International Standards Development Specialist

Role Purpose & Context

Role Summary

The International Standards Development Specialist is here to drive specific standards projects from draft to publication. You'll take ownership of managing 1-2 less contentious, but still important, standards projects, seeing them through the often-complex development lifecycle. This role sits right at the heart of our efforts to shape industry best practices rather than just reacting to them. You'll be the one making sure the technical experts actually agree on something, which, trust me, is harder than it sounds. When you do this well, we get clearer, more effective international standards published, which means less ambiguity for our business and our clients, and ultimately, safer products and workplaces. Get it wrong, and we could end up with conflicting regulations, costly rework, or even safety incidents. The big challenge here is navigating the slow, bureaucratic process and managing strong personalities. The reward? You get to see your work literally become the standard that companies around the world follow. That's pretty cool, if you ask me.

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Senior International Standards Development Specialist
• Direct reports: None, though you'll often guide junior colleagues informally.
• Matrix relationships: Standards & Compliance Officer, Global Standards Coordinator, Regulatory Harmonisation Specialist,

Key Stakeholders

Internal:

• Head of Compliance
• Quality Assurance Managers
• Health & Safety Leads
• Product Development Teams
• Legal Counsel

External:

• Technical Committee (TC) members (industry experts, national delegates)
• National Standards Bodies (e.g., BSI, DIN, AFNOR)
• ISO/IEC Secretariat staff
• External regulatory bodies (e.g., HSE, ECHA)

Organisational Impact

Scope: This role directly influences our company's ability to operate globally by ensuring our products and services comply with, and ideally help define, international benchmarks. You'll reduce regulatory risk and open up new market opportunities by shaping the rules of the game. Your work provides the foundational guidance that other departments use to build safe, high-quality offerings.

Performance Metrics

Quantitative Metrics

1. Metric: Standards Project Progress Rate
2. Desc: The percentage of assigned standards projects that advance to the next formal stage (e.g., CD to DIS, DIS to FDIS) within the agreed-upon timeline.
3. Target: 85% of projects on schedule
4. Freq: Quarterly
5. Example: You've got two projects: one moved from CD to DIS on time, the other was delayed by a month. That's 50% on schedule for the quarter, so we'd need to dig into why the other one slipped.
6. Metric: Ballot Comment Resolution Efficiency
7. Desc: The average time taken to process, reconcile, and formally respond to all comments received during a ballot phase for your assigned projects.
8. Target: Complete within 10 working days of ballot close
9. Freq: Per ballot cycle
10. Example: A project receives 300 comments. You manage to get all resolutions drafted, agreed by the working group, and submitted to the secretariat in 8 days. That's a win.
11. Metric: Technical Committee Meeting Effectiveness
12. Desc: The percentage of agenda items that reach a clear decision or actionable outcome during meetings you facilitate.
13. Target: 75% of agenda items concluded
14. Freq: Per meeting
15. Example: In a 10-item agenda, 8 items resulted in a clear 'agree to proceed', 'revise as follows', or 'park for next meeting'. Two items were left hanging, which means we need to tighten up facilitation.

Qualitative Metrics

1. Metric: Working Group Engagement & Cohesion
2. Desc: How well you foster a collaborative environment within your assigned working groups, ensuring active participation and constructive debate.
3. Evidence: Committee members proactively contributing, fewer unresolved conflicts, positive feedback from the TC Chair or convenor, new members feeling integrated, and a general sense that people feel heard and respected.
4. Metric: Clarity & Precision of Drafts
5. Desc: The quality of the standards drafts you help prepare, specifically their clarity, consistency, and adherence to normative drafting principles.
6. Evidence: Fewer 'stated-effects' comments on editorial issues, minimal ambiguity identified by reviewers, consistent use of terminology, and positive feedback from the Senior Specialist or legal team on the robustness of the language.
7. Metric: Procedural Adherence & Documentation Quality
8. Desc: Your ability to meticulously follow ISO/IEC Directives and other procedural rules, and to maintain comprehensive, auditable records for your projects.
9. Evidence: No procedural challenges raised by national bodies, all meeting minutes and decisions accurately recorded and filed, version control is flawless, and audit trails are easily accessible and complete. Basically, if someone asks 'how did we get here?', you've got the answer documented.

