, and engage cross-functional teams effectively. * Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in both independent and team settings within a fast-paced environment. * Strong written and oral communication skills with attention to clarity, tone, and audience. * Self-directed and proactive, with a continuous improvement mindset and strong problem-solving abilities. * Excellent organizational skills and capacity to multitask while maintaining attention to detail and meeting tight deadlines. * Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). * Comfortable navigating ambiguity and adapting to rapidly changing priorities with professionalism and flexibility. * Working knowledge of testing, item development and/or basic psychometric principles a plus.   Certifications: * SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) credential required. * SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) a plus.   Physical Requirements: This position operates in a typical office environment and requires the ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Physical requirements may include: * Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. * Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, handling documents, and using office equipment. * Occasional standing, walking, bending, and reaching. * Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds as needed. * Clear verbal and written communication skills for effective interaction with colleagues and stakeholders. The hiring range for this position is $70,000 to $85,000 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. 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