Senior Certification Project Manager

At BRE, we don’t just set standards, we help shape the future of the built environment. Our Fire, Detection and Extinguishing (FDET) team sits at the forefront of product certification, working with industry-leading manufacturers to ensure safety, innovation and trust across the global construction sector.

We’re now looking for a Senior Certification Project Manager to play a pivotal role in delivering complex, high-profile certification projects. This is an opportunity for an experienced professional to combine technical expertise, project leadership and stakeholder management within a respected, purpose-driven organisation, where your work genuinely makes a difference.

Help BRE make buildings safer and more sustainable!

BRE aims to be the world’s leading innovation, science and data hub for the built environment. For more than a century, we have provided government and industry with cutting‑edge research and testing. Join us to help deliver products, advice, services, standards and qualifications used around the globe to make buildings better for people and the environment. Through science‑led solutions to urgent challenges, we will build a thriving and sustainable world.

Your role at BRE

The Senior Certification Project Manager is responsible for leading certification delivery within the Fire Detection & Electronic Testing (FDET) business area, overseeing both team performance and the end‑to‑end management of complex product approval and certification projects.

Key responsibilities and tasks include:

• Lead and manage a team of Certification Project Managers, coordinating workloads, priorities and delivery timelines

• Manage product approval and certification projects from initial enquiry through to final approval and sign‑off

• Plan, schedule, and allocate work across internal and external laboratories to meet customer and regulatory requirements

• Prepare, review and verify quotations, test programmes, technical approval files and test reports

• Act as account manager for a portfolio of clients, serving as the primary point of contact throughout the project lifecycle

• Liaise with internal teams, laboratories, approval bodies and accreditation organisations to ensure effective project delivery

• Ensure certification activities are delivered in line with quality management systems, impartiality requirements and accreditation standards

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of certification processes, governance and operational efficiency

What we are looking for

• Proven experience managing certification and product approval projects within a regulated or accredited environment

• Strong understanding of certification, testing and compliance frameworks, including ISO 17065 and ISO 9001

• Experience working within UKAS‑accredited or equivalent certification schemes

• Sound technical knowledge of electrical and electronic systems, ideally within safety‑critical or regulated products

• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects from enquiry through to approval and certification

• Experience coordinating work across internal teams and external laboratories

• Capability to review, verify and manage technical documentation, test programmes and approval files

• Experience overseeing workloads, priorities and delivery across a project team

• Strong stakeholder and client management capability, with clear and effective communication

• Understanding of certification governance, impartiality requirements and quality management systems

• A methodical, structured approach with a focus on accuracy, compliance and continuous improvement

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 (1‑2 times per week).

Our Recruitment Process

Closing date: 30/01/26

If successful in the first stage, you will be invited to a virtual or in‑person second‑stage interview.

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.