Primary Traits

• Trait: The Diplomatic Consensus-Builder
• Manifestation: You're the one who can listen to two experts arguing passionately about a comma, summarise both their points fairly, and then suggest a compromise that makes everyone feel heard. You can chair a meeting where delegates from competing companies are present and keep things constructive, even when the tension is palpable. You'll spot when someone's feeling left out and make sure their voice gets a chance.
• Benefit: Honestly, this job is less about being a technical expert and more about being a brilliant facilitator. Standards only get published if people agree. If you can't get diverse, often strong-willed, individuals to find common ground, your projects will stall. Your ability to build consensus is the bedrock of success here.
• Trait: The Meticulous Detail Detective
• Manifestation: You'll instinctively notice if a 'shall' has accidentally become a 'should' in a critical safety clause. You're the person who'll cross-reference definitions across a 200-page document to ensure consistency. When a ballot comes in with hundreds of comments, you'll methodically go through each one, making sure nothing is missed, even the vague or poorly worded ones. You take pride in a perfectly formatted document, knowing that consistency builds credibility.
• Benefit: A single misplaced word or an ambiguous phrase in a standard can have massive repercussions – think product recalls, regulatory fines, or even serious accidents. Your job is to be the ultimate guardian of precision. We need someone who genuinely enjoys the painstaking work of making sure every single word is exactly right because the stakes are incredibly high.
• Trait: The Patient Marathon Runner
• Manifestation: You can handle it when a project you've been working on for six months gets delayed by another year because of a national objection. You don't get flustered when you have to chase a committee member for weeks to get a critical vote or comment. You're the person who can calmly work through a spreadsheet of 1,000 comments, knowing it's a long haul, but it has to be done right.
• Benefit: The standards development process is notoriously slow. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and often feels like wading through treacle. If you need instant gratification or get easily discouraged by bureaucracy and delays, you'll burn out fast. We need someone with genuine tenacity and a long-term view who can keep pushing, even when progress feels glacial.

Supporting Traits

• Trait: Process-Minded
• Desc: You find comfort and efficiency in following established procedures and directives, especially the ISO/IEC Directives. You appreciate that rules exist for a reason and help keep things fair and organised.
• Trait: Intellectually Curious
• Desc: While not a deep technical expert, you're genuinely interested in understanding the basics of the technical subjects being debated. You'll ask smart questions to clarify points, helping the experts articulate their positions better.
• Trait: Resilient
• Desc: You can absorb criticism or procedural objections on behalf of the working group without taking it personally. You understand it's about the standard, not about you, and can bounce back from setbacks.
• Trait: Articulate & Clear
• Desc: You can explain complex procedural rules or technical committee decisions to a diverse audience in a simple, clear, and unambiguous manner, both verbally and in writing. No corporate jargon, just plain English.

Primary Motivators

1. Motivator: Making a Tangible, Global Impact
2. Daily: You'll be working on documents that literally become the rules for industries worldwide. Seeing a standard you helped develop get published and adopted is incredibly rewarding. You're shaping the future of safety and quality, one clause at a time.
3. Motivator: Solving Complex Procedural Puzzles
4. Daily: This role is full of intricate procedural challenges – how to reconcile conflicting comments, how to navigate a national objection, or how to keep a meeting on track when personalities clash. If you enjoy untangling these kinds of problems, you'll find the work genuinely engaging.
5. Motivator: Continuous Learning & Exposure to Diverse Fields
6. Daily: You'll constantly be exposed to new technical subjects, from environmental management to product safety, as you work on different standards. You'll learn from world-leading experts in various fields, broadening your knowledge base significantly.

Potential Demotivators

Let's be frank, this job isn't for everyone. If you thrive on quick wins and seeing immediate results, you'll likely find the pace incredibly frustrating. You'll spend a lot of time on meticulous documentation and procedural adherence that can feel tedious. The 'urgent' comment you chased for weeks might end up being withdrawn, or a critical decision you helped facilitate could be overturned months later due to a procedural challenge. If you need constant external validation or get easily discouraged by bureaucracy, this won't be a good fit.

