Global Technical Manager – Business Assurance, Certification

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

📋 Description

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

• Oversee, develop, and manage global technical and accreditation functions across various countries and regions.

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

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

• Manage strategic relationships with both global and local Accreditation Bodies.

• Ensure technical and accreditation requirements uphold 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 for corrective actions regarding significant technical, accreditation, or integrity failures.

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

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

• Maintain expertise in ISO/IEC 17021-1, ISO/IEC 17065, IAF, EA, and relevant regional or product-specific requirements.

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

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

• Support relationships with Accreditation Bodies such as UKAS, ANAB, SAS, and other relevant entities.

• Address technical, accreditation, operational, and commercial conflicts throughout the network.

• Collaborate with operations, sales, IT, product groups, and regional teams to adopt core systems and 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 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 relevant experience in certification and/or accreditation.

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

• Significant leadership experience in global or multi-regional certification.

• Experience in leading geographically dispersed and culturally diverse technical teams, including direct or matrix management of senior specialists across multiple countries or regions.

• Proven track record of establishing or enforcing technical policy, accreditation strategy, 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, making well-reasoned decisions under pressure.

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

• Proficiency in written and spoken English.

• Senior technical leadership and sound professional judgment.

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

• High-impact influencing capabilities across a matrix organization.

• Strong leadership, coaching, and performance management skills.

• 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 a willingness to engage with digital certification, workflow, and reporting tools.

• Willingness to travel internationally as needed.

• Valid work permit in the 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 with certification-system changes, digital transformation, automation, remote audit delivery, or AI-enabled process enhancement.

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

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible scheduling and a hybrid/remote work model.

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

• Benefits platform.

• Supportive and inclusive workplace environment.

• Opportunities for professional growth and personal development.

• Global and stable company environment.

• Multinational workplace with colleagues from various continents.