Global Technical Manager – Business Assurance, Certification

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

📋 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 significant compliance risks.

• Manage relationships 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 major technical, accreditation, or integrity failures.

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

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

• Maintain expert knowledge of ISO/IEC 17021-1, ISO/IEC 17065 where applicable, IAF, EA, and other pertinent requirements.

• Convert 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 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.

• Identify enhancements in procedures, systems, governance controls, competence frameworks, and technical support processes.

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

• Provide 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 field.

• 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-regional certification leadership experience.

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

• Expertise in 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.

• Commercial acumen to ensure compliant, efficient, and scalable service delivery.

• Proficient in written and spoken English.

• Senior technical leadership and sound professional judgment.

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

• Strong influencing, people leadership, coaching, and performance management skills.

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

• Change management experience across a global network.

• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and open to utilizing digital certification, workflow, and reporting tools.

• Willingness to travel internationally.

• Valid work permit in the country of residence.

• Desirable: experience with 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.

• Desirable: 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.

• International work environment with colleagues from various continents.