Common Frustrations

1. The glacial pace of progress – a single standard can take 3-5 years from start to finish.
2. Dealing with 'death by a thousand comments' after a ballot, many of which are poorly written or politically motivated.
3. Managing the egos and national interests of committee members, which often overshadow the technical content.
4. Being the 'process police' – constantly reminding brilliant experts about deadlines and procedural rules.
5. Last-minute objections that derail months of work, often from delegates who've been silent for ages.
6. The sheer volume of documentation that needs meticulous upkeep, knowing few people will ever read it all.

What Role Doesn't Offer

1. Rapid project turnaround or immediate gratification.
2. A purely technical role where you're the subject matter expert.
3. A highly autonomous role where you set your own rules and processes.
4. A role with minimal administrative burden or documentation requirements.

ADHD Positives

1. The constant exposure to new technical topics across different standards projects can be stimulating and prevent boredom.
2. The need for quick, on-the-spot problem-solving during committee meetings (e.g., finding a compromise) can be engaging.
3. The 'hyperfocus' trait can be incredibly useful for deep dives into comment reconciliation or complex procedural issues.

ADHD Challenges and Accommodations

1. The slow, bureaucratic pace of standards development can be a significant challenge for those who prefer faster progression; breaking down long-term projects into very small, tangible milestones helps.
2. The meticulous documentation and procedural adherence can be tedious; using checklists, templates, and AI tools for first drafts can help manage this.
3. Managing multiple ongoing projects and deadlines requires strong organisational strategies; visual project management tools (like Trello or Jira) and regular check-ins are key.

Dyslexia Positives

1. The strong emphasis on verbal communication, diplomacy, and consensus-building in meetings plays to strengths in interpersonal skills.
2. The need to understand and interpret complex information, then simplify it for others, can be a good fit.
3. The role often involves visualising complex processes and relationships (e.g., in Miro), which can be a strength.

Dyslexia Challenges and Accommodations

1. The requirement for meticulously precise normative drafting and comment reconciliation can be challenging; using advanced grammar/spell checkers, text-to-speech tools, and having an extra pair of eyes for proofreading are crucial.
2. Managing large volumes of text-based comments and documents can be overwhelming; leveraging AI tools for summarisation and categorisation, and using document annotation tools, can help.
3. Ensuring consistent terminology across lengthy documents is vital; glossary tools and automated consistency checkers can be very beneficial.

Autism Positives

1. The highly structured and rule-bound nature of international standards development (e.g., ISO/IEC Directives) can provide a clear framework and predictability.
2. The focus on precision, logic, and factual accuracy in normative drafting aligns well with strengths in systematic thinking.
3. The ability to focus deeply on complex technical details and spot inconsistencies is highly valued in this role.

Autism Challenges and Accommodations

1. Navigating the unwritten social dynamics and political nuances of international technical committees can be complex; clear guidance on expected communication styles and meeting etiquette, along with a mentor, is helpful.
2. Dealing with ambiguity or emotional responses during heated debates in meetings can be difficult; pre-meeting briefs on potential conflicts and strategies for 'taking it offline' can assist.
3. Sensory overload in busy meeting environments (virtual or in-person) can be a concern; offering options for noise-cancelling headphones, quiet breakout rooms, or managing camera usage in virtual meetings can help.

Key Responsibilities

Experience Levels Responsibilities

1. Level: Mid-Level Specialist (002)
2. Responsibilities: Independently manage 1-2 assigned standards projects (typically minor revisions or less contentious new work items) from the Committee Draft (CD) stage through to Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) publication.
3. Take ownership of the ballot comment reconciliation process for your projects, which means meticulously reviewing, categorising, and proposing resolutions for hundreds of comments, then documenting the rationale.
4. Act as the primary point of contact and facilitator for assigned working group meetings, running the agenda, ensuring all voices are heard, and driving towards clear decisions (this is where the 'herding cats' really happens).
5. Draft and refine sections of international standards, ensuring the language is precise, unambiguous, and adheres strictly to normative drafting principles and the ISO/IEC Directives.
6. Maintain comprehensive project documentation in SharePoint and our GRC platform, including meeting minutes, decision logs, comment registers, and version control for all draft documents (yes, it's tedious, but absolutely critical for auditability).
7. Conduct initial regulatory gap analyses, comparing proposed standard clauses against existing national or regional regulations to flag potential conflicts or opportunities for harmonisation.
8. Provide informal guidance and support to Associate Standards Coordinators (L1) on procedural matters or document management, helping them learn the ropes.
9. Supervision: You'll have weekly check-ins with your Senior Specialist to discuss project progress, challenges, and strategic direction. For routine tasks, you'll operate independently, but for novel problems or significant deviations, you'll consult with your manager.
10. Decision: You can make routine procedural decisions within the guidelines of the ISO/IEC Directives (e.g., setting meeting agendas, managing comment deadlines). You'll propose technical resolutions for ballot comments, but these need working group consensus and approval. Any significant changes to project scope, budget, or timeline need your Senior Specialist's approval. You'll escalate any major conflicts or national objections that could derail a project.
11. Success: Your projects move forward on schedule, ballot comments are resolved efficiently and to committee satisfaction, and your meeting facilitation leads to clear, documented outcomes. You're seen as a reliable and organised force within your working groups, and your documentation is always audit-ready.

