Accreditation Services International GmbH (ASI) is the leading international accreditation body offering third party accreditation for voluntary certification schemes, e.g. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the Roundtable for Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). ASI is located in Bonn, Germany.
ASI does not certify individual producers, processors or suppliers; it oversees the certification processes and documentation of accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies u.(CABs) and ensures that their policies and practices are adequate, transparent, fair and rigorous.
Job Purpose
The ASI Lead Assessor (LA) is responsible for planning, performing and following-up on ASI assessments to applicant and accredited CABs in relation to aquaculture, fishery and chain of custody certifications conducted in accordance with the requirements of the MSC certification programs.
LAs play an essential role ensuring the robustness and credibility of the MSC programs by evaluating conformance of CABs. The position provides an opportunity for intellectually challenging and stimulating work on a variety of global aquaculture and fisheries issues and assessments.
Responsibilities
Accreditation Assessments
LAs carry out assessments in a number of ways: these involve undertaking audits of CABs against MSC requirements by onsite inspections of CABs' records, systems and documents, by desk review, by witnessing aquaculture and fisheries assessments and by monitoring traceability.
The main tasks are:
- Daily management of, and communication with, MSC accredited and applicant CABs.
- Creating and maintaining strong, trusting relations with CABs so that problems can be quickly and easily resolved.
- Planning and performing accreditation and surveillance assessments.
- Preparing assessment reports and following up on nonconformities according to accreditation standards and ASI procedures.
- Commenting on policy and procedure development processes as necessary.
- Providing technical support on issues relating to complaints and appeals.
Competencies required
- Professionalism: Expert knowledge fisheries science, accreditation and/or certification is essential. Additional experience in relation to aquaculture is an asset.
- Communication: Excellent communication skills in English are essential and fluency in at least one further language desired (i.e. Spanish, French, Mandarin, German, Dutch or Russian).
- Client orientation: Ability to communicate well with clients as well as establish and maintain effective relationships.
- Management: Demonstrated ability to manage priorities and generate quality results on concurrent assignments.
- Organisational and personal attributes: Excellent personal organisational and work planning skills, demonstrating high productivity and ability to manage competing work priorities; high personal and work ethics; and a successful record of project development and management. Solutions-oriented approach to working with clients and within the team. Proven ability to plan and organize work independently, and meet deadlines.
- Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural, multiethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. Ability to work successfully as part of a team is essential.
- Skills: Quality-related methods and techniques including quality management tools, social responsibility and environmental management methods and techniques and their application.
- International relations: Ability to work in the international arena, and deal with other international organisations. A significant amount of international travel is required (up to 100 days per year).
- Relationship Management: Interpersonal skills to deal effectively with the auditing role and remain professional when there are complaints and / or conflicts of interest.
Qualification and Experience
Education and knowledge
- Advanced university degree in fisheries science, aquatic conservation, or other related degree is desirable but a combination of relevant academic qualifications and extensive professional experience as a lead auditor may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
- Background in quality and/or environmental management systems (ISO 9000, ISO 14000) is an asset.
Work experience
- Knowledge of relevant marine certification systems is preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years experience of fisheries research or policy analysis.
- Experience as lead auditor for fisheries.
- Well-developed analytical and systematic problem solving skills, demonstrating sound reasoning abilities and logical decision-making.
- Advanced skills in the use of computers, including the use of standard MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat). Proficient and competent use of electronic information systems and databases.
Working Conditions
- ASI is looking for an expert working on a subcontract basis. Depending on experience, an initial training period may require a stay of up to 1 month in our office in Bonn. Thereafter, the location is flexible.
- ASI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, nationality, ethnicity, or religion.
How to apply:
All applications including full CV/resume and a covering motivation letter should be sent to
Sönke Fischer, Operations Director: s.fischer@accreditation-services.com. Please provide an indication of an expected daily rate for subcontractor services as ASI MSC lead assessor.
The deadline for sending applications is 20 April 2014.
Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
The successful applicant will be expected to start as soon as possible.
