Certification Area Local Technical Manager

1. Main Purpose of the Job

The Certification Area Local Technical Manager is responsible for the technical integrity, competence and accreditation compliance of certification activities within the assigned area. The role provides technical leadership to auditors and certification personnel, ensures effective implementation of the Bureau Veritas Certification Management System and applicable accreditation requirements, and drives the development, qualification, maintenance and extension of auditor competence and technical scopes.

The role is accountable for maintaining certification integrity, supporting accreditation and witness activities, managing technical risks and deviations, ensuring impartiality, supporting appeals and complaints, and ensuring that certification decisions are made in accordance with applicable standards, accreditation requirements and Bureau Veritas procedures.

2. Responsibilities & Accountabilities

2.1 Technical and Accreditation Governance

• Ensure compliance with the Bureau Veritas Certification Management System across all certification activities within the assigned area.
• Maintain strong and up-to-date knowledge of ISO/IEC 17021-1, applicable ISO standards, IAF Mandatory Documents, IAF Guidance Documents and relevant accreditation-body requirements.
• Monitor changes in accreditation and certification requirements and ensure timely implementation within the area.
• Act as the local technical focal point for accreditation-related matters.
• Support the Technical Director / Certification management in maintaining accreditation scope and technical compliance.
• Identify technical risks, nonconformities and opportunities for improvement and ensure effective corrective action.

2.2 Auditor Competence, Qualification and Development

• Establish, maintain and continuously improve the competency framework for auditors and lead auditors.
• Assess auditor competence against defined competency criteria for each applicable standard, sector, product and certification scheme.
• Develop and implement individual competency development plans for auditors.
• Manage qualification, approval, monitoring, maintenance and extension of auditor codes, sectors and technical scopes.
• Identify competency gaps and arrange appropriate training, witnessing, technical reviews and supervised auditing.
• Maintain an up-to-date auditor competency matrix covering standards, sectors, codes, technical areas and applicable accreditation requirements.
• Develop internal technical capability and reduce dependency on external auditors and specialists where appropriate.
• Conduct regular technical calibration, coaching and knowledge-sharing sessions with auditors.

2.3 Auditor Code / Sector Extension

• Identify business and market requirements for new auditor codes, sectors and technical scopes.
• Coordinate competency development and evidence required for extension of auditor codes and scopes.
• Review auditor experience, qualifications, industry experience, witnessed audits and technical training required for code extension.
• Maintain documented evidence demonstrating auditor competence and eligibility for each code or scope.
• Work with the relevant ICC/RCL/Technical Director to obtain approval for new auditor competencies and scopes.
• Develop regional competency plans aligned with Certification Business Line growth requirements.

2.4 Impartiality

• Ensure effective implementation of the impartiality principles of ISO/IEC 17021-1.
• Participate in and provide technical input to impartiality committee/meeting activities.
• Identify, evaluate, mitigate and monitor threats to impartiality arising from certification, consultancy, training, commercial relationships, personnel or other activities.
• Ensure impartiality risks are appropriately documented, monitored and escalated.
• Support review of impartiality-related incidents, complaints and decisions.

2.5 Appeals, Complaints and Certification Integrity

• Provide technical support in the investigation and resolution of appeals and complaints related to certification activities.
• Ensure appeals are handled objectively, independently and in accordance with the Certification Management System and ISO/IEC 17021-1.
• Conduct technical review of significant appeal cases and identify systemic corrective and preventive actions.
• Support complaint investigations and determine technical root causes.
• Ensure lessons learned from appeals, complaints and technical deviations are incorporated into auditor training and competency development.
• Maintain oversight of technical decisions affecting certificate issuance, suspension, withdrawal and restoration.

2.6 Internal Audits and Cross-Country Technical Support

• Conduct scheduled internal audits of certification activities within the region in accordance with the formal internal audit programme.
• Participate in cross-country internal audits and technical reviews of other Bureau Veritas certification entities.
• Act as an internal auditor or technical expert for other countries where required and competent.
• Review implementation of the Certification Management System, auditor competence, certification files, technical reviews and certification decisions.
• Identify systemic findings and share best practices across countries.
• Support preparation for accreditation-body assessments, witness audits and office assessments.

2.7 Certification File and Decision Integrity

• Ensure appropriate technical review and certification decision processes are implemented.
• Monitor the quality and consistency of certification files.
• Review technically complex or high-risk certification cases.
• Ensure appropriate separation between audit, review and certification decision activities.
• Monitor certificate issuance timelines while maintaining technical and accreditation compliance.
• Review technical deviations and ensure appropriate disposition and corrective action.

2.8 Operational and Stakeholder Responsibilities

• Ensure adherence to applicable Service Level Agreements, turnaround times and critical activity requirements within the area.
• Liaise with ICC/RCL/CL and the Technical Director on technical, accreditation and certification matters.
• Provide technical support to auditors, lead auditors, specialists, technical reviewers and back-office personnel.
• Report significant complaints, technical deviations and matters relating to suspension or withdrawal of certificates to the appropriate management level.
• Ensure appropriate appointment and oversight of technical reviewers in local certification entities where local accreditation is present.
• Contribute to knowledge management, technical communications and continuous improvement across the Certification Business Line.
• Perform other tasks, duties and responsibilities related to the position or assigned by the line manager.

3. Performance Measures (KPIs)

4. Knowledge, Key Skills & Experience

• Degree or Diploma in Engineering, Science, Business Administration or an allied field.
• Minimum 10 years' professional experience, including at least 5 years within a Certification Body in an auditing, technical or certification management role.
• Qualified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor.
• Qualified ISO 14001 Lead Auditor.
• Qualified ISO 45001 Lead Auditor.
• Demonstrable experience conducting Integrated Management System (IMS) audits.
• Strong practical knowledge of ISO/IEC 17021 and its application within a Certification Body.
• Strong knowledge of relevant IAF Mandatory Documents and IAF Guidance Documents.
• Knowledge and practical experience with applicable local accreditation rules and accreditation-body requirements.
• Demonstrable experience in auditor competence evaluation, qualification, monitoring and development.
• Experience in developing or extending auditor sector/product codes and technical scopes.
• Experience in technical review and certification decision processes.
• Experience handling appeals, complaints, technical deviations and corrective actions.
• Experience conducting or participating in internal audits of Certification Bodies.
• Experience providing cross-country technical support and participating in accreditation readiness activities.
• Strong understanding of impartiality requirements and impartiality risk management.

5. Key Behaviours / Competencies

• Technical leadership and professional judgement
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability
• High level of integrity and commitment to impartiality
• Service driven and customer focused
• Effective written and verbal communication
• Result oriented
• Coaching and people development
• Impact and influence
• Teamwork and collaboration across countries
• Ability to work independently and make technically sound decisions
• Strong stakeholder management
• Continuous improvement mindset
• BV values