Global Technical Manager – Business Assurance, Certification

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

📋 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 enforce global certification policies, technical requirements, accreditation controls, and operational standards.

• Provide authoritative technical guidance and final decision-making 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, facilitate consistent service delivery, and support commercially viable operations.

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

• Lead investigations and governance of corrective actions for significant technical, accreditation, or integrity failures.

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

• Contribute to the strategic direction of the Business Assurance Certification business.

• Advise business management on matters related to certification, accreditation, impartiality, technical governance, integrity, and business risks.

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

• Interpret 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, including 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 to establish core systems and implement global best practices.

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

• Facilitate the development of new certification products and services.

• Maintain technical direction and leadership for 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.

• A minimum of 10 years of pertinent certification and/or accreditation experience.

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

• Significant global or multi-region certification leadership experience.

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

• Experience in establishing or enforcing technical policies, accreditation strategies, certification governance controls, or network-wide requirements at a regional or global level.

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

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

• Commercial acumen to ensure compliant service delivery remains efficient, scalable, and aligned with business objectives.

• Proficiency in written and spoken English.

• Senior technical leadership skills and sound professional judgment.

• Strategic perspective and ability to translate technical and accreditation requirements into practical business solutions.

• High-impact influencing skills across a matrix organization.

• Strong leadership, coaching, and performance management capabilities.

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

• Change management expertise across a global network.

• Innovative mindset.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level briefings, external representation, and policy drafting.

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

• Willingness to travel internationally as required.

• Valid work permit in the candidate’s country of residence.

• Desirable: senior role 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: experience in implementing significant changes to certification systems, competence frameworks, technical review processes, audit delivery models, or accreditation governance.

• Desirable: experience in 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 scheduling and hybrid/remote work model.

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

• Comprehensive benefits platform.

• Supportive and inclusive workplace environment.

• Opportunities for professional growth and personal development.

• A global and stable company environment.

• Multinational workplace with colleagues from various continents.