National Operations Manager (Audit & Certifications)

SGS; City of Monash; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Sustainability culture

Paid parental leave

Volunteer day & blood donations

Health & wellbeing programs

Learning & development

Job summary

SGS Australia is seeking a National Operations Manager to provide national leadership for audit teams and certification operations, ensuring safe, professional services and accreditation compliance. The role focuses on improving efficiency, maintaining auditor capability, and achieving utilisation targets for our certification services.

This role is open to candidates located in Sydney or Melbourne, with responsibilities spanning national operations, KPI monitoring, workforce planning, and

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading operational teams in audit, certification, compliance, quality or related professional services environments.
• Strong understanding of certified management systems, audit operations, standards and regulatory requirements.
• Experience managing financial performance, operational KPIs, resource planning and business improvement initiatives.
• Excellent leadership, communication, stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
• A customer-focused and commercially aware approach, with the ability to balance quality, compliance and business outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills and confidence working with Microsoft Office and business reporting tools.
• Experience in food safety or other certified management systems auditing will be highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead national audit and certification operations to deliver safe, compliant and efficient outcomes.
• Manage audit teams to meet scheduling, utilisation, productivity and quality objectives.
• Maintain compliance with accreditation requirements, including JASANZ and relevant program obligations.
• Drive operational performance through effective KPI monitoring, reporting and continuous improvement.
• Support workforce planning, auditor capability, training and skills matrix management.
• Partner with the Business Manager on business planning, cost management, P&L performance and growth initiatives.
• Build strong relationships with customers, stakeholders and internal teams, acting as an escalation point when required.
• Promote a strong culture of HSE leadership, integrity, professionalism and service excellence.

Skills

Proven experience leading operational

Audit & certification understanding

Compliance & regulatory knowledge

Financial & KPI management

Leadership & stakeholder management

Customer-focused & commercially aware

Microsoft Office & reporting tools

Food safety auditing experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Business reporting tools

Job description

SGS Australia is a leading provider of Testing, Inspection, and Certification services, supporting multiple industries across the country with trusted expertise and technical excellence. Backed by SGS’s global legacy of over 140 years, we operate one of the largest networks of accredited laboratories and field facilities in Australia, with a network of more than 50 offices and laboratories and over 1,600 employees across Australia. We are accredited by NATA and ISO 9001, ensuring our services meet both Australian and international standards.

Job Description

About the Role

As the National Operations Manager you will provide national leadership to audit teams and certification operations, ensuring services are delivered safely, professionally and in accordance with accreditation requirements. You will play a critical role in improving operational efficiency, maintaining auditor capability, achieving utilisation targets and supporting the continued growth of our certification services.

This role is open to candidates located in Sydney or Melbourne, and we encourage applications from both locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead national audit and certification operations to deliver safe, compliant and efficient outcomes.
• Manage audit teams to meet scheduling, utilisation, productivity and quality objectives.
• Maintain compliance with accreditation requirements, including JASANZ and relevant program obligations.
• Drive operational performance through effective KPI monitoring, reporting and continuous improvement.
• Support workforce planning, auditor capability, training and skills matrix management.
• Partner with the Business Manager on business planning, cost management, P&L performance and growth initiatives.
• Build strong relationships with customers, stakeholders and internal teams, acting as an escalation point when required.
• Promote a strong culture of HSE leadership, integrity, professionalism and service excellence.

Qualifications

About You

You are a confident people leader with strong operational, commercial and customer-focused capability. You understand audit and certification environments and know how to bring teams together to deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes across a national business.

To be successful, you will bring

• Proven experience leading operational teams in audit, certification, compliance, quality or related professional services environments.
• Strong understanding of certified management systems, audit operations, standards and regulatory requirements.
• Experience managing financial performance, operational KPIs, resource planning and business improvement initiatives.
• Excellent leadership, communication, stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
• A customer-focused and commercially aware approach, with the ability to balance quality, compliance and business outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills and confidence working with Microsoft Office and business reporting tools.
• Experience in food safety or other certified management systems auditing will be highly regarded.

Why Join Us?

At SGS, you will be part of a global organisation with a strong reputation for technical excellence, integrity and service quality. We offer a collaborative and supportive culture, opportunities to grow your expertise, and the chance to contribute to work that helps create a safer, better and more interconnected world.

SGS is committed to providing a workplace that values diversity, inclusion and respect. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

Additional Information

WHY WORK FOR SGS?

Working at SGS means joining an innovative, Global company. Here are some of the benefits to working for SGS.

• As a company, we have embraced the shift to flexible work
• Sustainability is embedded in our culture and the way we do business
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time for volunteering day and blood donations
• Corporate health & wellbeing offers
• Ongoing learning & development
• Career development opportunities (Nationally and Globally)
• SGS Rewards: Our employee benefits platform with access to retail and online discounts and cashback

COME TO WORK AND BE 100% YOU

SGS Australia supports a diverse workforce, we encourage applications from people of all ages, nationalities, abilities, and cultures – including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the LGBTQI+ community and people living with disability. Providing employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is an important part of our SGS Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). We truly believe the diversity among us will continue to foster a strong, innovative, and forward-thinking workplace.

SGS Australia acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual, and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.