Certification Body Relations & Operations Manager

ISCC – the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification; Köln; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid setup

Remote work allowance

Vacation days 30

Bonus scheme

Pension scheme

Job summary

ISCC – International Sustainability and Carbon Certification seeks a Certification Body Relations & Operations Manager to lead CB onboarding/offboarding, contract management, and ongoing account management from our Cologne HQ. This role coordinates with internal teams, maintains CB records, and enhances SOPs and processes to ensure efficient CB cooperation.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree and 3–5 years of relevant experience, with strong English skills (German a plus) and a proven

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. business administration, management, sustainability, supply chain management)
• 3–5 years of relevant professional experience in account management, operational support, certification administration, contract management or similar roles
• Strong experience in customer service, operational support and external relationship management
• Experience managing external accounts or partners, coordinating cross-functional activities, and resolving operational issues
• Strong contract negotiation and administration skills with judgement on approvals and escalation
• Experience maintaining operational data and using dashboards or trend analysis for planning
• Knowledge of ISCC requirements or comparable certification schemes is advantageous
• Excellent English language skills (C1); German is a plus

Responsibilities

• Manage CB contracts, including negotiations, amendments, extensions, and signing coordination
• Coordinate CB onboarding and offboarding with induction, system access and cross-team alignment
• Handle CB enquiries and provide timely, documented operational support
• Manage assigned CB accounts including meetings, stakeholder communication and issue resolution
• Maintain CB records and develop dashboards for data-driven account management
• Develop and improve SOPs, guidance documents and administrative processes
• Consolidate CB feedback and drive internal action plans and cross-team improvements
• Provide back-up support for CB communications and engagement activities
• Support CB oversight and performance analyses with data validation and reporting
• Contribute to workload planning and cross-functional handovers

Skills

Account management

Contract negotiation

Operations management

Data analysis

Cross-functional coordination

Customer service

ISCC knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Dashboards

Job description

ISCC – International Sustainability and Carbon Certification is one of the leading certification systems for sustainability, traceability and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Our activities and impact are expanding, and our teams have been growing exponentially over the past three years.

To further strengthen our Certification Body Management team, we are looking forward to welcoming you as Certification Body Relations & Operations Manager at our ISCC headquarters in Cologne.

In this role, you will lead certification body (CB) onboarding, offboarding, contract administration and ongoing account management within CBM’s Cooperation and Support pillar. The role serves as a consistent point of contact throughout the CB lifecycle, coordinates operational follow-up across relevant teams, maintains reliable CB records and data, and improves the processes and tools that support effective CB cooperation.

If you are passionate about sustainability and would like to join a culturally certified Great Place to Work company with highly motivated and diverse teams making a real difference, we look forward to your application!

YOUR MAIN DUTIES WILL BE:

• Management of CB contracts, including negotiations, amendments, extensions, cooperation transfers, internal approvals, and coordination of the signing process
• Coordination of CB onboarding and offboarding, including induction, system access, guidance, and alignment with relevant internal teams
• Management of CB enquiries and operational support requests, ensuring timely responses, appropriate follow-up, and complete documentation
• Management of assigned CB accounts, including bilateral meetings, stakeholder communication, issue resolution, and coordination of follow-up actions
• Maintenance of accurate CB records and documentation, including the development and effective use of dashboards and data analysis to support account management
• Development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of SOPs, guidance documents, and administrative processes to ensure consistent and efficient operations
• Consolidation of CB feedback, identification of recurring issues, and coordination of internal action plans and process improvements

Additional duties can be:

• Providing back-up support for CB communications and engagement activities
• Supporting CB oversight and engagement activities in collaboration with relevant internal teams
• Supporting in-depth analyses of CB performance and audit quality, including the preparation and validation of relevant data
• Contributing to workload planning, improved handovers, and cross-functional coordination

YOUR PROFILE:

Professional background

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. business administration, management, sustainability, supply chain management, or a comparable discipline)
• At least 3-5 years of relevant professional experience in account management, operational support, certification administration, contract management, or a comparable stakeholder-facing role
• Strong experience in customer service, operational support and external relationship management, with a demonstrated ability to provide reliable service while managing stakeholder expectations
• Demonstrated experience managing external accounts or partners, coordinating cross-functional activities, and resolving operational issues
• Strong contract negotiation and administration skills, with sound judgement regarding approvals, delegated authority, and escalation
• Experience maintaining operational data and using dashboards or trend analysis to support planning and decision-making
• Knowledge of ISCC requirements or comparable certification schemes is an advantage
• Excellent English language skills (at least C1, written and spoken); German language skills are a plus

Methodological & personal skills

• Strong organisational and case-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
• Clear and confident communication skills, including the ability to manage challenging discussions and resolve operational conflicts professionally
• Structured, independent, and reliable working style, with a strong focus on service quality and accurate documentationl
• Sound judgement and decision-making capability, including the ability to identify risks and escalation appropriately
• Demonstrated ability to improve administrative processes, clarify responsibilities, and coordinate effective cross-team collaboration
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail

WHY US?

We are an international and diverse team of passionate and experienced experts, joining forces for a sustainable future! We believe that our team is our core asset and we support our people as best we can.

To help you build your future and thrive with us, we offer:

• Various team events throughout the year (Celebrating Diversity, Summer Team Event, Christmas Party)
• Close collaboration with our sister companies Meo Carbon Solutions GmbH, GRAS Global Risk Assessment Services, 4C Services, ClimatePal, and TYC
• The opportunity to work independently and shape processes

Individual learning and development plan

• Professional onboarding to help you have an ideal start with us
• Frequent feedback sessions to ensure a high quality of communication and mutual reflection
• Many free language classes
• Access to several trainings as well as specific technical courses
• We promote from within!

Work-Life Balance

• Hybrid set-up
• 4 weeks remote work at a place of choice (after probation)
• Flexible working hours and trust based working time
• 30 vacation days and 3 additional vacation days (Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, Carnival Monday)
• Sabbatical options
• A generous pension scheme (bAV) in line with our sustainability values
• Annual bonus scheme based on performance

Wellness Programs

• Subsidized Urban Sports Club
• Health weeks promoting healthy habits in personal and professional life

We are a company with equal opportunities for everyone and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, race, gender or any other criteria that is not a professional qualification for an open position.

ABOUT US

ISCC – International Sustainability and Carbon Certification is a globally applicable and leading certification system designed to enhance traceable, sustainable, deforestation-free, and climate-friendly supply chains. ISCC certifications are widely recognised and cover sustainable agricultural biomass, biogenic wastes and residues, non-biological renewable materials and recycled carbon-based materials. The development and implementation of different certification standards is ISCC’s tool to promote its mission to mitigate climate change and bring more traceability into global markets and supply chains. To date, ISCC holds more than 15,800 valid certificates in 130 countries.

Our close-knit team of dedicated, supportive, and highly motivated professionals at ISCC come from a variety of backgrounds, which contributes to the diverse and dynamic work environment. We all work together with a shared enthusiasm for sustainability and a co