CERTIFICATION ANALYST JOB DESCRIPTION

A Certification Analyst reviews, evaluates, and certifies that applicants, products, or systems meet defined standards. The role sits within compliance, quality, or regulatory functions depending on the industry. Standards vary widely, from MWBE eligibility and ISO 17065 accreditation to CMS Medicaid module requirements. Outcomes depend directly on the accuracy and thoroughness of this analyst's assessments.

As the Certification Analyst, you own the end-to-end evaluation of certification applications, products, or systems against defined regulatory and industry standards, ensuring that eligibility decisions are accurate, documented, and defensible. You work across internal teams, third-party bodies, and applicants or clients, sitting within a compliance, quality assurance, or regulatory function that depends on your conclusions to move forward.

Career Impact: Hands-on ownership of certification decisions across frameworks such as ISO 17065, MWBE compliance, or CMS Medicaid standards builds a credential set that is valued across government, food, fintech, and technology sectors.

Business Impact: Auditors, product teams, and government agencies depend on the Certification Analyst's conclusions to approve products, issue certifications, and maintain regulatory standing.

Growth Opportunity: Experience spanning compliance gap analysis, third-party audit support, and applicant eligibility review positions analysts to advance into senior compliance, regulatory affairs, or quality management roles.

• Review certification applications and supporting documentation to determine completeness and eligibility.
• Evaluate products, systems, or applicants against applicable certification standards and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare written gap reports, checklists, and final eligibility conclusions for internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate with third-party certification bodies, testing laboratories, and certifying authorities to resolve open items.
• Conduct interviews, site visits, or audits to verify operational and managerial compliance.
• Monitor renewal timelines and coordinate documentation updates to maintain active certifications.
• Partner with cross-functional teams including quality, regulatory, legal, and operations to support new certification projects.
• Respond to certification-related inquiries from applicants, clients, and internal stakeholders in a timely manner.

• Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, food science, computer science, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Two or more years of experience in certification, compliance, quality assurance, or regulatory review, with direct responsibility for eligibility or gap assessments.
• Knowledge of certification frameworks or compliance regimes relevant to the industry, such as ISO standards, government MWBE programs, or federal healthcare certification requirements.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with high attention to detail in evaluating documentation and evidence.
• Ability to manage multiple certification projects simultaneously and meet competing deadlines without loss of accuracy.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare formal reports and interact with auditors, applicants, and regulatory bodies.
• Proficiency in standard office productivity tools for document management, reporting, and project tracking.

• Experience working directly with third-party certification or accreditation bodies under frameworks such as ISO 17065, FSC, or SA8000.
• Familiarity with industry-specific compliance environments such as food safety quality systems, cryptographic security standards, or Medicaid enterprise system requirements.
• Multilingual ability, particularly Spanish or another language relevant to assigned markets or customer base.
• Prior experience supporting external audits, site visits, or panel presentations on behalf of an organization.

• Certification cycle time, measuring days from application receipt to final eligibility decision.
• Documentation accuracy rate, reflecting the share of submissions requiring no rework after internal review.
• Audit finding rate, tracking the number of non-conformances identified per audit cycle managed.
• Renewal on-time rate, measuring the percentage of certifications renewed before expiration across the managed portfolio.
• Stakeholder response time, reflecting average days to resolve open certification queries from applicants or clients.
• Typical tools: Document management platforms (commonly SharePoint or equivalent); productivity suites (commonly Excel and Outlook).

• Base Salary Range: $52,000 to $78,000 annually depending on industry and seniority.
• Bonus: Annual performance bonus of 5 to 10 percent of base salary.
• Equity: Not typical at this level; offered selectively at senior grades.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage standard.
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually plus federal or state holidays.
• Common Perks: Professional development reimbursement, certification exam sponsorship, hybrid work options.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants and employees with disabilities throughout the hiring process and employment, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Employment is contingent on successful completion of a background check. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Certification Analyst owns the end-to-end review of certification applications, from completeness checks and applicant interviews to final eligibility reports for MWBE status. Working within a government agency, the analyst collaborates with applicants and business seminar panels to support equitable access to minority and women's business certification.

Key Responsibilities

• Review certification applications for completeness.
• Prepare written requests for clarifications to applicants based on review and analysis of applications and supporting documentation.
• Contact applicants to request additional documentation in cases of incompleteness or necessity for up-to-date information on business activities.
• Conduct virtual and in-person state-wide interviews of applicants and site visits as necessary.
• Ascertain application eligibility for certification.
• Prepare checklists and final reports focusing on issues of ownership, operational control, and managerial control.
• Develop conclusions relative to applicant eligibility for MWBE status.
• Represent the agency by participating on panels for various business seminars.

