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- Tasks: Lead a team in testing personal protective equipment and drive commercial success.
- Company: Join Tandem Design, a leader in safety product testing.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, pension, life assurance, and flexible hours.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in safety while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience and strong commercial acumen required.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a dynamic and supportive environment.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Business Area Manager role at Tandem Design.
Location: UK (site-based)
Salary: £40,000‑£50,000 per annum (dependent on experience)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Overview: An established testing and certification organisation is seeking a Head of Safety Products Testing to lead a specialist testing function focused on personal protective equipment (PPE). This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for driving commercial performance, operational excellence and regulatory compliance across a portfolio of accredited laboratories. The department operates multiple accredited laboratories equipped with a wide range of testing machinery, supporting the evaluation of PPE against UK, European and international standards.
Responsibilities:
- Providing strong leadership and direction to deliver sustained growth in revenue and profitability
- Embedding a lean, continuous improvement culture across the department
- Ensuring robust development plans are in place to support team capability and succession
- Overseeing the timely production of technical and industry-facing publications
- Maintaining and expanding the organisation’s UKAS accreditation scope as required
- Ensuring full compliance with Health & Safety requirements
- Managing day‑to‑day operations including team performance, engagement and recruitment
- Full ownership of departmental financials, including forecasting, cost control and month‑end reporting
- Driving sales activity and promoting testing services to existing and prospective clients
- Representing the organisation at trade events and customer meetings
- Keeping abreast of changes in PPE legislation, standards and testing requirements
- Ensuring all testing activities comply with ISO/IEC 17025 and internal quality systems
- Managing corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives
- Maintaining active involvement in national, European and international technical committees
About You: We are looking for a candidate who meets the following essential criteria.
Essential Criteria:
- Proven experience leading, motivating and developing technical or professional teams
- Strong commercial acumen with a track record of business development and budget management
- Ability to engage and build relationships with senior industry stakeholders internationally
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills across all organisational levels
- Confident delegator with a structured and organised approach
- High attention to detail and strong planning capability
- Technical background with the ability to interpret complex testing standards
- Strategic mindset with experience developing and evolving departmental capability
- Willingness to travel as required
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
Desirable:
- Experience within the PPE or safety products sector
- Formal leadership or management qualification
- Exposure to sales, marketing or service growth initiatives
Benefits: The role offers a comprehensive benefits package including generous annual leave (increasing with service), pension provision, life assurance, income protection, flexible working hours and on‑site parking.
Application deadline: Early January 2026
Interviews: Mid‑January 2026 (on site)
Business Area Manager in Kettering employer: Tandem Design
Contact Detail:
Tandem Design Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Area Manager in Kettering
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts and attend relevant events. We all know that who you know can sometimes be just as important as what you know, so get chatting!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Tandem Design and their work in PPE testing. We want to show them that you're not just another candidate, but someone who genuinely cares about their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Business Area Manager. We need to highlight your leadership skills and commercial acumen to make a lasting impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, drop a thank-you email to express your appreciation. It shows professionalism and keeps you on their radar. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
We think you need these skills to ace Business Area Manager in Kettering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Business Area Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant achievements in the PPE or safety products sector. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've driven commercial performance and led teams to success. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Technical Knowledge: Since this role involves interpreting complex testing standards, make sure to showcase your technical background. Mention any relevant qualifications or experiences that demonstrate your understanding of PPE legislation and standards.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tandem Design
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest PPE regulations and testing standards. Familiarise yourself with ISO/IEC 17025 and any recent changes in legislation. This will show that you're not just a candidate, but someone who is genuinely invested in the industry.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about specific situations where you motivated your team or drove operational excellence. Be ready to discuss your approach to developing team capabilities and succession planning.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Be prepared to talk about your experience with budget management and business development. Have some figures or success stories ready to illustrate how you've driven revenue growth in previous roles. This will highlight your strong commercial mindset.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you've built relationships with senior stakeholders in the past. Prepare to discuss your communication style and how you engage with clients and industry partners. This is crucial for a role that involves representing the organisation at trade events.
