The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) operates the world’s most recognised certification and ecolabelling programme for sustainable fishing. With more than 25 years of experience and a presence in over 100 countries, MSC protects marine ecosystems through rigorous standards, credible assurance and collaboration across the seafood sector.
Role Overview
The Assurance Director leads MSC’s global assurance and accreditation framework. Reporting to the Chief Standards Officer, this senior‑level position provides strategic oversight of assurance systems, safeguards programme credibility, and drives continuous improvement to maintain robust, transparent and resilient processes.
Responsibilities
- Strategically develop, maintain and operate MSC’s assurance and accreditation systems, including certification requirements and accreditation models.
- Ensure assurance mechanisms protect the credibility, consistency and integrity of MSC certification and remain aligned with international norms and recognised good practice.
- Oversee assurance performance across the programme, manage risk and escalation, and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
- Maintain confidence in MSC’s Program among fisheries, assurance providers, accreditation bodies, regulators and wider stakeholders.
- Represent MSC externally on assurance and accreditation matters, building and maintaining credibility with key stakeholders, normative bodies and partners.
- Lead and develop the Assurance team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and strong accountability across assurance workstreams.
- Contribute to MSC’s broader strategic development and collective management, collaborating with internal and external partners to ensure systems are fit for purpose now and into the future.
Qualifications
- Strong knowledge of standard‑setting systems and international norms relevant to third‑party certification and accreditation.
- Demonstrated experience working within or alongside complex assurance frameworks, with a clear understanding of risk, controls and governance required to protect programme credibility.
- Evidence of successful leadership, managing and motivating diverse teams in a senior organisational role.
- Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to communicate authoritatively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Strategic and agile mindset, capable of horizon scanning, anticipating emerging risks and ensuring operational delivery remains strong.
- Sound judgement and intellectual rigour.
- A genuine empathy for, and commitment to, MSC’s mission and objectives.
Equal Opportunity
We are committed to the principles of equality and fairness and do not discriminate on the grounds of age, ethnicity, race, colour, religion or belief, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.
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