International Certification and Operations Manager (Food Certification)

Location: Bologna, Italy; hybrid work combining home working with regular presence in the Bologna office.

Company

Provides food safety, certification, testing, inspection, regulatory compliance, and sustainability services across the global food chain.

What you will do

• Lead the International Desk in Italy and coordinate the day-to-day work of approximately three to four direct reports.
• Coordinate certification activities across international offices and partner organisations, providing direction and supporting consistent processes.
• Work with quality, service delivery, and other functions to resolve issues, assess risks, and manage non-conformities.
• Coordinate accreditation and technical requirements, including calibration, inspector training, witness audits, and integrity programme visits.
• Organise onboarding and practical training for new inspectors, agree milestones, and follow up on progress.
• Maintain partner relationships, identify collaboration opportunities, and travel internationally to support consistent operations.

Requirements

• Significant experience in certification operations, ideally within an established or structured certification body or service provider.
• Experience leading teams across different locations or cultures, including colleagues or partners who may not report directly.
• Good understanding of certification body operations and the relationship between quality, service delivery, risk assessment, and non-conformities.
• Practical, solution-focused approach with the ability to make sound decisions and turn improvement opportunities into action.
• Strong organisation and project coordination skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities in a complex, changing environment.
• Credible leadership and communication skills, with the ability to build trust, gain support, and provide clear direction across teams.
• Confidence working with international colleagues and external partners.
• Fluent English required.
• Willingness to travel internationally as required.

Nice to have

• Organic certification experience.
• Relevant experience in food safety or another certification field.
• Italian language skills.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work combining home working with regular office presence in Bologna.
• International collaboration across offices and partner organisations in multiple countries.
• Hands-on leadership role with responsibility for improving certification operations.