Decision-Making Authority

• Type: Procedural Rule Interpretation
• Entry: Escalate to supervisor for guidance.
• Mid: Independently interpret and apply for routine situations; consult Senior Specialist for complex or ambiguous cases.
• Senior: Independently interpret and apply for all situations; provide guidance to junior staff.
• Type: Ballot Comment Resolution
• Entry: Draft proposed resolutions; supervisor reviews and approves.
• Mid: Propose resolutions, seek working group consensus, and submit for formal approval (with Senior Specialist oversight).
• Senior: Lead resolution process, drive consensus, and approve final resolutions for submission.
• Type: Project Timeline Adjustments
• Entry: Inform supervisor of potential delays.
• Mid: Propose minor timeline adjustments (up to 2 weeks) to Senior Specialist for approval; escalate major delays.
• Senior: Approve minor timeline adjustments; recommend major changes to TC Chair/management.
• Type: Technical Committee Meeting Agenda
• Entry: Assist in drafting agenda points.
• Mid: Draft and finalise meeting agendas for assigned working groups, ensuring alignment with project goals.
• Senior: Define strategic agenda for full Technical Committee meetings.

Competency Requirements

Foundation Skills (Transferable)

These are the core human skills that underpin everything you'll do. They're not just 'nice-to-haves'; they're essential for navigating the complex world of international standards development. We're looking for someone who can communicate clearly, solve problems with a level head, and adapt when things inevitably get messy.

• Category: Communication & Interpersonal
• Skills: Active Listening: Genuinely hearing and understanding diverse technical and political viewpoints, even when they conflict.
• Clear Written Communication: Drafting precise, unambiguous normative text and concise, accurate meeting minutes.
• Meeting Facilitation: Running productive working group meetings, managing discussions, and driving towards consensus.
• Diplomacy & Persuasion: Navigating sensitive discussions, mediating disagreements, and building common ground among experts.
• Category: Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking
• Skills: Analytical Thinking: Breaking down complex technical and procedural issues into manageable parts to find solutions.
• Root Cause Analysis (Basic): Applying simple frameworks (e.g., 5 Whys) to understand the 'why' behind a technical issue or comment.
• Consensus Building: Identifying key points of agreement and disagreement, and strategising ways to bridge gaps.
• Procedural Navigation: Interpreting and applying complex rules (like ISO/IEC Directives) to resolve project challenges.
• Category: Organisation & Adaptability
• Skills: Project Coordination: Managing multiple tasks, deadlines, and stakeholders across 1-2 standards projects simultaneously.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulously reviewing documents, comments, and procedural steps to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Patience & Perseverance: Maintaining focus and motivation through long, bureaucratic processes and frequent delays.
• Adaptability: Adjusting plans and approaches when new information, objections, or political shifts emerge.

Functional Skills (Role-Specific Technical)

These are the specific skills and tools you'll need to actually do the job day-to-day. We're talking about the methodologies for developing standards, the software you'll use, and the specific knowledge about the industry itself. You won't be a deep technical expert in every field, but you'll need a solid grip on the process.

