Lead auditor

Join a global leader at the intersection of sustainability, operational excellence, and assurance. If you are an experienced auditor or management systems professional looking to influence performance across some of the world's most complex industries, this is an opportunity to lead high-impact assessments that help organizations strengthen their environmental, health, safety, quality, and ESG performance.

ERM Certification and Verification Services (CVS), a rapidly growing global team within ERM Group, is seeking a Lead ESG Certification & Verification Assessor to deliver accredited certification, verification, and assurance services across North America. This remote, work-from-home role offers significant client engagement, international exposure, and the opportunity to work across sectors including Oil & Gas, Mining, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Technology, and Data Centers.

Travel is expected to be approximately 50% to 75%, primarily within the United States, with occasional international assignments.

Why This Role Matters

Organizations are under increasing pressure to demonstrate responsible business practices, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and credible ESG performance. As a Lead Assessor, you will play a critical role in providing independent assurance that helps clients build trust, improve systems, manage risk, and achieve sustainable business outcomes.

Your expertise will directly support organizations in strengthening management systems, improving performance, and meeting internationally recognized standards.

What Your Impact Is

In this role, you will:

• Lead accredited certification, assurance, validation, and verification assessments across diverse industries.
• Help organizations identify opportunities to improve environmental, health, safety, quality, and operational performance.
• Provide objective, credible assessments that support compliance, risk management, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the growth and development of ERM CVS through technical leadership, knowledge sharing, and client relationship building.
• Support the advancement of ESG and sustainability initiatives through world-class assurance services.

What You'll Bring

You are a collaborative and credible assessor with a passion for management systems, operational excellence, and continuous improvement. You build trusted relationships with clients, communicate effectively across cultures and organizational levels, and deliver high-quality assessments with professionalism and integrity.

Required

• Graduate degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent professional qualification in Health, Safety, Environment, Quality, or a related field.
• Minimum 3-5 years of professional experience involving the implementation, operation, assessment, or auditing of management systems.
• Experience evaluating organizational performance against EHS, quality, operational, or management system objectives.
• Demonstrated sector expertise in one or more of the following: Oil & Gas (upstream and downstream operations), Mining & Minerals, including knowledge of IRMA, ASI, or CopperMark frameworks, Data Centers, including energy management and EHS systems, Manufacturing or fabrication environments, including pharmaceuticals, metals, transportation, machinery, or consumer products.
• Training and working knowledge of at least two or more of the following standards: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22301, ISO 27001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001.
• Working knowledge of ISO 17021 and/or ISO 17029 requirements.
• Strong understanding of U.S. or Americas-based EHS regulations, including OSHA, EPA, industry-specific, and local regulatory requirements.
• Proven ability to plan and execute audits effectively while meeting deadlines and quality expectations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and presentation delivery.
• Ability to identify risks and improvement opportunities and communicate findings clearly and objectively.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively (50% to 75%).

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

Preferred

• Lead Auditor qualifications or professional certifications relevant to management systems auditing.
• Experience conducting accredited certification, verification, or assurance assessments.
• Experience working across multiple industries and global operating environments.
• Knowledge of ESG assurance, sustainability reporting, or related verification frameworks.
• Experience mentoring, coaching, or developing auditors and technical assessors.
• Additional language capabilities, including: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead certification, verification, and assurance assessments in accordance with ERM CVS procedures and accreditation requirements.
• Plan, conduct, and manage audits, including preparation, site activities, stakeholder interviews, evidence review, reporting, and assessment conclusions.
• Deliver clear, accurate, and timely assessment reports and recommendations.
• Maintain technical expertise across applicable standards, regulations, and industry best practices.
• Support the continuous improvement of ERM CVS methodologies, competencies, and operational processes.
• Share knowledge, lessons learned, and technical expertise across the global ERM CVS team.
• Build trusted client relationships and represent ERM CVS professionally during all engagements.
• Identify opportunities to support client needs and contribute to business development activities in collaboration with ERM CVS leadership and partners.
• Coach and support colleagues in audit delivery, technical interpretation, and assessment best practices.
• Contribute to maintaining ERM CVS's reputation for technical excellence, integrity, and client service.

Who We Are:

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients. Our diverse team of world-class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technical expertise in addressing their environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues. We call this capability our “boots to boardroom” approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level.

Please submit your resume and brief cover letter.

ERM does not accept recruiting agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, ERM employees or any other company location. ERM is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Thank you for your interest in ERM!