Business Area Manager - Certification

Interaction Recruitment; Thorpe Malsor; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance

Group personal pension plan

Income protection

Free on-site parking

Flexible working hours

25-30 days' annual leave

Job summary

Interaction Recruitment PLC is recruiting a Business Area Manager - Certification to lead the Certification teams in a technical, regulated environment. Based in the Kettering area, you will drive performance, manage budgets and improve profitability while ensuring quality standards are maintained and customer experience is enhanced.

You will travel regularly within the UK and occasionally abroad, lead diversified teams and shape strategic objectives with strong stakeholder-management skills.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership and people management experience within a technical, certification, testing or regulated environment.
• Strong operational management skills, incl. KPIs, budgets and business performance.
• Experience in budget control, forecasting and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Certification teams to create a high-performing, commercially focused environment.
• Drive performance against budgets, revenue targets and KPIs.
• Own budgeting, forecasting, cost control and month‑end reporting.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Budget management

Forecasting

Financial reporting

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

ISO/IEC 17065 awareness

Certification knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

MS Teams

Job description

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.