Global Certification Operations Lead – Italy (Hybrid)

FoodChain ID Brasil; Bologna; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

FoodChain ID Brasil in Bologna is seeking a senior leader to run the International Desk in Italy, coordinating certification activities across 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.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in certification operations.
• Experience leading teams across different locations or cultures.
• Understanding of certification bodies' operations, including quality, service delivery, risk, and non-conformities.
• Organic certification experience is an advantage; food safety or related certs welcomed.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills.
• Credible leadership and communication across teams.
• Fluent English required and Italian preferred.
• Willingness to travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead the International Desk in Italy with 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

Certification operations

Team leadership

Stakeholder coordination

Quality and risk management

Communication

Job description

FoodChain ID Brasil in Bologna is seeking a senior leader to run the International Desk in Italy, coordinating certification activities across 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.