Associate Director

Role Purpose

Associate Directors are senior strategic advisors who lead the design and delivery of high-impact consulting projects. They apply deep technical expertise and analytical insight to solve complex client challenges while managing teams of consultants and contractors. Operating with autonomy and accountability, they oversee client relationships, drive business development, and contribute to the growth of LRQA’s market presence. Recognised as subject matter experts in one or more advisory specialisms, they play a key role in developing service offerings, leading and mentoring colleagues, and fostering innovation and continuous improvement across LRQA.

Accountabilities

• Client Delivery & Strategic impact: Leads high-impact consulting engagements, often spanning one or more operational areas. Delivers strategic insights and actionable recommendations that consistently exceed client expectations. Drives measurable outcomes aligned with client objectives and broader business strategy.
• Business Development & Market Growth: Leads strategic initiatives to grow market share by identifying new opportunities, securing key contracts, and supporting entry into new markets. Actively sources and closes business opportunities from lead generation through to contracting. Collaborates with senior leaders across the business to shape and pursue growth opportunities. Enhances LRQA’s visibility and reputation through thought leadership, including speaking at events, publishing articles, and representing the brand at industry forums.
• Reporting & Team Leadership: Manages a team of consultants and contractors, providing strategic direction, performance oversight, and day-to-day support. Builds a high-performing, collaborative culture through effective coaching, mentorship, and resource planning. Ensures delivery excellence by aligning team capabilities with business priorities and client needs.
• Project Leadership & Execution: Oversees end-to-end delivery of complex consulting projects, ensuring strategic alignment, timely execution, and adherence to budget and quality standards. Anticipates and mitigates risks, adapting delivery to evolving client needs and market dynamics. Resolve delivery challenges and serve as an escalation point.
• Advisory & Technical Expertise: Applies deep subject matter expertise to solve complex challenges, lead technical delivery, and guide teams across specialist areas.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Influence: Builds and sustains strategic relationships with senior client stakeholders and internal teams. Communicates with clarity and influence across diverse audiences, aligning stakeholders around shared goals and solutions.
• Product Development / Knowledge Management: Contributes to global LRQA initiatives to design and enhance consulting service offerings, from high-level marketing materials to detailed standard operating procedures and delivery tools. Drives continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and innovation through cross-team collaboration and structured knowledge-sharing.
• Capability building & Team Development: Builds team capability through coaching, mentoring, and training. Fosters a culture of learning, collaboration, and innovation to support high performance and career development.
• Quality, Ethics Compliance: Ensures all work meets rigorous standards of quality, ethics, and compliance. Embeds best practices in confidentiality, data protection, and professional integrity.
• Collaboration & Communication: Leads cross-functional collaboration with clarity and empathy. Builds high-performing teams, navigates complex stakeholder environments, and drives alignment across diverse groups
  
  

Skills

• Commercial awareness: Demonstrates deep understanding of client needs and LRQA’s strategic value proposition across global markets. Proactively identifies growth opportunities, strengthens client relationships, and provides market intelligence to inform business development and positioning.
• Analytical Thinking: Leverages advanced analytical capabilities to interpret complex, multi-dimensional data. Synthesizes insights to shape strategic recommendations, influence client decisions, and drive innovation within technical area of expertise.
• Continuous learning: Champions a culture of learning and innovation. Anticipates emerging trends, integrates new knowledge into consulting practices, and mentors others to build capability across the team.
• Project Management: Oversees complex, multi-stakeholder consulting projects with precision. Ensures delivery excellence by managing scope, risk, and resources, while maintaining strategic alignment and client satisfaction.
• Influencing & Advisory Skills: Acts as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders. Shapes strategic direction through evidence-based insights, facilitates change management, and builds consensus to drive sustainable impact.
• Leadership & People Development: Plays a key role within the leadership team, driving strategic initiatives to improve operational efficiency and enhance consulting impact. Ability to effectively translates strategic priorities into actionable plans across one or more operational area.
  
  

Experience And Qualification

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a discipline relevant to corporate sustainability management, responsible sourcing, or business and human rights. A postgraduate degree is highly desirable.
• Professional Experience: Extensive experience across diverse and challenging environments. Proven ability to navigate complex and sensitive issues, consistently delivering results. Demonstrated success in business development, team leadership, and project management.Consulting industry experience preferred.
• Technical Knowledge: Over 10 years of relevant experience in corporate sustainability management, responsible sourcing, business and human rights topics advisory areas. Recognised as a subject matter expert with deep technical knowledge and insight in topic areas. Experience in industries such asfood and beverage, consumer goods, automotive, pharma, and technology is highly desirable.
• Language Skills: Fluent in written and spoken English, with the ability to document outputs clearly and communicate complex information to a range of audiences. Additional languages are an advantage.
• Competitive Salary aligned with your expertise and market benchmarks. The anticipated salary range for individuals in this position is $125,000–145,000 dependent upon qualifications, experience, geography, and industry knowledge.
  
  

Diversity and Inclusion at LRQA:

We are on a mission to be the place where we all want to work and we are passionate about embracing different perspectives because we understand the value this brings to our business, our clients and each other. We are all about creating a safer and more sustainable future and our inclusive culture is right at the heart of our business.

Together our employees make our communities better and we want you to be part of our diverse team!

LRQA is a leading global assurance provider. The integrity and expertise we bring to our partnership with clients support their journey to a safer, more secure and more sustainable future. ( Group entities ).

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