TPM® Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager
The TPM® Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager credential is a peer-reviewed credential that can be sought by TPM Academy graduates with TPM Talent Supply Chain Manager badges. This advanced credential designates that a TPM Talent Supply Chain Manager is using the TPM framework and methodology in the field and working with employer collaboratives and/or internal employer teams to build talent pipelines.
Current TPM® Verified Talent Supply Chain Managers
Why Become a TPM® Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager?
A TPM® Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager will be recognized as such in the field of TPM Academy graduates in the National Learning Network, across industries and employer partners engaged in TPM, and in the broader human resources, workforce, and economic development communities.
What is distinctive about this level of recognition is that those who submit an application for peer review will be asked to demonstrate both knowledge of the TPM framework and its concepts as well as the ability to adapt and implement the model for specific regional contexts to co-design talent pipelines with employers and talent supply chain partners. These efforts will also ultimately have an impact on the strength and diversity of the talent pipeline in addition to creating more equitable, sustainable career pathway opportunities and economic mobility for learners and workers.
Applications for this credential will be accepted twice per year. To learn more please review the FAQ section below. Once you’ve reviewed the FAQ and you’re ready to start your application, please visit colab.tpmacademy.org and enroll in the TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find the TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager application?
The TPM® Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager application is housed in the TPM Co/Lab™ platform. To access the application, please visit https://colab.tpmacademy.org/ to log in or create an account. Once you are logged in, you can enroll in the TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager course from the course catalog. Once enrolled you will be able to see the application questions within the course. You can preview the application here.
How long will the application take me to complete?
The time needed to complete this application will vary by applicant, but we suggest you plan for 8 hours total, including writing and reviewing for accuracy and completeness. You might consider viewing this application as a TPM project that indicates your use of TPM concepts in the field. You can save your progress as you go and complete this application in more than one sitting. Also, please plan for enough time to obtain your letter of support and to collect any optional accompanying documents you may wish to submit to support your work.
What is the difference between this peer-reviewed credential and the TPM Talent Supply Chain Manager Badge?
The TPM Talent Supply Chain Manager Badge is issued to TPM Academy graduates that have received a passing score on the summative assessment, also taken within the TPM Co/Lab environment. This badge recognizes knowledge of the TPM Academy curriculum as measured by a passing assessment score.
This peer-reviewed credential verifies that a TPM Talent Supply Chain Manager is using the TPM framework and methodology in the field and working with employer collaboratives and/or internal employer teams to build talent pipelines, as evaluated by a committee of experienced peers in the TPM network (the Peer Review Advisory Committee).
Note: For those TPM Academy graduates whose TPM Academy experience pre-dated availability of the summative assessment please contact TPMlearning@uschamber.org for more information about meeting this requirement.
How does this credential distinguish me from my peers who have not received the peer-reviewed credential?
What is distinctive about this level of recognition is that those who submit an application for peer review will be asked to demonstrate both knowledge of TPM concepts and the ability to adapt and implement the model for specific regional contexts to co-design talent pipelines with employers and associated partners.
A TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager will be recognized as such in the field of TPM Academy graduates in the National Learning Network (NLN), across industries and employer partners engaged in TPM, and in the broader human resources and workforce and economic development communities. TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager credential recipients who have adequately maintained the credential (see “Credential Maintenance and Renewal” FAQ section) will be listed on the TPM Academy website.
How long does this credential last?
Recipients of the TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager credential will be required to renew their credential every three years. This is meant to ensure that practitioners maintain active facilitation of TPM activities and/or continue professional development in topics associated with the TPM framework and methodologies.
Who qualifies as an applicant for this credential?
Any TPM Academy graduate who meets the prerequisites outlined in the application is eligible to apply for this credential—including TPM partners playing the role of host organization facilitator or individuals leading internal employer initiatives that utilize the TPM framework and methodologies. Prerequisites are defined in this credential’s application, standards, and in the “What are the prerequisites for application?” response below.
What are the prerequisites for the application?
Applicants must meet the following prerequisite requirements before submitting a TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager credential application for consideration.
- Completion of the TPM Academy curriculum and attainment of the TPM Talent Supply Chain Manager badge (obtained through a passing score on the TPM Summative Assessment).
- Demonstrated experience in implementing the TPM framework, methodology, and associated concepts in the field, through an employer collaborative, employer-led initiative, or application of TPM methods to another existing talent pipeline initiative. (See below for additional information about requirements related to experience.)
- A letter of support from a colleague, superior, or allied partner detailing leadership in TPM principles and implementation.
