Certification Lead in Abbots Langley

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

As Certification Lead, you'll provide strategic, operational and commercial leadership across BRE's certification and assurance portfolio. You'll be responsible for ensuring certification schemes operate effectively, fairly and in line with accreditation and regulatory requirements, while also identifying opportunities to develop new services and drive business growth. Working closely with technical, commercial and senior leadership teams, you'll oversee certification governance, accreditation, quality systems and decision-making processes. You'll lead experienced teams, manage key stakeholder relationships and ensure certification activities maintain the highest levels of integrity, consistency and impartiality. At the same time, you'll help shape future services that meet evolving customer, market and regulatory needs.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction and operational performance of certification and assurance services.
• Ensure certification activities are delivered in line with accreditation requirements, industry standards and governance frameworks.
• Maintain robust, impartial and evidence-based certification decision-making processes.
• Oversee quality management systems, accreditation activities and compliance arrangements.
• Drive the development and enhancement of certification schemes and assurance services.
• Manage budgets, commercial performance and resource planning for the function.
• Build and develop high-performing teams through coaching, succession planning and capability development.
• Work closely with customers, regulators, accreditation bodies and industry stakeholders.
• Support business growth by identifying new opportunities while protecting the integrity and independence of certification activities.
• Monitor changes in regulations, standards and market requirements to inform future strategy.

What we are looking for

We're looking for a senior leader with experience in certification, assurance, compliance, conformity assessment or a similarly regulated environment who can balance strong governance with commercial and operational leadership. You'll ideally have:

• Significant leadership experience within certification, assurance, accreditation, compliance or conformity assessment services.
• Experience operating within UKAS-accredited or similarly regulated environments.
• A strong understanding of certification governance, quality systems, accreditation requirements and controlled decision-making processes.
• Experience managing budgets, commercial performance and P&L accountability.
• A track record of leading teams, developing capability and driving organisational performance.
• Experience developing or improving certification schemes, assurance services or governance frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to work effectively with customers, regulators, accreditation bodies and industry partners.
• Excellent commercial awareness, strategic thinking and change leadership capability.
• Experience managing impartiality, governance risks and complex decision-making processes.
• Experience with ISO/IEC 17065, ISO/IEC 17067, UKAS accreditation, certification scheme development, or working with standards bodies, trade associations and regulatory organisations would be particularly valuable.

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 (2-3 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.