Global Technical Manager – Business Assurance, Certification

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

📋 Description

• Establish the worldwide 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 implement global certification policies, technical requirements, accreditation controls, and operational standards.

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

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

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

• 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 enhancement of technical processes, systems, and delivery models.

• Advise business management on matters concerning 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 pertinent requirements.

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

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

• Support relationships with Accreditation Bodies such as 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.

• Aid in the development of new certification products and services.

• Maintain technical leadership and direction 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 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.

• 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 regional or global levels.

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

• Proficiency in written and spoken English.

• Senior technical leadership and sound professional judgement.

• Strategic perspective with the 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 skills.

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

• Change management capabilities across a global network.

• Innovative mindset.

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

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

• Flexibility to travel internationally as required.

• 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 implementing significant changes to certification systems, competence frameworks, technical review processes, audit delivery models, or accreditation governance.

• Desirable: experience with 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 schedule and hybrid/remote work options.

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

• Multinational environment with colleagues from various continents.

• Comprehensive benefits platform.

• Supportive and inclusive workplace culture.

• Opportunities for professional growth and personal development.