Director Operations and Audit Delivery EMEA

NSF; Oxford; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A mission-driven organization in the UK is seeking a Director of Operations & Audit Delivery to lead audit delivery across EMEA, emphasizing operational excellence and client satisfaction. The ideal candidate will have proven leadership experience in audit operations, strong understanding of food production auditing, and ability to manage large teams. The role requires significant travel and strategic thinking to drive the organization’s growth.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in audit delivery operations.
• Strong understanding of field-to-fork food production and auditing requirements.
• Experience in managing large, distributed teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational strategy for audit delivery across EMEA.
• Drive performance against key KPIs including audit completion.
• Engage directly with strategic clients and lead business reviews.

Skills

Leadership in audit delivery operations

Understanding of food production and auditing requirements

Stakeholder management skills

Commercial acumen and strategic mindset

Job description

Overview

Are you a dynamic, customer-focused leader with deep experience in audit delivery and operational excellence? Do you thrive in complex, matrixed environments and have a passion for food safety and business growth?

NSF is seeking a Director of Operations & Audit Delivery, EMEA to lead and optimise audit delivery across our Food & Water business units. This is a high-impact, senior leadership role covering a broad and strategically important portfolio—including food from farm to fork, retail, product certification, and water systems.

You’ll join a well-established, high-performing team with a strong reputation across the region. Your role will be to build on that success—bringing fresh perspective, driving operational excellence, and helping us scale to meet future growth. As a key member of the EMEA Leadership Team, reporting regionally to the VP of EMEA and in matrix to the Global Audit Delivery team, you’ll be the focal point for all audit operations and scheduling across the region.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational strategy for audit delivery across EMEA, with a strong focus on quality, efficiency, and client satisfaction.
• Drive performance against key KPIs including audit completion, scheduling, report timeliness, and auditor utilisation.
• Act as a senior customer-facing leader—engaging directly with strategic clients, participating in RFPs, and leading quarterly business reviews.
• Collaborate with Sales, Business Unit leaders, and global stakeholders to support strategic growth and new business development.
• Ensure compliance with NSF, ANSI, ANAB, UKAS, and other accreditation standards.
• Lead and inspire a high-performing team of 250+ auditors, coordinators, and delivery managers—delegating effectively while maintaining strategic oversight.
• Navigate complex internal structures across food, water, and certification teams in a matrixed, multinational environment.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in audit delivery operations, ideally within food safety, certification, or compliance sectors.
• Strong understanding of field-to-fork food production and auditing requirements in the UK and across Europe.
• Demonstrated success managing large, distributed teams and delivering against operational KPIs.
• Experience working in a matrix organization and across multiple geographies—EMEA experience is highly desirable.
• Commercial acumen and a strategic mindset—able to think big picture while ensuring day-to-day excellence.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, both internally and externally, with a customer-first approach.
• Motivated, growth-oriented, and comfortable with significant travel (up to 50% of the time).
• Based in the UK, with regular presence in NSF offices and across the region.

What NSF offers you

At NSF, we are a mission-driven organisation dedicated to improving human and planet health. As Director of Operations & Audit Delivery, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of food safety and certification across EMEA. You’ll join a collaborative, purpose-led team, with the opportunity to lead a thriving business into its next phase of growth.

You’ll be stepping into a role with a strong, well-established team that’s already delivering excellent results and has a solid reputation across the region. We’re looking for someone who can build on this foundation, bring fresh perspective, and help take the operation to the next level. If you’re ready to lead with impact, drive operational excellence, and bring energy, innovation, and excitement to audit delivery, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now and send us your CV and cover letter. Come join our team; we look forward to hearing from you!

About NSF

NSF is an independent, growing services organization dedicated to improving human and planet health worldwide. We deliver our mission by facilitating standards development and providing world-class testing, inspection, certification, advisory services and digital solutions to the food, water, life sciences and personal care industries. We’re passionate about the work we do, because together, we have a broad impact on our world.

Our ~3,000 team members serve 40,0000 clients in 180 countries from our 45+ offices and labs, as well as remotely/ at client sites.

More information about NSF can be found at nsf.org.

NSF is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability.