Global Technical Manager – Business Assurance, Certification

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

📋 Description

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

• Direct, develop, and oversee global technical and accreditation operations across various countries and regions.

• Define, authorize, and uphold global certification policies, technical requirements, accreditation controls, and operational standards.

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

• Manage relationships with both global and local Accreditation Bodies.

• Ensure technical and accreditation prerequisites safeguard compliance, promote consistent service delivery, and facilitate 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 oversee corrective actions for significant technical, accreditation, or integrity failures.

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

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

• 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.

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

• Oversee global accreditation initiatives and assist affiliates in maintaining, extending, or defending local accreditations.

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

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

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

• Identify opportunities for improvement 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 as required.

• Report to the Global Head of Certification (QHSE), Product & Quality Management for Business Assurance.

⛳️ 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.

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

• Considerable global or multi-region certification leadership experience.

• 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 policies, accreditation strategies, certification governance controls, or network-wide requirements at the regional or global level.

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

• Ability to engage effectively with senior business leaders, Accreditation Bodies, and technical experts while making well-reasoned decisions under pressure.

• Commercial acumen that supports compliant, efficient, and scalable service delivery.

• Proficiency in written and spoken English.

• Senior technical leadership and sound professional judgment.

• Strategic perspective that translates 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 capability across a global network.

• Innovative mindset.

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

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

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

• 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 enhancements.

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

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible schedule and hybrid/remote working model.

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

• Comprehensive benefits platform.

• Supportive and inclusive work environment.

• Opportunities for professional growth and personal development.

• Global and stable company environment.

• Multinational setting with colleagues from various continents.