Business Area Manager – Certification

Business Area Manager – Certification

Location: Kettering, Northamptonshire (NN16 8SD)

Salary: £40,000 – £50,000 DOE

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Closing Date: 13th November 2026

The Opportunity

Interaction Recruitment are recruiting on behalf of a leading technical organisation for an experienced Business Area Manager – Certification to join their team based in Kettering.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop the Certification teams, creating a high-performing and commercially focused working environment.
• Drive departmental performance against budgets, revenue targets, operational KPIs and strategic objectives.
• Take ownership of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control and month-end reporting.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, profitability, service delivery and business growth.
• Develop team capability through coaching, performance management, training and succession planning.
• Ensure effective resource planning and workload management to meet customer requirements.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, industry stakeholders, regulators and trade associations.
• Support business development activities, identifying new opportunities and strengthening the organisation’s market position.
• Oversee quality management systems and ensure ongoing compliance with ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring quality, health and safety and operational standards are maintained.
• Work collaboratively with Testing, Sales, China and other departments to deliver an excellent customer experience.
• Represent the organisation at industry events, exhibitions, presentations, webinars and customer meetings.
• Undertake regular UK and Ireland travel, alongside occasional international travel, including visits to China.

About You

• The successful candidate will be an inspirational and commercially minded leader with proven experience managing teams and delivering business performance within a technical, certification, testing or regulated industry environment.
• You will ideally demonstrate:
• Proven leadership and people management experience, with the ability to develop and motivate high-performing teams.
• Strong operational management skills, including responsibility for KPIs, budgets and business performance.
• A relevant technical background within certification, conformity assessment, testing or a regulated industry.
• The ability to understand and interpret technical standards and regulatory requirements.
• Strong commercial awareness, including budget management, forecasting and financial reporting.
• Experience in business development, customer relationship management and identifying growth opportunities.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience driving continuous improvement and implementing operational change.
• Strong organisational, planning and decision-making abilities.
• A proactive, resilient and results-driven approach, with the confidence to make decisions and hold teams accountable.
• Competent IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Teams.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly within the UK, Ireland and internationally.

Candidates must be resident in the UK or Republic of Ireland.

Desirable Experience

• A recognised leadership or management qualification.
• Experience managing teams within an accredited certification or laboratory environment.
• Knowledge of ISO/IEC 17065 and accreditation requirements.
• Experience working with UKAS and/or INAB accredited activities.
• Technical knowledge of PPE certification processes and relevant legislation.
• Experience with quality management systems, audits and health and safety management.
• Understanding of international regulatory frameworks and product certification schemes.

What’s on Offer?

• Salary of £40,000 – £50,000 depending on experience.
• 25-30 days’ annual leave, depending on length of service.
• Life assurance.
• Group personal pension plan.
• Income protection.
• Free on-site parking.
• Flexible working hours.
• Opportunity to lead an established international technical team and influence business growth.

Interview Process

• Closing date: 13th November 2026.
• First-stage interviews: 20th November 2026 via MS Teams.
• Second-stage interviews: 25th November 2026, in person.

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