Competency Program Manager

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Job Description:

Parsons is looking for an amazingly talented Competency Program Manager to join our team!

The Competency Program Manager will be responsible for establishing, implementing, and managing the Quality Competency Management Program across the project. The role will ensure that quality personnel, discipline teams, contractors, and relevant project staff possess the required technical competencies, qualifications, certifications, and knowledge to effectively perform their assigned quality-related responsibilities.

The position will lead the development of competency frameworks, competency matrices, qualification requirements, assessments, training programs, and continuous improvement initiatives in alignment with the Project Quality Management System (QMS), client requirements, applicable international standards, specifications, and contractual obligations.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Develop, implement, and maintain the Quality Competency Management Framework for the project.
• Establish competency requirements and qualification criteria for Quality personnel and critical project roles.
• Develop and maintain Quality Competency Matrices covering QA/QC, inspection, testing, auditing, commissioning, and specialist quality functions.
• Identify competency requirements based on project scope, specifications, quality risks, applicable codes, standards, and client requirements.
• Conduct periodic competency assessments for Quality personnel and relevant project teams.
• Perform skills gap analysis and establish competency development plans to address identified deficiencies.
• Develop and implement the Quality Competency Development Program for project personnel.
• Establish minimum qualification, certification, and experience requirements for quality-critical positions.
• Review and verify qualifications, certifications, licenses, and technical credentials of Quality personnel.
• Establish competency requirements for Inspectors, QA/QC Engineers, Quality Engineers, Auditors, Welding Inspectors, NDT Personnel, Material Inspectors, Testing Personnel, and other specialist quality roles.
• Coordinate technical training programs related to Quality Management Systems, inspection, testing, auditing, NCR management, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and deliver quality awareness and competency programs for engineering, construction, procurement, commissioning, and operations teams.
• Coordinate with Discipline Managers and Quality Managers to identify project-specific competency requirements.
• Develop competency-based training plans, assessment criteria, and evaluation methods.
• Monitor completion and effectiveness of mandatory quality training and competency programs.
• Establish and maintain a centralized Quality Competency and Training Register.
• Track expiry dates of professional certifications, licenses, training, and mandatory qualifications.
• Ensure personnel performing inspection, testing, auditing, and other quality-critical activities are appropriately qualified and competent.
• Coordinate with approved external training providers, certification bodies, and technical specialists where required.
• Develop and implement Quality Induction and Quality Awareness Programs for new project personnel.
• Establish competency requirements for contractors and subcontractors and support verification of their quality personnel qualifications.
• Participate in quality audits and assessments to verify competency and qualification compliance.
• Identify recurring competency-related findings from NCRs, audit findings, observations, lessons learned, and quality performance trends.
• Develop targeted competency improvement programs based on project quality performance.
• Support Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and corrective action initiatives where competency deficiencies are identified as contributing factors.
• Develop and monitor Quality Competency KPIs and performance dashboards.
• Prepare periodic competency reports for the Project Quality Director / Quality Manager and Senior Management.
• Monitor competency program performance against approved objectives, targets, and schedules.
• Ensure competency requirements are incorporated into Quality Plans, Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs), procedures, method statements, and project quality processes, where applicable.
• Support the development and implementation of Quality Improvement Plans based on competency assessment results.
• Promote a strong Quality Culture across the project through awareness campaigns, workshops, toolbox sessions, and continuous learning initiatives.
• Establish and maintain a lessons-learned process focused on quality competency and capability improvement.
• Ensure alignment of the competency program with applicable ISO standards, client specifications, project procedures, international codes, and regulatory requirements.
• Support internal, client, consultant, and third-party audits by providing competency records and objective evidence of personnel qualifications and training.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives related to Quality competency, qualification, training, and professional development.

What Required Skills You'll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• 15+ years of relevant experience, preferably within Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Quality Management, competency development, or technical training.
• Strong experience in Quality Management Systems and competency management within major infrastructure, airport, construction, or engineering projects.
• Extensive understanding of quality personnel qualification and competency requirements.
• Experience developing competency frameworks and assessment programs for multidisciplinary Quality teams.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001 and Quality Management System principles.
• Experience working with contractors, consultants, clients, and third-party certification/inspection organizations.

• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor / Lead Implementer certification.
• Certified Quality Professional / Quality Engineer or equivalent certification.
• ASQ certifications such as CQE, CQA, or equivalent are preferred.
• NEBOSH/IOSH or other HSE-related certifications are an advantage where relevant to integrated project competency requirements.
• PMP or equivalent project management certification is an advantage.
• Relevant technical inspection certifications such as CSWIP, AWS, NDT, API, or equivalent are advantageous depending on the project scope.

• Quality Competency Management
• Quality Competency Framework Development
• Quality Competency Matrix
• Personnel Qualification & Certification Management
• Skills Gap Analysis
• Training Needs Analysis
• Quality Training & Awareness Programs
• Quality Management Systems
• ISO 9001
• Quality Auditing
• Inspection & Testing
• NCR & Corrective Action Management
• Root Cause Analysis
• Continuous Improvement
• Quality KPI & Performance Monitoring
• Quality Risk Management
• Lessons Learned
• Contractor Quality Management
• Quality Documentation & Records
• Competency Assessment & Evaluation
• Training Effectiveness Measurement
• Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint & Reporting Dashboards

What Desired Skills You'll Bring:

• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation abilities.
• Strong understanding of quality culture and continuous improvement.
• Ability to engage and influence multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to identify competency deficiencies and develop practical improvement actions.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality standards.
• Ability to work effectively with clients, consultants, contractors, and senior management.
• Strong coaching and mentoring capabilities.
• Proactive approach to quality improvement and capability development.
• Ability to manage multiple competency initiatives across a complex project environment.

Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels no matter the race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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