Director, Industry Certifications (Clean Power Institute)

American Clean Power Association (ACP)•Washington, DC

9h•$130,000 - $160,000

About The Position

The Director of Industry Certifications leads the Clean Power Institute’s (CPI) certification portfolio from strategy through execution and scale. This role owns the end-to-end lifecycle of CPI’s certifications from industry engagement and program design through content development, assessment, company integration, auditing, and continuous improvement. This is a highly cross-functional role requiring strong stakeholder management, sound judgment, and the ability to translate technical workforce needs into structured, scalable certification systems. The Director works closely with industry partners, internal CPI and ACP teams (including policy, standards, communications, marketing, and education), and external vendors to ensure certifications are rigorous, trusted, and widely adopted across the clean power workforce.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in education, workforce development, business, engineering, energy, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
8+ years of progressive experience developing, managing, or scaling competency-based certification, credentialing, training, or workforce programs within energy or a related technical field.
Demonstrated experience owning complex programs end to end from concept and design through implementation, governance, and continuous improvement.
Proven ability to work effectively with senior-level industry stakeholders, employers, trade organizations, or standards bodies to drive adoption and alignment.
Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills across diverse audiences, including industry, education, nonprofit, and policy partners.
Experience translating technical workforce needs and industry requirements into structured programs, standards, or certification frameworks.
Track record of operating effectively in ambiguity and building systems, processes, or governance structures that do not yet fully exist.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts into clear, compelling, and practical guidance for varied audiences.
Strong judgment and decision-making skills, including the ability to identify risks, gaps, and opportunities and surface clear recommendations to leadership.

Nice To Haves

Strongly preferred: experience in clean energy sectors (wind, solar, storage) or adjacent industries with comparable technician, safety, or competency-based certification frameworks.
Strongly preferred: familiarity with learning management systems (LMS) or certification platforms, either through hands-on use or program oversight.
Strongly preferred: experience partnering with external vendors, assessors, or audit organizations in support of program delivery and credential integrity.

Responsibilities

Certification Strategy, Design & Program Delivery
Develop and operationalize CPI’s certification strategy, owning the end-to-end lifecycle of certifications from concept through delivery and scale.
Lead the identification and development of new certifications, as well as the ongoing evolution of existing programs (e.g., Wind Tech I, Solar Tech I, BESS Tech I), based on industry needs and organizational priorities.
Partner with industry stakeholders, technical experts, and internal teams to develop certification content, standards, and program requirements.
Own program governance, including standards alignment, certification renewals, assessor and technician requirements, and continuous improvement processes.
Identify program risks, gaps, and opportunities, surfacing clear recommendations to senior leadership to strengthen program delivery, credibility, and scalability.
Apply data-informed and needs-analysis approaches uch as workforce gap identification, employer input, and industry trends to inform certification prioritization and development alongside stakeholder engagement and strategic judgment.
Quality Assurance, Assessment & Credential Integrity
Design, implement, and oversee quality assurance and audit frameworks to ensure certification rigor, consistency, and trust.
Oversee assessor recruitment, onboarding, training, calibration, and ongoing performance oversight.
Coordinate with external audit partners and internal teams to strengthen assessment processes, compliance, and continuous improvement over time.
Ensure certification processes and outcomes align with industry standards and CPI’s commitment to credibility and excellence.
Industry Engagement & Organizational Partnership
Serve as the primary relationship lead for industry employers and technical staff responsible for adopting and integrating CPI certifications.
Build and maintain trusted relationships with industry partners, supporting integration of certifications into internal training programs, hiring practices, job leveling, and competency frameworks.
Collaborate closely with ACP and CPI teams to support certification delivery, guidance materials, and program communications.
Represent CPI in industry-facing conversations related to workforce readiness, certification standards, and program value.
Contribute actively to CPI’s organizational goals, culture, and core values.
Perform other related duties as assigned.