Compliance Lead

Application Deadline: 25 October 2026

Department: Business Support

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Manchester, UK

Description

What that means day to day

• Support the day-to-day operation and continuous improvement of ISOQAR’s compliance framework and management system.
• Maintain and develop compliance policies, procedures, guidance and records.
• Review process and documentation changes for compliance, accreditation and impartiality considerations.
• Provide practical guidance to colleagues on certification and conformity-assessment requirements.
• Identify and escalate significant compliance risks, control weaknesses or potential breaches.

• Support the delivery of a risk-based internal audit programme.
• Plan, conduct and report on internal audits, identifying nonconformities, risks and improvement opportunities.
• Review root-cause analysis and corrective actions, monitoring progress through to effective closure.
• Analyse audit findings to identify recurring or wider compliance issues.

• Coordinate preparation for accreditation and external assessments.
• Collate and review documentation, records and supporting evidence.
• Participate in assessments and coordinate responses to assessor queries and findings.
• Track corrective actions and evidence through to acceptance and closure.

• Coordinate and continually improve ISOQAR’s competence framework.
• Support the development and review of competence criteria, learning materials and assessments.
• Help ensure auditor, reviewer and decision-maker approvals are supported by appropriate evidence.
• Analyse competence information to identify learning needs and areas for improvement.
• Work with technical and operational teams to support consistent competence decisions.

• Support the governance of allocated certification schemes, initially including ISO 9001.
• Monitor changes to standards, accreditation criteria and scheme requirements.
• Coordinate updates to processes, training and documentation where required.
• Support competence management for colleagues working across allocated schemes.
• Provide compliance input into new products, schemes and wider business-change projects.

• Coordinate compliance and impartiality forums, including supporting documentation, actions and reporting.
• Review potential impartiality risks and support appropriate controls.
• Coordinate or undertake investigations into escalated complaints, appeals and compliance concerns.
• Ensure investigations are evidence-based, appropriately documented and escalated where required.
• Identify trends and recurring themes across complaints, appeals and compliance concerns.

• Maintain compliance dashboards, action trackers and management information.
• Prepare compliance data and insights to support management review and planning.
• Monitor the completion and effectiveness of compliance actions.
• Deliver briefings and training on compliance requirements and changes.
• Build strong relationships across technical, operational, commercial and international teams.
• Provide constructive challenge where activities may create compliance, accreditation or impartiality risks.

What you’ll need to be successful

• At least three years’ relevant experience within a certification body, accreditation environment, regulated assurance function or similar compliance role.
• Practical knowledge of ISO/IEC 17021-1 and a good understanding of management-system certification.
• Experience planning, conducting and reporting internal audits, including corrective actions and root-cause analysis.
• Knowledge of risk assessment and risk-based assurance.
• Confidence interpreting standards, mandatory requirements, policies and regulatory criteria.
• Strong analytical, report-writing and evidence-evaluation skills.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines and stakeholders.
• A methodical, objective and evidence-led approach, with strong attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex requirements clearly and constructively challenge where needed.
• Sound judgement and the confidence to work independently, escalate significant concerns and maintain professional independence.

• Experience working directly with UKAS or another recognised accreditation body.
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor qualification.
• Lead Auditor qualification in ISO 14001, ISO 45001 or ISO/IEC 27001.
• Knowledge of ISO/IEC 17065, ISO/IEC 17029 or ISO 14065.
• Experience in certification-body competence management and/or coordinating accreditation assessments.
• Project or change-management experience.
• Strong Excel, SharePoint and data-analysis skills.
• A relevant professional qualification, membership or equivalent professional experience.

What you'll get in return

• A response to your application within 15 working days
• An interview process consisting of:
  • An initial discovery call with the recruiter
  • A first stage interview via Microsoft Teams 
  • Additional interview (likely face to face) with the stakeholders you’ll be working with closely in the role