Experience mentioned above must meet the following requirements:
- Launch and implementation of at least one TPM employer collaborative, or application of the TPM process to an existing industry-driven, employer-led initiative. Role in launch and implementation must consist of one of the following:
- A defined leadership role in facilitation and implementation of at least one collaborative or leading an internal employer team for those employers working alone.
- Contributions to co-leading, consulting, or supporting a host organization or internal employer team.
- Completion of Strategies 1 through 4 of the TPM framework and progress made in Strategy 5, as outlined in the application and provided by the applicant in narrative responses.
- Demonstrated progress in the creation or improvement of at least one talent pipeline solution through the TPM co-design phase outline in Strategy 5 (e.g., pipeline expansion and recruitment strategies, retention solutions, career awareness efforts, career pathway and upskilling strategies).
- Planned (or implemented) activity around measurements of success and alignment of incentives. While this activity is not required to have been completed, questions will ask you to describe efforts underway and/or planned activity.
How do I complete the summative assessment to receive the TPM Talent Supply Chain Manager Badge?
For those TPM Academy graduates whose TPM Academy experience pre-dated availability of the summative assessment please contact TPMlearning@uschamber.org for more information about meeting this requirement.
From whom should I obtain my letter of support?
Letters of support can come from any leader who can vouch for your application of the TPM framework and methodologies in the field. This may be a colleague, superior, allied partner, employer, or other leader able to describe your leadership in applying the TPM principles to regional, state, or internal employer talent pipeline development efforts.
Do I qualify to apply for this credential if I worked with a partner on the launch and implementation of my collaborative?
Yes. For those submitting an application based on collaborative work with partners, be sure to describe your own role in implementation. Before moving on to each question and subsequent section, please ensure that you have fully answered and addressed the appropriate competencies for each question from the perspective of your own role in implementation and the various decision points encountered on your TPM journey.
What if my employer collaborative or internal team did not complete every strategy of TPM as outlined in the TPM Academy curriculum? Can I still qualify?
Yes, you can still qualify. What is being evaluated through your application responses is your approach to each TPM strategy through the lens of your collaborative’s (or internal team’s) specific pain points and needs. If you feel a particular TPM approach was not relevant to your specific context, explain how you came to this conclusion through consultation with your collaborative or internal team, and how you obtained the information needed to solve industry/employer challenges through facilitation of the TPM framework. If you leveraged the TPM framework and strategies at each decision point and decided to forego a particular approach or component of TPM, you should be able to meet the competency requirements by describing your approach to collecting information that aligns with the framework and determining the appropriate next steps as defined by your collaborative or internal team. The application will provide examples of flexible, alternative approaches. In addition, to obtain this credential you must receive a passing score for 75% or more of the required competencies, so there is some “wiggle room” to accommodate shifts in strategy based on employer need, not using more advanced methodologies in initial rounds of implementation, etc.
If my collaborative is still in the midst of Strategy 5, can I apply?
Yes, you can. We recognize that Strategy 5 is a long-game effort and may be ongoing. For most Strategy 5 activities/approaches, the application will require you to represent either completed activity or efforts that you are currently implementing. See the detailed prerequisites (“What are the prerequisites for application?”) and application questions 12—16 for more detail.
How long will the application take me to complete?
The time needed to complete this application will vary by applicant, but we suggest you plan for 8 hours total, including writing and reviewing for accuracy and completeness. You might consider viewing this application as a TPM project that indicates your use of TPM concepts in the field.
Sections 3–7 of the application are completed through a Microsoft Form embedded directly in the course. While your responses will carry forward as you move between pages during the same session, the form does not automatically save your progress if you exit before submitting. Because of this, we recommend drafting your responses in a separate document and completing the application in one sitting once you begin. The application is available to view here.
Please also plan for enough time to obtain your letter of support and to collect any optional accompanying documents you may wish to submit to support your work.
What competencies will I be expected to demonstrate through my application responses?
There are thirty-two competencies associated with this credential and application. For each of the sixteen questions in the application, those competencies we expect you to demonstrate through your responses are listed. Questions have anywhere from one to four associated competencies. For a full list of competencies (and their associated questions) see the “Full Competency List” resource available in the Resources tab of the TPM Verified TSC Manager course.
How long should my application responses be?
Applicants are expected to adequately describe their work through responses to each of 16 questions. Responses should be as concise as possible and respond to the elements requested. High-level guidance—in number of paragraphs—is provided for each question, but the most important consideration is demonstration of the associated competencies in your response. The application is available to view here to help you prepare responses.
How are my application responses scored?
Applicants will be evaluated on their use of TPM competencies in the field, as demonstrated through narrative answers to the application questions.
