Trainee Sustainability Auditor

£23,000 - £29,000 pa depending on experience, and increasing once qualified

Interface NRM Ltd is a Certification Body operating across the UK, and internationally with a partner organisation in northern Italy. Our main office is based in Telford. We provide a range of certification services, including FSC/PEFC Chain of Custody, vehicle recycling and a range of environmental and carbon-related certification schemes. Interface NRM is employee-owned, and you will be able to access our excellent employee bonus scheme after 12 months employment. We strongly support personal development and training of staff. We have over 800 excellent Trustpilot reviews, and we are industry-leading in terms of customer service and satisfaction.

As we are growing, we have a need for sustainability auditors. Our ethos is to bring in high quality individuals who have both an interest in sustainability auditing and demonstrate the potential for delivering excellence in the field. We are looking for graduates/post-graduates with a mature outlook and some previous work experience, or individuals who are looking for a career change into a challenging but satisfying role, where you can make a real difference.

You will be provided with a comprehensive programme of development, including auditor training and formal qualification, hands-on audit experience and a mentoring programme.

Job Purpose:

In this role you will become an effective Lead Auditor for FSC/PEFC chain of custody, and other sustainability/climate-change related audit schemes. Once qualified, you will plan and conduct professional audits in line with procedures, standards and expectations of clients.

The training programme typically lasts about 6 months. During this time you will be required to spend a significant amount of time at our offices in Telford, Shropshire, as well as travelling to audit sites across the UK. Once qualified, the job will be largely field based and will require the auditor to travel extensively within the UK, and possibly internationally, visiting a wide range of commercial and industrial organisations. You will be largely home-based, with visits to the Telford office as required. You must be happy driving and staying 1-2 nights per week in hotel accommodation for up to 50 nights a year. In this role you will generally work alone and you will be expected to display a high level of independence from the company’s office when engaged in auditing or other related activities. You will have a target of 150 audit days per year.

During the course of your auditing work you will be expected to support business development by identifying opportunities for providing additional services to clients.

Duties and key result areas:

Duties will include:

• Conducting Gap Analysis, Certification, Surveillance and Re-Certification Audits on Clients against FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody, and other, standards.
• Effectively documenting audit findings in audit reports in a timely manner
• Working closely with operations staff to ensure that diary and fee-earning targets are met.
• Identifying and reporting back on business development opportunities.
• Contributing to meeting the compliance requirements of our accreditation bodies and to continual improvement at Interface NRM.

Results will be:

• Satisfactory client feedback
• Documenting audits and submitting acceptable reports in a timely manner
• Delivering fee earning targets

The duties and responsibilities highlighted in this Job Description are indicative and may vary over time. Post holders may be expected to undertake other duties and responsibilities relevant to the nature, level and extent of the position.

Work Arrangements

Largely based on client sites, with home-working and on average 0.5-1 day per week based in the Telford office. Business mileage rates will be paid for business travel or car provided.

Flexible weekday working 37.5 hours per week.

25 days annual holidays plus bank holidays.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Qualifications - Essential

• Education to A level or equivalent NVQ etc.
• Full driving licence

Knowledge and Qualifications - Desirable

• First or Masters degree, or equivalent - i.e. MSc/MA, BA/BSc, HNC, NVQ 5, etc.
• Lead auditor, or equivalent, qualification.

Experience - Essential

• Experience of forestry, natural resources or forest-product/wood-based industries (this could include point of sale, construction, warehousing, manufacturing etc.)

Experience - Desirable

• Relevant work experience in positions with management systems and/or sustainability/supply chain responsibility.
• Evidence of work experience in a technical, managerial or professional position, ideally including operational and auditing experience.
• Experience of working in a growing, high pressure SME environment.
• Experience of Quality, Environmental or Chain of Custody auditing.

Skills and competencies

• High level of proficiency in the use of standard software/systems (Microsoft 365, MS Office etc.)
• Effective report writing
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills
• Self-starter, problem identifier and problem solver.
• Ability to work as a member of a high-performance team.

Physical, mental and emotional demands

• Some days are very hard work, requiring early starts and travel to the place of work, and may involve a late return home, or a night in a hotel. It is essential that this is understood and that you can cope, or thrive, in a demanding and fast-moving environment, and have the confidence to travel independently.

Applications

To apply, please send your CV and Covering Letter to [email protected]