Standards & Certification Specialist - Tony's Chain

Position: Standards & Certification Specialist - Tony's Open Chain
Why we are here
Tony’s Chocolonely is committed to ending exploitation in cocoa. We are an impact company that makes chocolate, not a chocolate company that makes impact. With incredibly tasty chocolate, we lead by example, demonstrating that ethical practices and success can go hand in hand. Through Tony's Open Chain (TOC), mission allies like Albert Heijn, Ben & Jerry's, Jokolade, and Aldi have embraced a fairer, more transparent supply chain for their chocolate too.

What you will do
Tony’s Open Chain is taking the next big step in scaling impact: transforming our 5 Sourcing Principles into a fully certifiable and auditable standards framework. This is where you come in.

As our Standards & Certification Specialist, you will lead the implementation and operation of Tony’s Open Chain certification scheme, ensuring it is robust, credible, and ready for external audits in line with ISO standards, ISEAL and regulation such as the EU Emp Co Directive. As Emp Co raises the bar on sustainability claims, this role is key to super charge our impact and lead the industry with a credible, auditable scheme.

You will translate complex sourcing principles into clear, structured, and auditable standards, and make sure they are embedded in how we work across teams, partner cooperatives and mission allies globally, all with the aim of bringing a positive impact on the lives of farmers in West Africa. You will own the end-to-end certification lifecycle, from expanding and ope rationalising the standards, to building audit cycles, coordinating internal audits, working with external certification bodies, and driving continuous improvement in line with Emp Co requirements and other relevant regulatory frameworks.

In this role, you bring structure to complexity and make sure things actually land. You work with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders including internal teams such as Impact, Operations and Data, as well as external partners, ensuring alignment between documentation, real-life practices, and audit requirements. You will not just design the system, you will make it work in practice, motivating teams, activating stakeholders, identifying gaps, and ensuring we continuously raise the bar.

In short, you make sure Tony’s Open Chain can prove and scale its impact through a credible, industry-leading certification model.

All wrapped up

Implement and expand the TOC Sourcing Standards into a fully auditable certification scheme

Translate sourcing principles into clear standards, SOPs, and documentation aligned with ISO frameworks

Own and run the full audit cycle, including preparation, execution, and follow-up with external certification bodies

Set up and coordinate the Internal Audit Program, including training auditors and managing non-conformities

Drive continuous improvement through root cause analysis, corrective actions, and risk assessments

Ensure all processes, documentation, and systems are aligned, up to date, and reflect actual ways of working

Collaborate with global stakeholders to embed standards across teams, partner cooperatives and mission allies

Monitor regulatory and standards developments including ISO, ISEAL and the EU Emp Co Directive and translate these into practical updates

Train and support teams, mission allies and cooperatives in implementing the certification scheme

Our new flavor

3+ years of experience in certification, standards, compliance, or auditing environments

Experience with ISO frameworks such as ISO 17065 and 17029 and affinity with ISO 22000, and/or experience with ISEAL standards-setting code

Proven experience in setting up or implementing management systems, standards, or certification frameworks

Strong project management skills with the ability to drive complex, cross-functional initiatives

Experience with audit processes (internal and/or external) and working with certification bodies

Strong process thinker with experience building SOPs, policies, and structured documentation systems

Ability to analyse risks, handle non-conformities, and drive continuous improvement

Strong stakeholder management skills and ability to positively engage, activate and influence people to adopt new ways…