Competencies will be evaluated based on the following evaluation scale, averaged across peer reviewers:
❐ Met – The candidate has provided sufficient evidence/explanation of required competency usage in the field.
❐ Not Met/Need More Detail – Either insufficient evidence/explanation of the required competency was provided and more explanation may be needed, or the efforts described are in direct conflict with the goals of TPM.
Candidates must receive a “met” determination from the majority of reviewers (2 of 3) for at least 75% of the required competencies to meet the requirements for application approval.
How were the competencies established? Who set the guidelines for applications?
The competencies associated with this application and credential were determined by a team of U.S. Chamber Foundation staff, consultants, and experienced TPM partners (i.e., TPM Fellows), and refined through a multi-round pilot process. For a full list of competencies (and their associated questions) see the “Full Competency List” resource available in the Resources tab of the TPM Verified TSC Manager course.
All guidelines surrounding this application, its content, and associated processes and policies were determined with guidance from various TPM stakeholders. Policies and processes are subject to change, as needed. Changes will be communicated on the website and to current credential holders for which the U.S. Chamber Foundation has a current email address, as governed by the TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager Credential Standards.
What constitutes a sufficient response to the application questions? Are there any examples?
Applicants are expected to adequately describe their work through responses to each of 16 questions. Responses should be as concise as possible while describing your approaches to each question/element asked about and demonstrating your use in the field of each associated competency. High-level guidance—in number of paragraphs—is provided for each question, but the most important consideration is demonstration of the associated competencies in your response.
A few examples of sufficient responses are provided in the “Competency Demonstration Examples” document available in the Resources tab on the TPM Verified TSC Manager course. This resource provides examples of successful application answers that fulfill the requirements of their associated competencies.
Do I have to get a perfect score on all competencies to receive this credential?
No. While all competencies listed are important, we recognize the need for flexibility in implementation of the TPM framework and methodologies as you determine next steps and priorities with your employers or internal team. Candidates must receive a “met” determination from the majority of reviewers (2 of 3) for at least 75% of the required competencies to meet the requirements for application approval. For more on scoring, see the “How are my application responses scored?” FAQ response.
Am I evaluated on my own success in implementing the TPM framework and methodologies, or the success of my collaborative/internal team?
The TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager credential is meant to recognize an individual TPM Academy graduate’s success in utilizing the TPM strategies, approaches, and framework in the field to respond to employer needs, not to measure the ultimate success and outputs of an employer collaborative or internal employer team effort to build a talent pipeline. This credential designates an individual practitioner’s success in implementation. We are not asking you to recount the activities and/or relative success of the employers or internal team, unless those elements support your narrative about the role you played as a TPM Academy graduate and peer-reviewed credential candidate. This application—and the peer review process—will consider those flexibilities required of TPM’s employer-driven, customizable approach to solving complex talent challenges. You will be asked to describe how you navigated various decision points with your employer collaborative or internal team and generated consensus about next steps.
How do I submit my application responses?
Application responses are submitted through the TPM Co/Lab platform. To access the application, please visit https://colab.tpmacademy.org/ to log in or create an account. Once you are logged in, you will access the application by visiting the Course Catalog and clicking on the course called “TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager Course.”
Should I prepare my answers in the TPM Co/Lab modules directly, or in a separate document first?
This is up to you. However, because Sections 3–7 of the application are completed through a Microsoft Form embedded directly in the course, we strongly recommend drafting your responses in a separate document first. Drafting your responses in advance allows you to review and refine your answers before entering them into the application and helps prevent loss of work if you need to step away before submitting. While the application must be submitted through the TPM Co/Lab environment, the application is available to view to prepare responses in advance.
Will my answers save as I move throughout the application?
Mostly. As you move from one section of the application to the next, your work will be saved. Sections 3–7 of the application are completed through a Microsoft Form that is embedded directly within the TPM Academy course. Your responses will be retained as you move between pages within the form during the same session (for example, when clicking “Back” or “Next”). However, the Microsoft Form does not automatically save your responses if you exit the form, close your browser, or leave the course before submitting.
To avoid losing work, we strongly recommend preparing your responses in advance, then copying them into the form when you are ready to submit. The application is available to view here.
Can I complete this application in multiple sittings?
Yes. You can complete the application in segments, across multiple sittings. Be sure to save your work as you move through the application. However, Sections 3–7 of the application are completed using a Microsoft Form embedded in the course. Your responses will be retained as you move between pages within the form during the same session (for example, when clicking “Next”). The Microsoft Form does not automatically save your responses if you exit the form, close your browser, or leave the course before submitting.
If you would like to work on the application over multiple sittings, we strongly recommend drafting your responses in a separate document first, then copying them into the form when you are ready to submit. The application is available to view here.
