Call for Subject Matter Experts
Have You Spent Years Doing This Work—and Seen What Actually Matters?
If you’ve spent years in grill service, repair, or technical sales, you’ve probably seen a pattern:
- Good work and bad work look very different—but customers often can’t tell
- Safety issues get missed, minimized, or explained away
- Experience and judgment matter more than checklists
If that resonates, you may be exactly the kind of professional AGSI is hoping to hear from.
For Experienced Professionals
AGSI is building a certification program intended to bring clarity, credibility, and professionalism to grill service. We are inviting experienced professionals to contribute insight—not to promote a credential, but to help ensure that what is assessed actually reflects the work.
“That’s not how it works in the field.”
“That sounds good on paper, but it misses the real risks.”
“This industry deserves better than vague claims.”
What We Mean by "SME"
At AGSI, a Subject Matter Expert (SME) is not necessarily a Ph.D. or a corporate executive. It is simply an experienced professional who contributes perspective to the development of certification programs.
SMEs are professionals who have done the work long enough to know where theory and reality diverge. They are the technicians who know why a component fails, not just how to replace it.
The Role
You act as a filter. Your job is to look at exam topics and say, "That isn't relevant to safety," or "That question is tricky, not hard." You help us distinguish between textbook knowledge and field competence.
Why We Engage SMEs
As the industry evolves, certification will either reflect reality or drift toward abstraction. We engage the industry to prevent the latter.
A certification is only as valuable as its ability to predict competence. SME participation ensures:
- Certification reflects real-world decision-making, not obscure trivia.
- Emphasis is placed on safety and judgment rather than rote memorization.
- We avoid favoring any single manufacturer, business model, or franchise system.
- Questions are "stress-tested" against actual field scenarios before appearing on an exam.
Role Clarification
Participation Is:
- Advisory and non-decision-making
- Focused on relevance, clarity, and professional practice
- Limited in scope and time commitment
- Independent of certification outcomes
Participation Is Not:
- A requirement to become certified
- A marketing or promotional role
- Authority over exams, scoring, or pass/fail decisions
- Involvement in appeals or enforcement
SMEs contribute insight. AGSI retains responsibility for certification decisions.
Who Is Typically a Good Fit
Experience Profile
- Professionals with 7+ years in grill service, repair, or technical sales
- People who regularly make judgment calls involving safety or risk
- Individuals respected by peers for experience rather than self-promotion
- Professionals who care about how the industry is perceived
Independence
Certification Is Not Required: SMEs are not required to hold, pursue, or promote AGSI certification.
SME participation is intentionally independent of certification to preserve impartiality and credibility.
Time Commitment & Compensation
Time: Structured to respect your time. Defined scope, typically a 12-month term, primarily asynchronous with limited meetings.
Compensation: AGSI is currently bootstrapped. At this stage, SME participation is uncompensated. As the program matures, AGSI may introduce honoraria; participation today is based on professional contribution.
How to Express Interest
There is no formal application. If this role sounds aligned with your experience and values, please email us.
- Your name
- Where you currently work (or most recent role)
- A brief summary of your professional experience
- What perspective you believe you would contribute
Thank You
Professionals who choose to contribute as SMEs do so out of respect for the craft. Your experience helps ensure that certification is meaningful, fair, and worthy of trust.