Technical Competencies

• Skill: Consensus-Based Rulemaking
• Desc: The core methodology of facilitating diverse, often conflicting, expert opinions towards a single, agreed-upon text. This involves techniques for structured debate, straw polling, and formal balloting. You'll be the one making sure everyone feels heard, but also that progress is made.
• Level: Intermediate
• Skill: Standards Lifecycle Management
• Desc: Deep understanding of the formal process from New Work Item Proposal (NWIP) through Committee Draft (CD), Draft International Standard (DIS), Final Draft (FDIS), publication, and subsequent Systematic Review. You'll know exactly where your project is in the cycle and what comes next.
• Level: Intermediate
• Skill: Normative Drafting & Interpretation
• Desc: The highly precise skill of writing unambiguous, auditable, and legally defensible language for standards, distinguishing between mandatory requirements ('shall'), recommendations ('should'), and permissions ('may'). You'll be able to spot a poorly worded clause a mile off.
• Level: Intermediate
• Skill: Regulatory Gap & Harmonisation Analysis (Basic)
• Desc: The practice of mapping clauses from a proposed international standard (e.g., ISO) against existing national/regional regulations (e.g., EU Directives, OSHA regulations) to identify obvious conflicts or opportunities for alignment. You'll do the initial legwork here.
• Level: Basic

Digital Tools

• Tool: SharePoint
• Level: Intermediate
• Usage: Managing document version control, setting permissions for working group members, and organising project files for your standards projects. You'll be living in SharePoint.
• Tool: MS Teams
• Level: Intermediate
• Usage: Running virtual working group meetings, sharing files, and managing team communications. You'll use it for almost all your committee interactions.
• Tool: MS Planner / Trello
• Level: Basic
• Usage: Tracking your personal tasks, ballot deadlines, and action items for your assigned projects. Helps you keep all those plates spinning.
• Tool: Advanced Office Suite (Word, Excel)
• Level: Advanced
• Usage: Mastering Word for advanced document formatting, track changes, and comment management. Using Excel for pivot tables and VLOOKUPs to reconcile ballot comments. You'll be a wizard with these.
• Tool: Standards Body Platforms (e.g., ISOlutions, IEC Expert Management System)
• Level: Intermediate
• Usage: Proficiently using these platforms for submitting documents, managing ballots, and tracking project progress within the official standards development ecosystem. You'll know your way around them.

Industry Knowledge

• Area: Compliance Frameworks
• Desc: Understanding of common compliance frameworks and their application in various industries, particularly within the Quality, Health, and Safety domains. You'll know what 'compliance' actually means in practice.
• Area: Quality Management Principles
• Desc: Familiarity with core quality management principles (e.g., ISO 9001 concepts) and how they are embedded in international standards. You'll understand the 'why' behind quality requirements.
• Area: Health & Safety Regulations
• Desc: Basic awareness of key health and safety regulations and best practices, enough to understand the context of safety standards. You don't need to be an H&S expert, but you'll get the gist.

Regulatory Compliance Regulations

• Reg: ISO/IEC Directives (Part 1 & 2)
• Usage: You'll know these directives inside out for the stages you manage. They are the 'bible' for standards development. You'll apply them to ensure all procedural requirements are met for your projects, from drafting rules to ballot procedures.
• Reg: Relevant National/Regional Regulations (e.g., UK HSE, EU Directives)
• Usage: You'll conduct initial reviews to see if proposed standard clauses conflict with or complement existing regulations in key markets. This helps us spot potential issues early on.

Essential Prerequisites

• At least 2 years of experience in a compliance, quality, or regulatory affairs role, or equivalent experience in a highly structured, process-driven environment.
• Demonstrable experience in managing projects with multiple stakeholders, even if informal, and a track record of driving tasks to completion.
• Proven ability to draft clear, concise, and technically accurate documents, with a strong emphasis on grammar and attention to detail.
• Experience working with document control systems (e.g., SharePoint) and advanced features of Microsoft Word.
• A degree in a relevant technical, scientific, legal, or business discipline, or equivalent professional qualifications and experience.

Career Pathway Context

We're looking for someone who's already got a couple of years under their belt in a structured environment. You don't need to be a standards guru yet, but you should understand the importance of process, precision, and getting complex work done. This role builds directly on that foundation, giving you the chance to specialise and deepen your expertise in a truly unique field.

