Certification Manager

Job Summary

BASEC, part of Kiwa UK, is seeking a Certification Manager to lead its Certification department. This key role is responsible for developing and delivering the certification strategy, managing technical schemes, overseeing customer certification and approvals, ensuring audit quality, driving process improvements, and maintaining accreditation compliance and BASEC Group’s impartiality. This is a hybrid role, based in Milton Keynes.

About the role

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the Certification department, including budgeting, planning, resource management and delivery of operational, revenue, and service targets.
• Lead, develop and support Certification team members, identifying training needs and opportunities for professional growth.
• Develop and maintain certification schemes and ensure compliance with BASEC’s quality systems.
• Oversee customer certification projects from initiation through to decision-making, ensuring timely delivery.
• Manage audit programmes, including scheduling, report reviews, team assignment, and sample procurement.
• Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction, addressing product-related complaints and service issues effectively.
• Build strong customer relationships and drive high levels of customer satisfaction across BASEC's certification services.
• Make recommendations to the Business Unit Leader for proposed certification sanctions to be applied to customers, as necessary.
• Ensure BASEC meets its responsibilities to customers relating to the Stockist Scheme and market surveillance. 

Do you have what it takes?

• Proven experience building and managing high-performing teams.
• Experience in a multi-site, multi-disciplinary environment.
• Strong track record of delivering operational success.
• Experience in a similar certification role with knowledge of standards, accreditation, certification and testing activities.
• Excellent planning, organisation and time management skills, with the ability to deliver to tight deadlines.
• Experience balancing the needs of customers, stakeholders and employees.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong customer relationship management and service delivery focus.
• Qualified Lead Auditor for QMS (training can be provided).
• Knowledge of cable manufacturing, and cable/electrical/polymer standards is a plus.

What can you expect from us in return?

• Competitve Salary: Details available on request
• Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday
• Location/working arrangements: Milton Keynes, hybrid (Tuesdays and Thursdays in the office)
• Performance-related bonus scheme
• Pension contributions: up to 6% matched employer contribution
• Annual leave: 25 days, increasing to 28 days with length of service, plus Bank Holidays and the option to buy and sell additional leave
• Private medical insurance
• Health & wellbeing support: Health cash plan, Employee Assistance Programme, 24-Hour GP service, eye care vouchers
• Enhanced family leave: maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave with 6 months full pay, plus 2 weeks full pay for paternity leave
• Life assurance: 4x your annual salary
• Referral scheme: £1,000 for successful introductions
• Reward and recognition scheme
• Cycle2Work Scheme

At Kiwa, we deliver results driven by our core values: Ambitious, Reliable, and Engaged the principles that guide how we work with colleagues, customers, and everyone we encounter. We are committed to fostering personal development, encouraging you to be ambitious, explore new ideas, and contribute to making the world a safer, more sustainable place. Here, you’ll thrive in a dynamic environment with ample opportunities for growth and self-development.

As an equal opportunity employer, Kiwa celebrates diversity and is dedicated to building an inclusive, supportive workplace. We embrace flexibility in hiring talented individuals from all backgrounds globally, ensuring a work environment free from prejudice, discrimination, and intimidation. Inclusivity and equality are core to who we are, and we uphold these values without exception.

If you have any questions about this role and would like to speak a member of the Talent Team, please e-mail us at [email protected].