NQA operates in over 90 different countries, we have a global presence of over 55,000 active certificates across a broad range of industries and standards. NQA are a UKAS Accredited Certification and Verification Body providing greenhouse gas verification and wider sustainability certification services to a broad range of clients
Our philosophy is “To help our customers deliver products the world can trust”. We are focussed on nurturing supportive partnerships with our clients and partners to ensure they truly realise the benefits of accredited certification. NQA successfully delivers a premium and value added certification and training service on a daily basis.
NQA's biggest asset are its people! NQA prides itself on not having a culture but a family; when you join NQA you become part of that family! NQA has mastered over the years the power of the big but maintains the spirit of the small. We offer competitive salaries and good benefits.
The primary objective of the Sustainability Scheme Manager role is to support the Carbon & Sustainability Services Director to establish and maintain a winning team, to oversee the activities of the team to ensure success, to ensure procedural and regulatory requirements are assured, and to assist with bringing to market and growing industry leading sustainability services. The successful candidate will be expected to embark on raising their profile within our existing and new client base and within the wider sustainability profession. It is anticipated that the dimensions of the role will evolve over time in alignment with NQA’s developing strategy in the field of sustainability – a high level of dynamism is expected.
An integral part of the role will be working across the entire NQA Carbon and Sustainability portfolio including Chain of Custody, Supply Chain Services and PEFC to ensure a strong and expansive service offering, cementing NQA as a leader in Carbon and Sustainability services globally.
The sustainability market is growing and changing rapidly. The role holder will need to proactively engage with the Carbon & Sustainability Services Director, the Carbon & Sustainability team and the wider sector to provide effective management and to raise the organisation’s and their own profile.
Line Manager Responsibilities
The post will have direct line responsibility for four NQA management posts.
Location
Location is flexible. For the right person, we are willing to consider fully remote working, fully on-site (NQA office) working, or hybrid working. There is an expectation that the post holder will be willing to travel as required to our offices, to client or stakeholder premises, and to other locations as required.
Qualifications
* Educated to at least degree standard or equivalent in a relevant discipline (preferably): environmental, sustainability, business management, or similar.
* Minimum of 2 years’ certification experience or relevant industry experience.
* Knowledge of, interest in and enthusiasm for sustainability and / or carbon verification schemes.
* To complete and pass a relevant Lead Auditor / Verifier course, for example EMS, EnMS, GHG or CoC/Supply Chain scheme LA Course as a minimum (one or more course needed, noting that these can be provided by NQA Training).
Skills & Competences
Required
• IT Literate – Word, Outlook, Excel and some knowledge of customer databases
• People management skills and experience
• Confident and outgoing
• Excellent customer service attitude and skills
• Self-starter with good finishing abilities
• Prompt, accurate and reliable
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal across all levels
• Ability to build and nurture effective working relationships with team members, whilst ensuring performance goals are met and resources managed
• Demonstrable knowledge of relevant management standards
• Substantial previous working experience and knowledge of auditing, verifications and understanding of Management Systems
Desirable skills/experience
• Workplace experience of carbon and / or sustainability issues
• Workplace experience of people and team management
• Workplace experience of the TIC (Testing, Inspection and Certification) industry
• Experience of strategic thinking
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles of verifications / auditing (through recognized courses or workplace experience): for example in GHG Verifications (ISO 14064-1, ISO 14068-1, PAS 2080), Chain of Custody (FSC, PEFC, RSPO) and others of relevance (ISO 20121, ISO 14001, ISO 50001)
• Knowledge of the legislative frameworks and other drivers in the sustainability sector
• Knowledge of the regulatory frameworks in the TIC industry (accreditations)
• Experience of public speaking at events, conferences and exhibitions
• Project management experience
Personal attributes
• A professional individual with the ability to develop strong working relationships with your team, colleagues at all levels and clients
• Ability to work as an individual on activities when identified and then form part of a team when the task or project requires.
• Ability to prioritise workload tasks through to completion based on information received and business needs
• Self-motivated with a high level of dynamism with the ability to use their own initiative and to make independent decisions
• A very high level of organisational skills and a high level of attention to detail with a flexible attitude
• An interest in sustainability issues and a willingness to develop that interest further
• Communication and other softer inter-personal skills with the ability to influence others and build effective working relationships at all levels