International Certification and Operations Manager

Company Overview

For more than two decades, FoodChain ID has been at the forefront of the New Food industry, providing expertise worldwide to meet the growing demand for transparency, accountability, safety and sustainability. Our technical and business services support food safety, certification, testing, inspection, regulatory compliance and sustainability across the food chain. Today, more than 30,000 companies in over 100 countries rely on our industry-leading solutions. Our vision is to assure the safety, transparency and integrity of the global food chain, one client and product at a time.

Purpose of the Role

Based in Bologna, you will lead the International Desk operations in Italy and coordinate certification activities across FoodChain ID offices and partner organisations in multiple countries. You will help teams apply consistent approaches to the international organic and product certification schemes managed by the Italy team, while working closely with local quality and operational teams.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You will bring people together, provide clear direction and help improve how the certification process is organised and delivered as the business develops.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the International Desk in Italy, including day-to-day coordination and management of approximately three to four direct reports.

• Build strong working relationships with FoodChain ID teams and partner organisations in different countries, providing clear direction and coordinating work across locations.

• Support teams to apply consistent certification processes and ways of working, taking account of local requirements and the schemes managed by the Italy team.

• Work across quality, service delivery and other relevant functions to resolve issues and improve the certification process, including risk assessment and the handling of non-conformities.

• Coordinate accreditation and technical requirements with Italy and in-country teams, including calibration, inspector training and witness audits.

• Organise practical training and onboarding for new inspectors, agree milestones and follow up to ensure progress.

• Coordinate the team’s involvement in integrity programme visits by accreditation bodies, regulators and standards owners.

• Maintain effective relationships with current partners and identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration or develop new partnerships.

• Travel as required to meet teams and partners, understand local operations and support consistent ways of working.

• Skills and 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. This may include direct management and coordination of colleagues or partners who do not report directly to you.

• A good understanding of how certification bodies operate, including the relationship between quality, service delivery, risk assessment and non-conformities.

• Organic certification experience is an advantage. Relevant experience in food safety or another certification field will also be considered.

• A practical, solution-focused approach, with the ability to make sound decisions and turn improvement opportunities into action.

• Strong organisation and project coordination skills, with 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 give clear direction across teams.

• Confidence working with international colleagues and external partners.

• Fluent English required and preferably Italian.

• Willingness to travel internationally as required.

• Location and Working Pattern

• This is a Bologna-based hybrid role, combining home working with regular presence in the Bologna office.