Can I go back to change a response to a question once I have entered it?
Yes — while you are actively completing the application, you may move back and forth between pages of the Microsoft Form embedded in the course to review or update your responses before submitting. Once the application is submitted, responses cannot be edited. In addition, if you exit the form or close your browser before submitting, your responses will not be saved. For this reason, we strongly recommend drafting your responses in a separate document before entering them into the application. The application is available to view here.
How often are applications reviewed?
Applications will be reviewed twice a year as part of two yearly application cycles.
Who is reviewing my application? What makes them qualified to be a peer reviewer?
Your application submission will be reviewed by three members of the Peer Review Advisory Committee. A recommendation by these qualified, trained peer reviewers will be presented to the U.S. Chamber Foundation team for final approval or denial. Determinations of credential issuance and communication of applicant status will be made within 60 calendar days of application cycle deadlines. All peer reviewers have been trained to review applications against a scoring sheet and discuss their recommendations with their full Peer Review Advisory Committee cohort (three reviewers).
How are my application responses scored?
Applicants will be evaluated on their use of TPM competencies in the field, as demonstrated through narrative answers to the application questions.
Competencies will be evaluated based on the following evaluation scale, averaged across peer reviewers:
❐ Met – The candidate has provided sufficient evidence/explanation of required competency usage in the field.
❐ Not Met/Need More Detail – Either insufficient evidence/explanation of the required competency was provided and more explanation may be needed, or the efforts described are in direct conflict with the goals of TPM.
Candidates must receive a “met” determination from the majority of reviewers (2 of 3) for at least 75% of the required competencies to meet the requirements for application approval.
Who has the final say on whether my application is approved and if the credential is awarded?
Your application submission will be reviewed by three members of the Peer Review Advisory Committee. A recommendation by these qualified, trained peer reviewers will be presented to the U.S. Chamber Foundation team for final approval or denial. Determinations of credential issuance and communication of applicant status will be made within 60 calendar days of application cycle deadlines.
How long will it take to have my application reviewed?
Determinations of credential issuance and communication of applicant status will be made within 60 calendar days of application cycle deadlines.
I received an application score below 75% and was asked to submit a revised application. What are my next steps
If you have not met the application approval threshold of 75% of the 32 required competencies, the Peer Review Advisory Committee will allow 30 calendar days from notification to submit a modified application. Those items indicated as “Not Met/Need More Detail” will be provided by the peer reviewer cohort and the same peer reviewer cohort will review resubmissions. If your revised application still does not sufficiently address the review committee’s requests, you must wait to resubmit in a subsequent review cycle.
Can I use more than one collaborative to represent my application of TPM in the field?
If you have launched and implemented multiple collaboratives—that represent varying industries, levels of success, and stages of maturity—you may represent practical application of the required competencies through narrative discussion of your work with multiple collaboratives. For example, you may discuss how you approached the demand planning process with your healthcare collaborative, but how you approached the back mapping process with your construction collaborative.
We recognize that there may be varying levels of success and clarity of implementation for each TPM strategy and want you to have the best opportunity to represent your work as you complete this application. Please be very clear in your responses for which collaborative you are responding, should you decide to demonstrate competency through multiple collaborative efforts.
Is the application available in other formats (i.e., outside the TPM Co/Lab system)?
All application responses must be submitted through the TPM Co/Lab environment. This will maintain consistency of process and quality of application submissions, as well as allow peer reviewers a streamlined process for application review and scoring. The application is available to view here to help you prepare responses in advance of logging into TPM Co/Lab to submit your application.
How long does this credential last?
Recipients of the TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager credential will be required to renew their credential every three years. This is meant to ensure that practitioners maintain active facilitation of TPM activities and/or continue professional development in topics associated with the TPM framework and methodologies.
Why is there a requirement to renew my Verified TSC Manager credential? What is required of a renewal application? What activities qualify for ongoing professional development?
Recipients of the TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager credential will be required to renew their credential every three years. This is meant to ensure that practitioners maintain active facilitation of TPM activities and/or continue professional development in topics associated with the TPM framework and methodologies.
Where can I find more information about renewal?
For more information on renewal, please see the “TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager Credential Standards” support resource, available in the Resources tab of the TPM Verified Talent Supply Chain Manager course. The relevant section is titled “Credential Term, Cycle, Maintenance, and Renewal.”
You've reviewed the FAQ and still have questions? Contact us!
- Questions not answered by this FAQ can be directed to TPMlearning@uschamber.org.
- If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the TPM Co/Lab environment or the application, specifically, please contact TPMsupport@uschamber.org.