Global Technical Manager – Business Assurance, Certification

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

📋 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 significant compliance risks.

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

• Ensure that technical and accreditation requirements support compliant, consistent, and commercially viable service delivery.

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

• 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 certification, accreditation, impartiality, technical governance, integrity, and business risk.

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

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

• Support relationships 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 improvements in procedures, systems, governance controls, competence frameworks, and technical support processes.

• Aid in the development of new certification products and services through technical feasibility, accreditation alignment, and operational readiness.

• Maintain technical direction and leadership for assigned 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 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.

• Proven experience leading geographically dispersed and culturally diverse technical teams across multiple countries or regions.

• A 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 expertise in 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 that supports efficient, scalable, and compliant service delivery.

• Proficient 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 within a matrix organization.

• Strong leadership capabilities in people management, coaching, and performance oversight.

• Ability to handle conflict, competing priorities, and ambiguity while maintaining certification integrity and accreditation compliance.

• Change management skills across a global network.

• An innovative mindset.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

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

• Flexibility to travel internationally as required.

• Knowledge of ISO/IEC 17021-1, ISO/IEC 17065 where applicable, IAF, EA, and relevant regional or product-specific requirements.

• 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 digital transformation, automation, remote audit delivery, or AI-enabled process improvement.

• Additional languages relevant to the SGS network or Accreditation Body engagement are a plus.

🏝️ Benefits

• Long-term support for employee development.

• Flexible working hours.

• Hybrid or remote work model.

• Continuous learning options through SGS University and Campus.

• Multinational work environment with colleagues from various continents.

• Access to a comprehensive benefits platform.

• A supportive and inclusive workplace culture.

• Opportunities for professional growth and personal development.