Senior Program Manager, Food & Beverage - U.S.

DNV Business Assurance is a globally recognized leader in certification, assessment, and business assurance services dedicated to improving industry standards and advancing sustainable business practices. As part of the DNV Group, a trusted independent foundation with more than 150 years of expertise, DNV Business Assurance delivers high-quality certification services across various sectors, helping organizations manage risk, ensure quality, and enhance safety. With a robust presence in North America, DNV Business Assurance combines global technical expertise with local market knowledge to support businesses in achieving and maintaining compliance with international standards and customer expectations.

The Senior Program Manager, Food & Beverage at DNV Business Assurance holds a critical leadership role within the Food & Beverage certification division. This strategic position is responsible for the comprehensive technical governance, operational delivery, and business performance of key certification schemes such as SQF and COSTCO programs across North America. The role ensures strict adherence to both globally mandated accreditation standards like ISO/IEC 17021 and ISO/IEC 17065, and the evolving requirements set by scheme owners and the Global Technical Hub.

The Senior Program Manager serves as the principal technical authority, guiding a diverse team that includes full-time, contracted auditors, technical reviewers, and support staff encompassing around 30 personnel. This leadership role entails ensuring audit integrity, managing certification decisions, and maintaining compliance through rigorous oversight and coaching. Beyond overseeing technical governance, the position calls for active collaboration with sales and operational teams to provide expert guidance on certification scopes, eligibility, and standards interpretation, thereby fostering a robust certification process that enhances customer confidence.

A vital component of this role is fostering auditor competence and development by leading onboarding processes, scheme-specific authorizations, and conducting ongoing training programs. The Senior Program Manager also supports accreditation preparedness by leading witness audits and facilitating external audits conducted by accreditation bodies like ANAB. This ensures continued compliance and accreditation readiness in a dynamic regulatory landscape.

Overall, the role underscores a balance of technical expertise, business acumen, and leadership skills, with responsibilities stretching from day-to-day operational management to strategic oversight of the Food & Beverage certification portfolio. Located remotely within the Continental U.S., this role offers the flexibility to work from anywhere while being an integral part of a global network committed to upholding the highest standards in food safety and quality assurance. The compensation range for this position, particularly in states like California, Washington, New York, Washington D.C., Illinois, and Maryland, starts between $120,000 and $150,000 annually, reflecting the pivotal nature and seniority of the role.