Freelance Auditor, Furniture Manufacturing, Materials & Sustainability (FEMB)- Germany

About SCS Global Services Europe

SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party certification, verification, auditing, and standards development across food, agriculture, forestry, climate, and sustainability programs.
SCS Global Services Europe supports accredited and regulatory programs across the EU and surrounding regions, serving multinational supply chains and complex assurance needs.

Position Summary

SCS Global Services Europe is engaging experienced manufacturing, materials, and sustainability auditors to support third-party conformity assessments for the Furniture & Materials Benchmark (FEMB) program.

This role is ideal for professionals with backgrounds in furniture manufacturing, product or materials testing, environmental management systems, or industrial sustainability, who are qualified to conduct audits under an ISO/IEC 17065–compliant certification system.

Assignments may include standalone FEMB audits or integrated assessments where qualifications allow.

Core Responsibilities

• Conduct third-party audits of furniture manufacturing and related industrial operations against the FEMB requirements

• Prepare clear, timely, and accurate audit reports and supporting documentation

• Review corrective actions and verify closure where applicable

• Communicate professionally with clients, SCS program staff, and technical reviewers

• Maintain auditor qualifications, CPD, and required certifications

• Comply with SCS quality, impartiality, confidentiality, and ethics requirements

• Travel within assigned European and surrounding regions as required

Mandatory Auditor Qualification – FEMB

Candidates must meet FEMB auditor competence requirements and be eligible to serve as an auditor under an ISO/IEC 17065 certification scheme. Active, external lead auditor qualification to the FEMB requirement is required.

This includes all of the following:

1. Education or Professional Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) in a technical or quantitative discipline (e.g., engineering, chemistry, physics, industrial ecology, materials science, or similar)
  OR

• A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in:

• Manufacturing environments, and/or

• Quality or Environmental Management Systems (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 14001)

2. Furniture-Sector Expertise

• Demonstrated minimum of 3 years’ experience in:

• Furniture manufacturing and/or

• Furniture or materials testing

3. Audit Experience

• Conducted at least three onsite audits for FEMB and been signed off as a lead onsite auditor.

• Audit log is available.

Preferred Cross-Over Experience (Not Required)

The following experience is valued and may enable additional or integrated audit work, subject to accreditation rules:

Management Systems Auditing

Experience and qualifications to conduct external third-party audits against one or more of the following ISO Management System standards is preferred, but not required:

• ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems

• ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems

• ISO 45001 – Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems

Auditors holding active IMS qualifications with recent audit logs may be considered for integrated or combined audits alongside food safety, social, or responsible sourcing programs, depending on client scope and accreditation rules.

Materials & Recycled Content

• Experience with:

• Recycled materials or recycled content verification

• Materials traceability, mass balance, or production controls

• Circular economy or sustainable materials assessments

Language Requirements

Auditors must be professionally fluent in English and at least one of the following:

Required (at least one):

• French

• Italian

• Spanish

• German

Desirable / Bonus:

• Portuguese

• Dutch

Language capability must support on-site audit delivery and report writing, not conversational use only.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must meet FEMB auditor requirements listed above

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in required languages

• Ability to work independently as a contract auditor

• Willingness and ability to travel within Europe

Engagement Notes

• Engagement is contract-based, per audit or per day, subject to SCS Europe contract terms

• Travel requirements vary by program and region; all reasonable travel expenses are reimbursed upon completion of the job

• Auditors must comply with all applicable EU, scheme owner, and accreditation requirements

• Successful candidates may be offered additional scheme training based on business needs and performance