Senior Certification Officer

• Strong leadership abilities with experience in team management and mentoring.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to think strategically about certification processes.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to liaise with stakeholders at all levels.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Lead Certification Processes: Take ownership of the entire certification process for gambling-related software and hardware, ensuring smooth collaboration with Test Labs from product testing to market delivery. Provide leadership to ensure products meet global regulatory and legislative standards for certification.
• Mentorship and Team Development: Lead and manage the Certification Officers, providing guidance, training, and support in their day-to-day operations. Foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment that embraces accountability and continuous improvement.
• Oversee Test Reports and Documentation: Ensure that all test reports and supporting documentation are reviewed for compliance with relevant legislation. Provide direction on preparing detailed reports that enable Compliance Officers to engage effectively with regulators.
• Manage External Stakeholder Relationships: Establish and maintain strong relationships with Test Labs, third-party partners, and product clients, ensuring that certification requirements are clearly understood and met. Proactively manage communications to resolve any technical issues or non-compliances identified during certification.
• Strategic Oversight of Certification Procedures: Review and refine the Compliance Certification Framework and procedures to ensure efficient and accurate certification processes. Take the lead in designing compliance monitoring plansto track product progress from development to certification.
• Lead Legislative Compliance: Take responsibility for applying global regulatory standards and ensuring that product certification aligns with market-specific legislative requirements. Ensure certifications comply with South African National Standards 1718:4 and other relevant certifications.
• Lead Continuous Improvement and Innovation: Drive innovation and continuous process improvements in certification procedures. Proactively identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and expedite product delivery to market.
• Manage Reporting and Communication: Provide regular updates to Management on the status of certification queues, ensuring timely delivery and escalation of any bottlenecks. Oversee the communication of certification status across teams and ensure alignment with delivery goals.
• Oversee Risk Management: Identify potential risks related to certification processes and non-compliance and take proactive steps to mitigate these risks. Escalate any significant compliance issues to senior management for further action.
• Lead Training and Knowledge Sharing: Lead the development and delivery of training materials on new legislative requirements and certification processes. Ensure that internal teams are kept up to date with regulatory changes and provide leadership in implementing new requirements.
• Decision-Making in Certification: Make informed, strategic decisions regarding certification processes, ensuring all product releases meet the necessary compliance and quality assurance standards.

Living the spirit: 

As a Senior Certification Officer, you are expected to lead by example, ensuring that your work aligns with the highest standards of professionalism, ethical conduct, and innovation. You are responsible for not only maintaining compliance but also creating a culture of accountability, responsibility, and continuous improvement.

• Embrace Leadership: Lead by example, take full ownership of the certification process, and inspire your team to follow through on their responsibilities with diligence and accountability.
• Promote Collaboration: Create a collaborative environment with cross-functional teams to ensure a seamless certification process and encourage open communication between internal and external stakeholders.
• Drive Change and Innovation: Embrace change, actively seek innovative solutions, and challenge the status quo to improve certification processes and efficiency.
• Commit to Growth: Take responsibility for your professional development and continuously seek opportunities to learn and grow in your role, encouraging your team to do the same.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in law.
• Certification in Compliance or Risk Management (advantageous).
• Professional certification in relevant standards (e.g., South African National Standards 1718:4).

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in a compliance or certification environment, including a track record of leading teams and driving certification processes.
• Demonstrated experience in pre-certification testing, certification processes, and quality assurance.
• Experience with global gambling legislation and national standards such as South African National Standards 1718:4.
• Strong understanding of the gambling industry regulations and market-specific certification requirements.

Knowledge:

• Proficient in product knowledge related to gambling legislation and certification standards.
• Strong knowledge of South African National Standards 1718:4 and global certification requirements.

Core Competencies:

• Leadership and People Management: Proven ability to lead, manage, and mentor a team to achieve both short-term and long-term goals.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align certification processes with the company's strategic goals and ensure compliance at every level.
• Innovative and Efficiency-Driven: Proactively seeks ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and drive innovation in the certification process.
• Accountability and Ownership: Takes full responsibility for decisions and actions, holding the team and stakeholders.