Location: NN16 8JX, Kettering, Northamptonshire, East Midlands, UKRole: Business Area Manager
Head of Safety Products TestingLocation: UK (site-based)Salary: £40,000
£50,000 per annum (dependent on experience)Hours: 37.5 hours per weekOverviewAn 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. The RoleReporting at senior level, the Head of Safety Products Testing will be responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the function. Key responsibilities include:Providing strong leadership and direction to deliver sustained growth in revenue and profitabilityEmbedding a lean, continuous improvement culture across the departmentEnsuring robust development plans are in place to support team capability and successionOverseeing the timely production of technical and industry-facing publicationsMaintaining and expanding the organisations UKAS accreditation scope as requiredEnsuring full compliance with Health & Safety requirementsManaging day-to-day operations including team performance, engagement and recruitmentFull ownership of departmental financials, including forecasting, cost control and month-end reportingDriving sales activity and promoting testing services to existing and prospective clientsRepresenting the organisation at trade events and customer meetingsKeeping abreast of changes in PPE legislation, standards and testing requirementsEnsuring all testing activities comply with ISO/IEC 17025 and internal quality systemsManaging corrective actions and continuous improvement initiativesMaintaining active involvement in national, European and international technical committees About YouEssential CriteriaProven experience leading, motivating and developing technical or professional teamsStrong commercial acumen with a track record of business development and budget managementAbility to engage and build relationships with senior industry stakeholders internationallyExcellent interpersonal and communication skills across all organisational levelsConfident delegator with a structured and organised approachHigh attention to detail and strong planning capabilityTechnical background with the ability to interpret complex testing standardsStrategic mindset with experience developing and evolving departmental capabilityWillingness to travel as requiredProficient in Microsoft Office, particularly ExcelDesirableExperience within the PPE or safety products sectorFormal leadership or management qualificationExposure to sales, marketing or service growth initiatives BenefitsThe 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 2026Interviews: Mid-January 2026 (on site)TPBN1_UKTJ