Qualifications & Credentials

Emerging Foundation Skills

• Skill: AI-Assisted Drafting & Review
• Why: AI is already here, and it's getting better at understanding context and nuance. It'll soon be indispensable for first drafts of normative text, consistency checks, and even suggesting resolutions for common ballot comments. Those who master it will be significantly more productive.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Prompt engineering for normative language generati', 'description': 'Prompt engineering for normative language generation'}, {'concept_name': 'Using AI for terminology consistency checks across', 'description': 'Using AI for terminology consistency checks across documents'}, {'concept_name': 'AI-powered summarisation of technical committee di', 'description': 'AI-powered summarisation of technical committee discussions'}, {'concept_name': 'Automated detection of conflicting clauses or defi', 'description': 'Automated detection of conflicting clauses or definitions'}]
• Prepare: This month: Start experimenting with LLMs (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) to draft simple procedural emails or summarise technical articles related to your projects.
• Next quarter: Explore AI tools designed for legal or technical drafting to see how they handle normative language and consistency.
• Month 3-6: Work with your Senior Specialist to identify a small, repetitive drafting task where AI could generate a first pass for you to refine.
• Month 6-12: Participate in internal workshops on AI in compliance and regulatory affairs, sharing your learnings and challenges.
• QuickWin: Use AI to help you summarise long email threads or complex background documents before a meeting. It's a quick way to get up to speed without reading every single word.

Advancing Technical Skills

• Skill: Advanced GRC Platform Configuration
• Why: As our GRC platforms become more central to tracking standard adherence and audit findings, you'll need to move beyond just using them. You'll need to understand how to configure workflows, map controls to new standard clauses, and generate custom reports. This will make our compliance processes much more robust.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Workflow automation within GRC platforms (e.g., Se', 'description': 'Workflow automation within GRC platforms (e.g., ServiceNow GRC, OneTrust)'}, {'concept_name': 'Mapping standard requirements to internal controls', 'description': 'Mapping standard requirements to internal controls'}, {'concept_name': 'Custom report generation and dashboard creation', 'description': 'Custom report generation and dashboard creation'}, {'concept_name': 'User access management and role-based permissions', 'description': 'User access management and role-based permissions'}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Take an online introductory course on GRC platform administration (e.g., ServiceNow Fundamentals).
• Next quarter: Work with our IT team to understand how our current GRC platform is configured and identify areas for improvement.
• Month 3-6: Propose and implement a small configuration change or new report within the platform that directly benefits your standards projects.
• Month 6-12: Seek out opportunities to shadow a more experienced GRC administrator or participate in platform user groups.
• QuickWin: Start by exploring the existing reporting capabilities of our GRC platform. Can you pull out data on standard adherence or audit findings more efficiently than you currently do?
• Skill: Data Visualisation for Standards Impact
• Why: Simply writing standards isn't enough; we need to demonstrate their value. Being able to visualise the impact of a standard – e.g., reduction in incidents, market access gained, or harmonisation achieved – will be crucial for influencing stakeholders and securing resources. This moves beyond just text to telling a story with data.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Choosing appropriate chart types for different dat', 'description': 'Choosing appropriate chart types for different data stories (e.g., trend, comparison, distribution)'}, {'concept_name': 'Principles of clear and unbiased data visualisatio', 'description': 'Principles of clear and unbiased data visualisation'}, {'concept_name': 'Using tools like Power BI or Tableau for interacti', 'description': 'Using tools like Power BI or Tableau for interactive dashboards'}, {'concept_name': 'Presenting complex data to non-technical audiences', 'description': 'Presenting complex data to non-technical audiences'}]
• Prepare: This month: Start using advanced Excel charting features to visualise trends in ballot comments or project timelines.
• Next quarter: Take an online course on data visualisation best practices (e.g., from Coursera or edX).
• Month 3-6: Experiment with a free version of Power BI or Tableau to create a simple dashboard showing the progress or impact of one of your standards projects.
• Month 6-12: Present a data-driven insight about your standards work to your team, focusing on clear visual communication.
• QuickWin: For your next project update, instead of just listing progress, create a simple timeline chart in Excel to visually show where the project stands and highlight key milestones.

