This role is accountable for the end-to-end design, implementation, and sustained effectiveness of the EMEA compliance framework, including ownership of ISO 9001 and ISO 22301 certifications and regional regulatory adherence. This role serves as the regional authority for compliance outcomes, translating regulatory, certification, and governance requirements into scalable operating models that enable the business while maintaining a defensible risk posture. The role partners closely with business leaders, legal, risk, operations, and external auditors, while retaining clear accountability for audit readiness, remediation outcomes, and regulatory response across EMEA. The role will have authority to recommend prioritisation of remediation activities and escape material compliance risks to ensure sustainable risk mitigation across the EMEA region.
This role plays a critical part in reducing AGS’s EMEA risk exposure by embedding sustainable compliance, governance, and assurance mechanisms that support growth, audit confidence, and operational resilience.
Responsibilities
Act as the regional owner for EMEA compliance and governance standards, supporting consistent adoption across programmes and escalating material risks or noncompliance to senior leadership where required.
ISO Certification Ownership (9001 & 22301)
* Owns and is accountable for the end-to-end implementation, certification, and sustained audit ready posture of ISO 9001 and ISO 22301 across the EMEA region.
* Maintains ownership of the ISO control framework, including control design, control inventory, evidence standards, internal audit execution, and management of external certification audits.
* Ensures corrective actions are fully implemented, validated, and embedded into businessl operations.
Regional Regulatory Compliance
* Own the development, integration, and ongoing maintenance of EMEA country level compliance profiles and regulatory playbooks, ensuring legislative requirements are embedded into standard operating models and sustained over time.
* Provide assurance that regulatory changes are effectively operationalised postimplementation, working with client delivery and shared services teams to validate continued compliance.
* Partner with business units to translate legal and regulatory developments into clear regional risk positions and actionable recommendations for leadership.
* Maintain oversight of EMEA compliance obligations and emerging legislation (e.g. Umbrella Company regulation), ensuring timely, proportionate, and coordinated business responses.
Assurance, Audits & Remediation
* Planning and execution of process audits and thematic reviews.
* Leads remediation efforts for identified compliance gaps (e.g., background screening, supplier compliance, quality assurance), owning root cause analysis, corrective action plans, and validation of closure.
* Ensures remediation activities result in measurable and sustainable risk reduction.
* Stakeholder & Client Engagement
* Serves as the regional compliance contact and escalation point for compliance inquiries, ensuring responses are accurate, consistent, and aligned with the organization’s risk appetite.
* Partners with regional delivery, legal, and operational teams to enable compliant client solutions without compromising regulatory or certification obligations.
Qualifications
* Demonstrated experience in regional or multicounty compliance and internal control environments, with accountability for outcomes rather than advisory support alone.
* Strong working knowledge of ISO certification frameworks (ISO 9001, ISO 22301, or comparable standards), including audit readiness and ongoing certification maintenance.
* Proven ability to translate complex regulatory and compliance requirements into practical, scalable business solutions.
* Experience working across legal, risk, operational, and leadership teams to drive alignment, accountability, and timely decision making.
* Ability to operate independently in a matrixed environment, managing multiple priorities while maintaining clear ownership.
* Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with confidence engaging senior leadership and external auditors.
Accountability Statement
This role is the designated owner for EMEA compliance outcomes and ISO certifications, accountable for sustained regulatory adherence, audit readiness, and transparent risk escalation to leadership.
Additional Information
At AGS we operate a hybrid working policy – we recognise individuals want the flexibility of working from home but with the option to be in an office when needed. Our UK AGS office locations are Bracknell, London and Birmingham with client site locations across the UK. If you’re lucky enough to be within a commutable distance of one of our AGS collaborative offices, this will be your allocated work home but you’ll still have the piece of mind to flex your working week accordingly. On occasion some of our job adverts will state an in-office/on-site need but rest assured you’ll be with a wonderful team to work, develop and grow.
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