Quality Management System Lead Auditor (Third Party Audit)

Job Title: Third-Party QMS Lead Auditor (ISO 9001:2015)

Location: Remote / Field-Based (Regional Travel [70-80%])

Department: Compliance / Certification / Accreditation

Reports to: Technical Director / Manager

Employment Type: Full-Time or Contracted Associate

## Role Summary

The Third-Party Lead Auditor serves as the face of U&V Cert. You will conduct independent, impartial audits of client organizations to determine their eligibility for ISO 9001:2015 certification. This is a high-impact role requiring the ability to evaluate complex management systems across various industries, ensuring they meet international standards while upholding the highest level of professional ethics and technical accuracy.

• ## Key Responsibilities
• Certification Auditing: Conduct Stage 1 (Readiness) and Stage 2 (Registration) audits, as well as Surveillance and Recertification audits.
• Technical Decision Making: Evaluate audit evidence to determine the effectiveness of a client’s QMS and make formal recommendations for certification or suspension.
• Audit Documentation: Produce comprehensive, high-quality audit reports and technical packages that withstand rigorous peer review and accreditation body oversight.
• Closing Meeting Leadership: Communicate non-conformities (NCs) to C-suite executives, providing clear justifications based on the standard and ensuring the client understands the path to resolution.
• Non-Conformance Review: Evaluate client corrective action plans to ensure root-cause analysis is robust and that proposed actions will prevent recurrence.
• Brand Ambassadorship: Maintain the integrity and impartiality of the certification process, ensuring no conflict of interest exists between the auditor and the client.

• ## Required Qualifications

• Accreditation: Must hold a valid, current NABET or IRCA or Exemplar Global ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor Certificate.
• Industry Codes (NACE/IAF): Proven work experience in specific industry sectors (e.g., Construction, Aerospace, Chemicals) to meet IAF mandatory requirements for auditor competency.
• Audit Logs: Documented evidence of having conducted at least [20-30] days of third-party audits under the supervision of a qualified lead auditor.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical or business discipline.

• Travel: Ability to travel significantly (often 3–4 days per week), including overnight stays and National / international travel if required.
• ## Competencies for Third-Party Success Competency The "Third-Party" Difference Impartiality The ability to remain neutral even when under pressure from a paying client. Time Management Navigating a strict audit plan where every hour is billable and documented. Industry Agility Quickly understanding a new business model (e.g., a software house one week, a machine shop the next).Conflict Management Handling "appeals" or challenges to findings during the closing meeting with poise.## Technical Environment Proficiency in Audit Management Portals (e.g., Salesforce-based systems, internal CB reporting tools).
• Deep familiarity with IAF MD (Mandatory Documents), specifically those regarding audit durations and multi-site sampling.