SQF Certification Manager

Description of Job Function

Serve as a Management member for one or more of the schemes/standards that are within the scope of accreditation for AIBI Certification Services by being a scheme manager (brand manager) for auditors, customers, standard owners and staff.   This position requires continuous review of scheme requirements and working knowledge of the AIBI-CS Quality Management System to ensure consistency of audit scheduling, audits, technical reviews, granting/withdrawing certification, processing appeals, recalls, participating in accreditation audits and scheme meetings. Further duties include performing GFSI certification audits and actively supporting the Certification Services Management team and office staff in maintaining audit efficiency, conducting technical reviews and decision-making, and ensuring the capability to accept new business.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Acts as liaison between scheme-owners and AIBI-CS staff, outsourced and subcontracted service provides. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Ensuring scheme requirements, regulations, and directives are implemented.
  • Notifying scheme-owners regarding changes in accreditation.
  • Notifying scheme-owners of changes in the legal status of the CB, changes of management personnel at the CB, or other CB changes that may impact the operational effectiveness of the CB.
• Works closely with the Administration Manager to ensure the QMS meets both scheme and ISO (ISO/IEC 17065 and ISO/IEC 17021) requirements.
• Provides updates to QMS documents that have scheme specific elements.
• Provide Guidance on Scheme Interpretation.
• Conduct witness assessments of auditors either directly or through AIBI Subject Matter Experts.
• Provide oversight of all sub-contracted auditor functions.
• Carry out the number of certification audits to maintain scheme and standard competency.
• Manage the development of the scheme and standard guidelines (rating guides, position statements) in conjunction with the office staff, General Manager, Certification Services, and other Certification Managers and assist in training requirements linked to this. This includes scheme and standard updates (every 3 years - GFSI requirement).
• Attend the scheme and standard owner meetings (TAC and or Certification Services) meetings as required.
• Assist the Management and Office Staff in dealing with customer questions. Investigate and resolve appeals and complaints.
• Assist with training of AIBI-CS auditors.
• Participate in internal audits at the Headquarter Office according to the QMS requirements as requested (annual plan).
• Take a leadership role in implementing changes coming from scheme-owners.
• Responsibility and authority for planning and ensuring the completion of review activities.
• Responsibility and authority for ensuring decisions on certification are completed.
• Responsibility and authority for ensuring impartiality.

Additional Activities:

• Prepare and present scheme and standard materials.
• Represent AIBI-CS at the TAC and CB Meetings and relevant sub-committees as requested.
• Maintain a favorable working relationship with all other company employees to foster and promote a cooperative and harmonious working climate that will be conducive to maximum employee morale, productivity, efficiency, effectiveness.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the General Manager.

Principal Customers:

Food-related Industry which may include processors, distributors, packaging facilities, AIB and AIBI Staff.