Education Requirements

• Level: Minimum
• Req: A Bachelor's degree (or equivalent OFQUAL Level 6 qualification) in a relevant technical, scientific, legal, or business discipline.
• Alts: Alternatively, significant demonstrable experience (5+ years) in a highly regulated industry, with a strong focus on compliance, quality, or regulatory affairs, will be considered. We value practical experience just as much as formal qualifications.
• Level: Preferred
• Req: A Master's degree (or equivalent OFQUAL Level 7 qualification) in a related field, or a specific qualification in quality management, environmental management, or health and safety.
• Alts: Relevant professional certifications (e.g., Lead Auditor, Project Management Professional) can also strengthen your application.

Experience Requirements

You'll need at least 2-5 years of direct experience in a role that required meticulous attention to detail, project coordination, and navigating complex rules or procedures. This could be in compliance, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, technical writing, or even a legal support role. We're looking for someone who's comfortable managing multiple moving parts and isn't afraid of complex documentation.

Preferred Certifications

• Cert: ISO 9001 Lead Implementer/Auditor
• Prod: Various accredited bodies (e.g., BSI, LRQA)
• Usage: Demonstrates a deep understanding of quality management systems, which is fundamental to many international standards.
• Cert: Project Management Qualification (e.g., PRINCE2 Foundation)
• Prod: APMG International
• Usage: Shows you understand structured project management, which is essential for guiding standards through their lifecycle.
• Cert: CQI (Chartered Quality Institute) Practitioner
• Prod: CQI
• Usage: Indicates a commitment to quality professionalism and an understanding of quality principles.

Recommended Activities

• Attending national or international standards body training courses on ISO/IEC Directives and normative drafting.
• Participating in industry webinars and conferences focused on regulatory updates and emerging compliance trends.
• Joining professional networks related to quality, safety, or environmental management.
• Taking online courses in advanced Excel, data visualisation, or specific GRC platform modules.
• Engaging in internal cross-departmental projects to broaden your understanding of our business operations.

Career Progression Pathways

Entry Paths to This Role

• Path: Compliance/Regulatory Affairs Officer
• Time: 2-3 years
• Path: Quality Assurance Specialist
• Time: 2-4 years
• Path: Technical Writer / Editor (in a regulated industry)
• Time: 3-5 years

Career Progression From This Role

• Pathway: Senior International Standards Development Specialist (L3)
• Time: 3-5 years in this role
• Pathway: Lead Standards Strategist / Technical Committee Manager (L4)
• Time: 5-8 years in this role (or after L3)

Long Term Vision Potential Roles

• Title: Manager of Standards Development (L5)
• Time: 10-15 years
• Title: Director of International Standards & Compliance (L6)
• Time: 15-20 years
• Title: Chief Compliance_Quality_Health_Safety Officer (L7)
• Time: 20+ years

How Zavmo Delivers This Role's Development

DISCOVER Phase: Skills Gap Analysis

Zavmo maps your current competencies against all requirements in this job description through conversational assessment. We evaluate your foundation skills (communication, strategic thinking), functional skills (CRM expertise, negotiation), and readiness for career progression.

Output: Personalised skills gap heat map showing strengths and priorities, estimated time to competency, neurodiversity accommodations.

DISCUSS Phase: Personalised Learning Pathway

Based on your DISCOVER results, Zavmo creates a personalised learning plan prioritised by impact: foundation skills first, then functional skills. We adapt to your learning style, pace, and neurodiversity needs (ADHD, dyslexia, autism).

Output: Week-by-week schedule, each module linked to specific job responsibilities, checkpoints and milestones.

DELIVER Phase: Conversational Learning

Learn through conversation, not boring modules. Zavmo uses 10 conversation types (Socratic dialogue, role-play, coaching, case studies) to build competence. Practice difficult QBR presentations, negotiate tough renewals, and handle churn conversations in a safe AI environment before facing real clients.

Example: "For 'Stakeholder Mapping', Zavmo will guide you through analysing a complex enterprise account, identifying key decision-makers, and building an engagement strategy."

DEMONSTRATE Phase: Competency Assessment

Zavmo automatically builds your evidence portfolio as you learn. Every conversation, practice scenario, and application example is captured and mapped to NOS performance criteria. When ready, your portfolio supports OFQUAL qualification claims and demonstrates competence to employers.

Output: Competency matrix, evidence portfolio (downloadable), qualification readiness, career progression score.