Director of Certification

Company Overview

Blue Zones employs evidence-based ways to help people live better, longer. The company's work is rooted in explorations and research done by founder and National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner in blue zones regions around the world, where people live extraordinarily long and/or happy lives. The original research and findings were released in Buettner's bestselling books The Blue Zones Solution, The Blue Zones of Happiness, The Blue Zones, Thrive, and Blue Zones Kitchen—all published by National Geographic books. A hit docuseries, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, was released on Netflix in 2023. Using original Blue Zones research, Blue Zones works with cities and counties to make healthy choices easier through permanent and semi-permanent changes to our human-made surroundings. Participating communities have experienced double-digit drops in obesity and tobacco use and have saved millions of dollars in healthcare costs. For more information, visit www.bluezones.com.

Position Summary

The Director of Certification will serve as the strategic and operational leader responsible for building, commercializing, and scaling Blue Zones’ enterprise certification programs (including Communities, Worksites, Campuses, Real Estate and Hospitality).

This role owns the end-to-end certification lifecycle: from framework architecture and audit standard formulation to commercial go-to-market (GTM) execution and program economics. The ideal candidate blends deep expertise in standard-setting and compliance credentialing (e.g., LEED, WELL, B Corp, ISO) with sharp commercial acumen to build high-margin, scalable products that drive global impact and recurring revenue.

Essential Functions

Program Development & Standards Architecture

- Design, refine, and maintain rigorous, evidencebased certification frameworks rooted in Blue Zones research, public health outcomes, and the Power 9® principles. - Establish clear rubrics, tiered designations, performance scorecards, and verification pathways tailored to specific B2B verticals (e.g., masterplanned communities, commercial developments, multifamily housing, employer worksites). - Partner with internal researchers, urban planners, and external advisory boards to ensure the certification program remains scientifically validated, modern, and legally defensible. - Set fidelity standards for each program: what cannot change and what trainers can adapt locally. - Build audit, inspection, and compliance guidelines, including initial review processes, recertification intervals, and credential governance.

Go-to-Market (GTM) & Commercial Strategy

- Develop and execute crossfunctional GTM strategies for new and refreshed certification tiers, coordinating with Business Development, Marketing, and Operations. - Define target market segments, Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs), positioning, and value propositions that differentiate Blue Zones certification from conventional wellness or greenbuilding credentials. - Enable direct sales teams, channel partners, and enterprise consultants with sales playbooks, collateral, ROI calculators, and pilot program structures. - Establish strategic alliances with developer networks, architectural firms, property managers, health systems, and municipality leaders to drive inbound adoption.

Product Economics

- Own the certification product modeling, revenue targets, and margin expectations. - Architect multitiered pricing models—including application fees, audit costs, implementation toolkits, and annual licensing/recurring credential renewal fees. - Monitor and optimize unit economics, tracking Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), Lifetime Value (LTV), gross margins, costtoaudit, and churn/retention rates. - Forecast demand and implement pricing adjustments to maximize market penetration while protecting premium brand positioning.

Operational Delivery & Platform Scalability

- Build streamlined operational workflows for intake, documentation verification, site assessments, and credential issuance. - Evaluate and implement certification management software (CMS), client portals, and audit technology platforms to automate manual review steps and support scalable volume. - Build and manage a network of qualified thirdparty auditors and technical advisors, establishing performance SLAs and quality control oversight. - Track client onboarding cycle times, Net Promoter Scores (NPS), and recertification retention to continuously refine user experience.

Specific Skills / Attributes

- Energized by the Blue Zones mission to empower everyone, everywhere to live better, longer. - Ability to establish clear standards and drive consistency and accountability across teams and regions. - Proven ability to build or significantly scale an inspection, audit, or certification program - Ability to design and implement a scorecard or rubric system to translate qualitative standards into measurable and quantifiable results. - Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify trends, risks, and opportunities from assessment and performance data. - Sound judgment and decisionmaking skills, particularly when navigating complex or disputed certification decisions. - Ability to balance partner support and relationship management with consistent enforcement of program standards. - Strong crossfunctional collaboration skills, with the ability to build alignment around program criteria, standards, and expectations. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly explain findings, decisions, and expectations to varied audiences. - Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to evolve processes and standards based on data, experience, and program maturity. - Comfortable operating with independence and taking ownership of highimpact decisions and escalations.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Health, Urban Planning, Sustainability, or a related field. - 5 years of progressive leadership experience in credentialing, certification, standardsetting, or enterprise SaaS/accreditation products. - Demonstrated track record of launching and scaling B2B certification products or subscription/licensing lines with direct P&L accountability. - Deep familiarity with environmental, wellness, or sustainability certification models (e.g., WELL Building Standard, LEED, Fitwel, B Corp, UL, or comparable credentialing bodies). - Proven ability to build financial models, establish pricing strategies for technical products, assess margin profiles, and report on unit economics to executive leadership. - Experience presenting complex technical or business concepts to seniorlevel stakeholders, including real estate developers, corporate executives, architects, and municipal leaders. - Ability to travel as needed for site visits.

Preferred Qualifications

- MBA or Master’s degree in Business, Public Health, Urban Planning, Sustainability, or a related field preferred.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

- Ability to remain in a stationary position, often sitting, for extended periods of time. - Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment on a regular basis. - Ability to move about inside the office to access files, equipment, and attend meetings. - Ability to attend and participate in events, which may include walking and/or standing for extended periods. - Ability to lift and transport items up to 20 pounds, such as event materials or equipment. - Ability to communicate effectively, both in person and virtually. - Ability to travel occasionally to offsite meetings or events as required.

About Blue Zones LLC

Blue Zones is a well-being transformation company that partners with communities, organizations, and individuals to make healthy choices easier. Today, we work in more than 70 communities and with thousands of organizations, reaching millions of people nationwide and helping them live better, longer. We create lasting change by supporting sustainable improvements in the built environment, food systems, and social connections. Our work helps communities reduce healthcare costs, improve productivity, access funding, and ultimately enjoy a higher quality of life. When you join Blue Zones, you become part of a purpose-driven team bringing innovative leaders together to spark meaningful change. Together, we're leading a movement to improve well-being at scale — one that benefits not just communities, but the friends, families, and neighbors who call it home.