Required Qualifications

• Experience in contract compliance, affirmative action, or minority and women's business enterprises for six years.
• Experience in planning, developing, implementing, and reviewing minority business enterprise or affirmative action programs, or labor relations directly relating to affirmative action.
• Associate degree in business, computer science, marketing, math, finance, accounting, economics, public administration, public policy, or a related field, substituting for two years of experience.
• Bachelor's degree in business, computer science, marketing, math, finance, accounting, economics, public administration, public policy, or a related field, substituting for four years of experience.
• J.D. or master's degree in business, computer science, marketing, math, business administration, economics, public administration, or public policy, substituting for one additional year of experience.
• Two years of experience as an Assistant Minority Business Specialist or Minority Business Specialist I substituting for six years of experience.

Embedded within the Quality Assurance Technical Shared Services team, the Certification Analyst delivers multi-standard certification management across EMEA and NA regions, covering programs from Kosher and HALAL to Organic and Non-GMO. Working closely with Commercialization, Graphics, Site Quality, and Regulatory Teams, this analyst enables compliant product launches and renewal of certifications that protect brand integrity across global markets.

Core Functions

• Manage overall certification programs across EMEA and NA regions including Kosher, HALAL, Organic, Non-GMO, Gluten Free, and Paleo.
• Coordinate new finished goods and semi-finished product certifications and renewal of certifications for existing items.
• Approve artwork in compliance with product certifications.
• Support manufacturing sites during third-party audits including Rabbi, Imam, Organic, and Gluten Free audits.
• Assess compliance of finished and semi-finished products with requested certification types.
• Cooperate closely with Commercialization, Graphics, Site Quality, and Regulatory Teams during new product development and certification-related projects.
• Coordinate certification renewal payments and new certification payments.
• Provide data to category specialists to enable regular reporting of key KPIs.
• Support any other certification projects as required.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience in Food Industry or a similar area for at least one year.
• Knowledge of Food Safety Quality Systems.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, SAP, Outlook, and Lotus Notes.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and multitasking skills with high attention to detail.
• Effective time management and ability to prioritize with a high sense of urgency.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with ability to work across business functions.
• Critical thinking, problem-solving, and statistical skills.
• Fluent English, with additional languages considered an advantage.

Reporting to the certification team, the Certification Analyst shapes compliance outcomes by examining IT products against security certification standards and authoring evaluation documentation for submission to testing labs and certifying authorities. Partnering with security product vendors and testing facility personnel, this analyst enables organizations to close compliance gaps and achieve formal security certification for their products.

Primary Duties

• Examine IT products against security certification standards to determine and document compliance gap reports.
• Analyze source code, design, architecture, schematics, and implementation details of IT products.
• Produce technical documentation specific to security certifications.
• Perform deep-dive analysis of cryptographic implementations to understand all aspects of a product's cryptographic operations.
• Author evaluation documentation for submission to testing labs and certifying authorities.
• Communicate with security product vendors, testing facilities personnel, and certifying authorities to address compliance gaps, testing queries, and documentation comments.

Skills and QualificationsJUSST GR

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, cyber security, computer engineering, or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of cryptographic methods including encryption and decryption, digital signatures and PKI, hashing, random number generation, and key transport and agreement methods.
• Knowledge of secure communications protocols including TLS, SSH, and IPsec.
• Strong analytical and technical skills with great attention to detail in assessing IT products and components.
• Strong technical writing skills for producing evaluation and compliance documentation.
• Strong oral presentation skills with ability to articulate requirements in technical and non-technical terms.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills.

Sitting at the intersection of healthcare compliance and technology, the Certification Analyst leads analysis of CMS certification requirements for Medicaid Enterprise Systems and gathers documentation to support certification reviews. Operating across business, technology, security, and client teams at Conduent, this analyst enables successful module certification under CMS Streamlined Modular Certification standards.

Duties

• Analyze CMS certification requirements for Medicaid Enterprise Systems.
• Analyze certification data and reporting results to ensure all requirements are met.
• Assist with certification planning, preparation activities, and deliverables.
• Gather necessary documentation to support certification reviews.
• Assist with preparations for certification reviews and related activities.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including SharePoint, PowerPoint, Project, and Visio.
• Strong multi-tasking skills with ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Confident and clear written and verbal communication.
• Self-starter requiring little instruction with high degree of initiative.

