Business Area Manager - Head of Safety Products Testing

Job Description:

Head of Safety Products Testing & Certification
Location: Kettering
Hours - Monday to Friday 37.5 hrs
Salary up to £50k plus benefits to include Performance-related annual bonus, Enhanced employer pension contribution, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, Private medical cover and wellbeing support, ongoing professional development and leadership training, life assurance, employee assistance programme, and other flexible benefits

An established and highly respected testing and certification organisation in Kettering is seeking an experienced leader to head up its Safety Products Testing & Certification function. This is a senior role with full responsibility for technical delivery, commercial performance, people leadership, and strategic growth within a regulated testing environment.
You will lead a multidisciplinary team delivering accredited testing services, while also playing a key role in shaping business strategy, strengthening customer relationships, and identifying new commercial opportunities.
This role would suit a commercially astute technical leader who enjoys balancing operational excellence with business development and stakeholder engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a specialist testing and certification business area, ensuring technical excellence and regulatory compliance
• Take full ownership of financial performance, forecasting, budgeting, and profitability
• Drive business growth through client engagement, service development, and market insight
• Ensure all testing activities comply with relevant accreditation standards and internal governance requirements
• Act as a senior point of contact for customers, regulators, and external stakeholders
• Lead, mentor, and develop technical and managerial teams
• Oversee continuous improvement initiatives across quality, efficiency, and service delivery
• Provide clear reporting and insight to senior leadership

About You

• Proven leadership experience within testing, certification, engineering, or a regulated technical environment
• Strong understanding of safety products, PPE, or compliance-led services
• Commercially minded with experience managing budgets, forecasts, and revenue growth
• Confident engaging with clients, regulators, and senior stakeholders
• Comfortable leading change, developing teams, and driving performance
• Excellent communication and decision-making skills

Why Apply?

• Senior leadership role with genuine influence and autonomy
• Opportunity to shape and grow a critical business function
• Work within a respected, accredited organisation
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
• Long-term career progression and professional development

If you are a senior technical leader looking to step into a high-impact role combining people leadership, commercial strategy, and technical authority, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now or contact us confidentially for more information.