About the Opportunity

Carat General Assurance (CGA) is expanding its food safety certification business, and we're looking for an experienced IFS Scheme Manager to help us build and lead this practice.

We are seeking someone who knows IFS inside and out, understands how certification bodies operate, and can take ownership of a scheme from accreditation through day-to-day operations.

This isn't a role where you'll simply maintain procedures or coordinate audits. You'll play a central role in building the program, developing our auditor network, managing technical quality, working with clients, and making sure we deliver certifications efficiently and credibly.

We're looking for someone who combines strong technical knowledge with practical judgment and enjoys the challenge of building something.

What You'll Be Responsible For

Scheme Management & Accreditation

- Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing management of CGA's IFS certification program.
- Develop and maintain the procedures, technical processes, and documentation required under ISO/IEC 17065 and applicable IFS requirements.
- Prepare for and manage accreditation assessments, IFS Integrity Program activities, internal audits, and corrective actions.
- Stay current with IFS standard updates, doctrines, and scheme requirements, ensuring they are properly implemented across our operations.

Technical Oversight & Certification Quality

- Oversee technical reviews of audit reports, corrective action plans, and certification files.
- Ensure audits are conducted consistently, thoroughly, and in accordance with IFS requirements.
- Manage technical escalations, complex nonconformities, and questions regarding the interpretation of scheme requirements.
- Oversee the certification decision process, ensuring decisions are made by appropriately qualified and independent personnel.
- Maintain the integrity and technical credibility of our certification activities.

Auditor Management & Development

- Build and maintain a strong network of qualified IFS auditors across our target markets.




- Oversee auditor qualification, onboarding, scope approvals, competency monitoring, and ongoing training.
- Coordinate witness audits, calibration activities, and auditor performance evaluations.
- Ensure auditors maintain the necessary qualifications and approvals to perform IFS audits.

Client Management & Operations

- Serve as a key point of contact for clients on technical and scheme-related matters.
- Help manage the certification process from initial application and audit planning through certification and surveillance.
- Resolve client issues and technical questions promptly while maintaining the impartiality expected of a certification body.
- Oversee the timely completion of audit reports, technical reviews, certification decisions, and certificate issuance.
- Ensure accurate maintenance of certification records and information within the IFS Database.
- Work with leadership to improve operational efficiency, turnaround times, and the overall client experience.

Building & Growing the Portfolio

- Help develop scalable processes that allow us to grow without compromising certification quality.
- Support the expansion of our IFS auditor network and client base across Europe and other markets.
- Identify opportunities to improve how we deliver certification services.
- Help evaluate and launch additional schemes as the business grows.
- Work directly with CGA leadership to shape the long-term direction of our food safety certification business.

- What We're Looking For We're particularly interested in someone who has worked as an IFS Scheme Manager, Technical Manager, Certification Manager,



or in a similar role within an established certification body.

Ideally, you'll bring:

- 5+ years of experience in food safety certification, auditing, or technical scheme management.
- Strong working knowledge of IFS schemes
- Experience working within a certification body, preferably managing or supporting an IFS certification program.
- A solid understanding of ISO/IEC 17065, accreditation requirements, and certification body operations.
- Hands-on experience with technical reviews, auditor qualification, certification decisions, or accreditation assessments.
- Familiarity with IFS auditor approval processes, the IFS Database, and the IFS Integrity Program.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work with clients, auditors, and accreditation bodies.
- The ability to work independently, solve problems, and take ownership of a program.

Experience with other GFSI-recognized schemes, such as BRCGS, SQF, or FSSC 22000, would be an advantage.

Experience helping a certification body obtain a new accreditation or scheme approval would be particularly valuable.

Why Join CGA?

This is an opportunity to help build and lead a growing food safety certification practice. You'll work directly with leadership, have meaningful responsibility from the beginning, and play a key role in shaping how CGA develops its IFS program.

We're building a business that values technical credibility, responsiveness, and operational excellence. We want our certification programs to be rigorous without being unnecessarily complicated, and we believe the right people make that possible.

As the business grows, there will be opportunities to take on broader responsibilities across additional food safety schemes, auditor networks, and international markets.

If you've spent years working within an established certification body and have wanted the opportunity to take real ownership of a certification program, we'd like to hear from you.

📌 IFS Scheme Manager (España)
🏢 Carat Global Assurance
📍 España