A key member of the Graduations Department, the Certification Analyst leads degree audits, graduation application processing, and commencement coordination for a university registrar's office. Collaborating across advisors, faculty, regional deans, and third-party vendors, this analyst enables accurate and timely degree certification for students from application through diploma delivery.

Functions

• Analyze and assess all aspects of graduation services required for processing student graduation applications.
• Conduct degree audits, account audits, and certify completion of degree and certificate requirements.
• Download Academic Advisement Reports from ERP software and provide expert assistance to student advisors and University staff.
• Evaluate academic records for compliance with University academic policies.
• Notify students of eligibility to graduate including notification of deficiencies.
• Manage printing and mailing of diplomas on a monthly basis.
• Interpret and verify degree requirements and respond to inquiries from students and staff.
• Conduct re-evaluations for students who have changed degree objectives or earned additional credits through non-traditional methods.
• Verify degree completion for graduates through the National Student Clearinghouse.
• Assist with coordination of annual commencement ceremony including management of the ticket database.
• Maintain department budget and order supplies including diploma paper, covers, and mailing materials.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• Three to five years of experience as a Records Evaluator or in a similar academic setting.
• Two years of experience in customer service, record keeping, critical thinking, and independent decision-making.
• Experience in higher education institutions preferred.
• Knowledge of California Commission on Teaching Credentialing and Credential Counselors and Analysts of California requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems and degree auditing report systems.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills with ability to serve a diverse community.
• Strong multitasking, organizational, and analytical skills with great attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment with frequently changing priorities.

Successful certification of closed loop gift card and digital eCommerce programs depends on the Certification Analyst, who leads all testing, validation, and certification efforts for clients, vendors, and internal systems processing Gift, Prepaid, and Digital transactions. Based within a technical quality assurance function and serving as a project advisor, this analyst enables revenue realization by reducing implementation timelines across multiple concurrent client projects.

Accountabilities

• Lead all testing and certification efforts for clients, vendors, and internal systems performing Gift, Prepaid, and Digital transactions.
• Support requirements analysis including product functionality, existing configuration settings, and integration best practices.
• Coordinate testing, validation, and certification strategies for all integration points and product functionality.
• Provide advanced troubleshooting and analysis for Prepaid OLTP message formats and API calls.
• Manage tasks across multiple client projects from inception to closure following established test plans and practices.
• Define Prepaid processing requirements and validation and certification plans for all integration points.
• Facilitate technical communications including stakeholder and client expectations and project team coordination.

Background and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or three to five years of equivalent experience as a Quality Assurance, Testing, or Certification Analyst.
• Working knowledge of SQL and Linux.
• Knowledge of RESTful API web services and eCommerce platforms.
• Knowledge of closed loop Prepaid and Digital eCommerce products and functionality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools including Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills with attention to detail.
• Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills with ability to manage stakeholder expectations.
• Ability to handle multiple projects and adapt quickly to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

As the Certification Analyst, this role coordinates and administers Fairtrade certification for companies across assigned countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, conducting audits and evaluating compliance against multiple Fairtrade Standards. The FLOCERT certification team relies on this work to maintain the integrity of its global certification system and deliver responsive, accurate service to producer organizations and high-profile traders alike.

Activities

• Act as Certification Analyst responsible for assigned customers and product evaluations against Fairtrade Standards.
• Conduct Fairtrade audits and perform evaluations of audit reports from assigned countries.
• Communicate actively with applicants and certified customers and assist them with all necessary information.
• Coordinate audit planning for assigned countries and assist in the selection, evaluation, and training of auditors.
• Identify special needs of Key Accounts and act as account manager for those clients.
• Answer certification-related questions from customers and other stakeholders including Labeling Initiatives special requests.
• Contribute to the constant improvement of FLOCERT's certification system.
• Participate in special FLOCERT projects when required.

Professional Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Business, Agronomy, Economics, Food Science, or a related field.
• At least two years of professional experience in an office and customer-oriented environment.
• At least two years of experience in certification systems such as organic, FSC, MSC, SA8000, or ISO 14001, particularly with ISO 17065 accreditation.
• Costa Rican citizenship or valid permission to work in Costa Rica.
• Proficiency in MS Office tools.
• Strong dedication to customer service with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Ability to multitask with attention to detail and a proactive, team-oriented attitude.
• Fluency in English and Spanish, both verbal and written, with Portuguese considered an asset.