Forest & Palm Oil Lead Auditor

About the Role

The Forest & Palm Oil Auditor is responsible for conducting comprehensive audits and verifications of forest management practices and palm oil production facilities to ensure compliance with international sustainability standards and certification requirements. Reports to Product Manager, Certification Production. Employment type: Full-time. Work arrangement: Onsite / field-based.

Responsibilities

• Conduct on-site audits of forest operations and palm oil plantations according to established audit protocols and international standards (FSC, RSPO, ISO 14001, etc.).
• Verify compliance with environmental regulations, labor standards, and sustainability requirements.
• Collect and document evidence through field observations, interviews, record reviews, photos and supporting materials.
• Prepare comprehensive audit reports with findings, non-conformances and recommendations within established timelines.
• Communicate audit objectives, scope and procedures to client representatives; conduct exit meetings and provide technical clarifications.
• Maintain accurate audit files, document non-conformances with clear evidence and references to applicable standards, and ensure data protection compliance.
• Adhere to Bureau Veritas audit protocols and quality standards; follow health, safety and environmental procedures during field audits and maintain impartiality.
• Participate in training, stay updated on changes in sustainability standards, provide feedback on audit methodologies and contribute to team knowledge sharing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Agriculture, Environmental Science or related field.
• Valid FSC Auditor Certification or RSPO Auditor Certification; ISO 14001 Lead Auditor Certification preferred.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel domestically and internationally (up to 50% of time).
• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in forest management, palm oil operations or agricultural auditing with proven sustainability/environmental audit experience and field experience in tropical forests or plantation environments.
• Knowledge of international sustainability standards (FSC, RSPO, PEFC) and familiarity with ISO 14001 and social/labor compliance standards.

Skills

• Deep technical knowledge of forestry and palm oil industry practices and standards.
• Attention to detail and ability to identify non-conformances and document findings accurately.
• Analytical thinking to assess complex sustainability issues and provide recommendations.
• Clear written and verbal communication in English; additional languages an asset.
• Comfortable working in remote locations and challenging environmental conditions; ability to walk extended distances and carry audit equipment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and performance-based incentives.
• Health insurance and medical benefits, professional development and training opportunities, travel allowances and per diem, pension/retirement benefits as per local regulations.

Additional Information

• Field-based work in forest and plantation environments with frequent travel to client sites and exposure to outdoor elements and varying climate conditions.
• Physical requirements include ability to walk extended distances, climb when necessary, lift and carry audit equipment, and valid health/fitness for remote field work.
• Key performance indicators: audit completion rate and on-time delivery, quality of audit reports, customer satisfaction scores, compliance with audit protocols and zero safety incidents.