Global Technical Manager – Business Assurance, Certification

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

📋 Description

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

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

• Define, ratify, 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 significant compliance risks.

• Manage strategic partnerships with global and local Accreditation Bodies.

• Ensure that technical and accreditation requirements safeguard compliance, support 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 governance of corrective actions for significant technical, accreditation, or integrity failures.

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

• Advise business management on matters related to 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 regional or product-specific requirements.

• Translate 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 and activities with Accreditation Bodies, including UKAS, ANAB, SAS, and other relevant organizations.

• 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 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.

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

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

• Extensive global or multi-region certification leadership experience.

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

• Proven 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 aligned with business objectives.

• Proficiency in written and spoken English.

• Senior technical leadership experience and sound professional judgment.

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

• High-impact influencing abilities across a matrix organization.

• Strong leadership, coaching, and performance management skills.

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

• Change management skills across a global network.

• Innovative mindset focused on simplification, digitalization, or risk reduction.

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

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

• Willingness to travel internationally as needed.

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

• Desirable: senior position 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 improvements.

• Desirable: 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.

• Comprehensive benefits platform.

• Supportive and inclusive work environment.

• Opportunities for professional growth and personal development.

• A global and stable company environment.

• Multinational setting with colleagues from diverse continents.