Global Technical Manager – Business Assurance, Certification

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Croatia.

📋 Description

• Establish the global technical and accreditation strategy for Business Assurance Certification.

• Lead, develop, and oversee global technical and accreditation functions across various countries and regions.

• Define, approve, and implement global certification policies, technical specifications, accreditation controls, and operational standards.

• Provide authoritative technical guidance and make final decisions on disputes, interpretation issues, and material compliance risks.

• Manage relationships with both global and local Accreditation Bodies.

• Ensure that technical and accreditation requirements safeguard compliance and facilitate consistent, commercially viable service delivery.

• Represent the Business Assurance Division externally and act as a delegate for the Global Head of Certification when necessary.

• Lead investigations and oversee corrective action governance for significant technical, accreditation, or integrity failures.

• Propel simplification, digitalization, and continuous improvement of technical processes, systems, and delivery models.

• Advise business management on matters of certification, accreditation, impartiality, technical governance, integrity, and business risk.

• Maintain expert knowledge of ISO/IEC 17021-1, ISO/IEC 17065 where applicable, IAF, EA, and other relevant standards.

• Translate external accreditation requirements into internal policies, procedures, tools, and controls.

• Oversee global accreditation activities and assist affiliates with local accreditations.

• Support relationships and activities with Accreditation Bodies, such as UKAS, ANAB, SAS, and others as applicable.

• Resolve technical, accreditation, operational, and commercial conflicts across the network.

• Collaborate with operations, sales, IT, product groups, and regional teams on core systems and the adoption of global best practices.

• Identify enhancements in procedures, systems, governance controls, competence frameworks, and technical support processes.

• Assist in the development of new certification products and services.

• Maintain technical direction and leadership of specific certification products or schemes.

⛳️ Requirements

• Graduate-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in a relevant technical, scientific, engineering, management system, commercial, or governance discipline.

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in certification and/or accreditation.

• Significant experience in management system certification within an accredited third-party certification environment.

• Extensive global or multi-regional certification leadership experience.

• Experience in leading geographically dispersed and culturally diverse technical teams across multiple countries or regions.

• Proven track record of establishing or enforcing technical policies, accreditation strategies, certification governance controls, or network-wide requirements at a regional or global level.

• Strong technical knowledge of management system certification and accreditation requirements, including impartiality, competence, audit delivery, certification decision-making, and expectations from Accreditation Bodies.

• Credibility to engage with senior business leaders, Accreditation Bodies, and technical experts.

• Commercial acumen to ensure compliant, efficient, and scalable service delivery.

• Proficient in written and spoken English.

• Demonstrated senior technical leadership and sound professional judgement.

• Strategic mindset with the capability to translate technical and accreditation requirements into practical business solutions.

• Ability to influence within a matrix organization.

• Skills in people leadership, coaching, and performance management.

• Capacity to manage conflict, competing priorities, and ambiguity without compromising certification integrity or accreditation compliance.

• Change management capabilities across a global network.

• Innovative mindset.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to deliver executive-level briefings, represent externally, and draft policies.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and eager to work with digital certification, workflow, and reporting tools.

• Willingness to travel internationally.

• Desirable: experience within SGS, another global Certification Body, or an Accreditation Body.

• Desirable: experience as a lead auditor, technical reviewer, certification decision-maker, trainer, or scheme manager.

• Desirable: significant experience in change, digital transformation, automation, remote audit delivery, or AI-enabled process improvement.

• Desirable: proficiency in additional languages relevant to the SGS network or Accreditation Body engagement.

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible schedule and hybrid/remote work model.

• Access to SGS university and Campus for continuous learning opportunities.

• Benefits platform available.

• Supportive and inclusive work environment.

• Opportunities for professional growth and personal development.

• Global and stable company environment.

• Multinational environment with colleagues from various continents.