Testing & Advisory Lead

BRE; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Enhanced maternity package

Health cashback scheme

Onsite facilities

Job summary

BRE Group is seeking a Testing & Advisory Lead to shape and drive BRE’s testing and advisory portfolio from its Watford base. You will oversee laboratories, testing facilities and technical teams, ensuring services are safe, accredited and commercially successful.

The role balances operational excellence with long-term growth, focusing on capability development, facility investment and strong customer and regulator relationships. Hybrid working is offered near Watford.

Qualifications

• Experience leading testing and advisory operations in regulated environments.
• Proven track record of P&L ownership and commercial accountability.
• Experience with ISO/IEC 17025, UKAS accreditation and regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead safe, efficient operation of laboratories and testing facilities.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards and accreditation frameworks.
• Drive technical governance, risk management and service innovation.
• Own financial performance including budgets, pricing and P&L.
• Oversee capacity planning and long-term technical capability.
• Develop high-performing teams and succession plans.
• Partner with commercial teams to win business and grow revenue.
• Represent BRE with customers, regulators and industry bodies.
• Provide senior leadership with performance reporting and strategic recommendations.

Skills

Senior leadership

Commercial leadership

Quality governance

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Tools

ISO/IEC 17025

UKAS accreditation

Job description

Make your mark at BRE!

BRE is a world-leading global organisation for innovation, science and data in the built environment. For over 100 years, we have supported governments, businesses and industry with pioneering research, testing and expertise. We are focused on growth, scale and expanding our global impact with products, services, standards and qualifications that address the challenges of a changing world. Driven by our purpose of helping everyone, in every building, everywhere, we are creating a safer, more sustainable built environment for people and planet.

Your role at BRE

Reporting to the Deputy Managing Director for Assurance, the Testing & Advisory Lead is responsible for the strategic, operational and commercial leadership of BRE's testing and advisory portfolio. You'll oversee laboratories, testing facilities and technical teams, ensuring services are safe, efficient, accredited and commercially successful.

This is a highly visible leadership role where you'll balance operational excellence with long-term growth. You'll lead technical capability development, oversee investment in facilities and equipment, drive innovation in testing and advisory services, and build strong relationships with customers, regulators and industry stakeholders. You'll also hold accountability for financial performance, resource planning and the continued growth of the function.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the safe and effective operation of laboratories, testing facilities and technical resources.

• Ensure compliance with quality standards, regulatory requirements and accreditation frameworks, including UKAS and ISO/IEC 17025.

• Drive technical excellence, governance and risk management across testing activities.

• Develop and grow new testing capabilities, methodologies and advisory services.

• Own financial performance, including budgets, pricing strategy and P&L management.

• Oversee laboratory capacity, equipment investment and long-term technical capability planning.

• Build and develop high-performing teams through workforce planning, succession planning and leadership development.

• Partner with commercial teams to strengthen customer relationships, win new business and grow revenue.

• Represent BRE with customers, regulators, trade bodies and technical committees.

• Provide regular performance reporting and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

What we are looking for

We're looking for an accomplished senior leader with experience leading testing, laboratory, engineering or technical service operations in a regulated environment.

You'll bring:

• Significant leadership experience within commercial laboratories, testing organisations, engineering operations or similar technical environments.

• A strong track record of managing operational performance alongside commercial and financial responsibility, including budgets and P&L ownership.

• Experience leading accredited testing, quality management systems, technical governance and compliance activities.

• Strong knowledge of laboratory operations, technical equipment, facilities management and resource planning.

• Experience developing new technical services, capabilities or customer-focused solutions.

• Proven ability to lead, coach and develop technical teams through change and growth.

• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience building relationships across customers, leadership teams and external partners.

• Strong strategic thinking, commercial awareness and decision-making capability.

• Experience with ISO/IEC 17025, UKAS-accredited testing environments, laboratory investment programmes, technical advisory services, or working with regulators and industry bodies would be particularly beneficial.

BRE Benefits

At BRE, we offer a competitive salary, reviewed annually, along with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your financial security, well-being, and career development.

Financial & Security Benefits

• Pension scheme – 5% employer-matched contribution

• Life assurance – 4x your basic salary

• Enhanced maternity package

Health & Wellbeing

• HealthPartners cashback scheme – Reclaim costs on prescriptions, physiotherapy, dental care, and more

• Onsite facilities – Restaurant, nursery, and free parking, including at-cost EV charging points

Career Development

• Learning & development – Free access to BRE Academy and our online learning platform

• Professional membership reimbursement

For full details on our benefits, visit: BRE Employee Benefits

Work Location Options

Hybrid – This role offers a mix of home and office working. You will need to be within commuting distance of our Watford office, as you will be expected to attend in person (3 - 4 times per week depending on business needs).

Our Recruitment Process

As part of our recruitment process we will be conducting 10-30 minute phone screening calls via an AI recruiter called Ryan with all shortlisted candidates. The information gathered from this screening will be used to help assess your suitability for the position.

Note to Employment Agencies

At BRE, we value the relationships we have built with our preferred recruitment partners. We do not accept unsolicited CVs from employment agencies. Any CVs submitted directly to a BRE employee or hiring manager without a signed BRE Employment Agency Agreement and an active engagement for the specific role will be considered unsolicited. In such cases, no fees will be payable should the candidate be hired through this or any other means.

Equal Opportunities Statement

BRE is an equal opportunities employer. We assess all qualified applicants based on merit and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.