100% Free · Space Solutions International (Pvt) Ltd

Development Officer (Standards/Ind)

HIGH DemandLOW AI RiskSTABLE in SL

A niche but important role for those who care about quality systems and want stable, meaningful work in developing national technical standards.

About This Role

Coordinating regional industrial development and promoting standardization in SMEs.

A Day in the Life

Development Officers in Standards work to develop, review, and promote national standards — coordinating between industry, government, and international bodies like ISO to ensure quality benchmarks across sectors.

  • Draft and review national standards documents
  • Coordinate technical committee meetings
  • Liaise with industry stakeholders on standard requirements
  • Research international standards (ISO, IEC, ITU)
  • Prepare reports for standards adoption
  • Conduct awareness programmes for standards compliance
  • Support certification and accreditation processes

Work Environment

OFFICETeam: SMALLFORMALRemote: LOW

Government or quasi-government office environment. Structured, document-heavy work with stakeholder engagement responsibilities.

Typical hours: 40h/week · WLB score 9/10 · OCCASIONAL overtime

Excellent work-life balance in government/regulatory bodies. Very structured working hours.

Skills Required

Required

Quality Control & Inspection

Preferred

Business Development & Partnerships

Technical Skills

Technical WritingStandards Knowledge (ISO, IEC)ResearchProject CoordinationRegulatory FrameworksIndustry Knowledge

Soft Skills

CommunicationAttention to DetailDiplomacyAnalytical ThinkingOrganisation

Tools & Software

MS Office SuiteDocument Management SystemsISO Online Browsing PlatformResearch databases

Salary in Sri Lanka (LKR / month)

Entry LevelRs.50k – Rs.75k/mo
Mid-LevelRs.75k – Rs.120k/mo
SeniorRs.120k – Rs.200k/mo
Entry: Standards Development OfficerMid: Senior Development OfficerSenior: Principal Standards Officer / Director

Typical progression: 3yr to mid · 8yr to senior

Progress from junior development officer through technical expertise and committee leadership to senior/principal level.

Global Salary (USD / year)

Entry Level$45k – $65k/yr
Mid-Level$65k – $90k/yr
Senior$90k – $130k/yr

Top Markets

ISO GenevaUK BSIGermany DINSingapore SSCAustralia Standards Australia

Market Outlook

STABLE

Steady government/regulatory sector demand. SLSI and sector-specific bodies hire regularly. Not a large volume role but stable.

Hiring: LOW

SLSI (Sri Lanka Standards Institution)SLABMinistry of IndustriesTelecommunications Regulatory CommissionIndustry associations

STABLE

Standards bodies and regulatory agencies worldwide maintain steady hiring. Globalisation increases importance of international standards alignment.

Entry Requirements

Sri Lanka

Min. EducationBACHELORS
ExperienceTechnical background in relevant industry

Preferred

BSc or BEng in relevant technical fieldISO awareness trainingTechnical writing experience

Global

Min. EducationBACHELORS
Experience2-3 years industry or regulatory experience

Preferred

ISO committee participationDomain expertise in standards areaGraduate qualification in relevant field

Helpful Certifications

ISO Lead Auditor (relevant sector)Quality Management CertificationProject Management fundamentals

Risks & Challenges

AI Replacement Risk

LOW

LONG TERM

Burnout Risk

LOW

Job Security (SL)

HIGH

Standards development requires human stakeholder management, industry expertise, and diplomatic skills that resist automation.

Burnout Causes

Slow pace of standards development can be frustratingBureaucratic processes

Physical Health Risks

Sedentary desk work

Mental Health Risks

Tedium of bureaucratic processesLimited pace of change

How to Mitigate

  • Build deep domain expertise in a technical area
  • Participate in international ISO committees
  • Develop ISO lead auditor certification

Is This Career For You?

Suited for technically-minded graduates who prefer structured, methodical work, value work-life balance, and want to contribute to long-term quality improvement at the national level.

Personality Types

ISTJINFJINTJ

Core Motivations

Contributing to national quality benchmarksSystematic improvement of industriesStable government service

What You'll Love

  • Excellent work-life balance
  • Job security
  • Meaningful contribution to national development
  • Represent Sri Lanka in international forums

What's Challenging

  • Slow bureaucratic processes
  • Limited salary compared to private sector
  • Low public visibility

How to Qualify in Sri Lanka

View all paths →

At a Glance

SL Salary (entry)Rs.50k – Rs.75k/mo
SL Salary (senior)Rs.120k – Rs.200k/mo
Global (senior)$90k – $130k/yr
SL DemandSTABLE
WLB Score9/10
Hours/week~40h
Remote WorkLOW

AI Replacement Risk

LOW

LONG TERM

Sectors

GovernmentPrivate

Reviews & Ratings

Loading reviews…

Frequently Asked Questions

Development Officers in Standards work to develop, review, and promote national standards — coordinating between industry, government, and international bodies like ISO to ensure quality benchmarks across sectors.

To become a Development Officer (Standards/Ind) in Sri Lanka, you typically need BACHELORS. Relevant degree programmes include: Information Communication Technology, Information Communication Technology. Explore step-by-step career roadmaps contributed by Sri Lankan Development Officer (Standards/Ind)s at paths.lk/career-paths/development-officer-standardsind.

In Sri Lanka, a Development Officer (Standards/Ind) earns LKR 50k–LKR 75k/month at entry level, LKR 75k–LKR 120k/month at mid-level, and LKR 120k–LKR 200k/month at senior level. Globally, experienced Development Officer (Standards/Ind)s earn USD 130k+/year.

Key skills for a Development Officer (Standards/Ind) in Sri Lanka: Quality Control & Inspection. Important soft skills: Communication, Attention to Detail, Diplomacy. Tools and software: MS Office Suite, Document Management Systems, ISO Online Browsing Platform, Research databases.

Progress from junior development officer through technical expertise and committee leadership to senior/principal level.

Steady government/regulatory sector demand. SLSI and sector-specific bodies hire regularly. Not a large volume role but stable.

A niche but important role for those who care about quality systems and want stable, meaningful work in developing national technical standards.

Government or quasi-government office environment. Structured, document-heavy work with stakeholder engagement responsibilities.