Career Profile: Certification manager

Working as a certification manager involves problem-solving across all stages of the certification process, liaising with assessors and members, and maintaining accurate records.

There are various roles within the process of certification beyond that of the assessor who goes down the farm drive. A certification manager is one of these roles.

As a certification manager, you will play a crucial part in ensuring that the certification process is carried out with accuracy and scheme members meet compliance within the required standards. It is your job to complete the jigsaw of evidence and you will work across various stages of the certification cycle, from reviewing assessment reports to liaising with assessors, members and scheme owners. You will need to ensure the whole process it consistent and transparent for all stakeholders. You will sometimes have to request more evidence from assessors to ensure compliances or non-compliances are correctly recorded to complete a certification.

This is a mainly office-based role with some visits to farm sites and you are likely to specialise in one type of farming sector, such as dairy, production horticulture or poultry. Certification managers say they enjoy finding out about different farms, farmers and processes on those farms.

All certification roles require strong problem-solving skills, effective communication and technical farming knowledge. This ensures you can work out any extra evidence which might be needed to complete a certification, work effectively with the assessors who report to you and understand what the farm being reported on is working to achieve.

In terms of the office-based activities, most certification managers will need to operate an integrated system of apps, portals and databases that upload and record all the information needed to award certification to members.

You may be self-employed for this role or permanently working for one organisation. Some certification bodies will advertise roles while others respond well to speculative applications from well-suited individuals.

This role allows you to work with organisations whose aims include raising the standards of animal welfare, food quality and environment conservation and this is what draws many people to roles in this area.

There are several assurance organisations working in farming and growing in the UK, including: Red Tractor, RSPCA Assured, The Soil Association, LEAF, Organic Farmers and Growers, Global G.A.P and Quality Meat Scotland.