Certification Scheme Manager

As Scheme Manager at United Kingdom Testing & Certification (UKTC), you will have overall responsibility for the management, technical governance and commercial growth of the UKTC Hardware Scheme.

You will act as the scheme owner, ensuring its effective operation, continued development and technical integrity, while working closely with UKTC’s testing, technical and certification teams to ensure it is supported by robust technical evidence and meets the needs of industry.

In addition to the Hardware Scheme, you will take ownership of other certification and assurance schemes within UKTC Ensure as they are developed or assigned. You will work closely with the Director of Certification to develop new schemes and strengthen UKTC’s wider certification capability.

The role will also provide technical leadership and guidance across the Certification function, supporting the continued development of UKTC’s people, processes and schemes.

Key Responsibilities:

Hardware Scheme Ownership & Development

✓ Take full ownership of the UKTC Hardware Scheme, with accountability for its effective operation, technical integrity, development and commercial growth.

✓ Develop, maintain and continually improve the scheme rules, procedures, technical requirements and certification processes.

✓ Manage the overall scheme framework, including applications, membership requirements, certification activities, surveillance arrangements and ongoing compliance.

✓ Ensure scheme requirements are clearly defined, consistently applied and supported by appropriate technical evidence.

✓ Work closely with UKTC’s testing and technical teams to ensure certification is appropriately aligned with testing, EXAP, classification and other relevant supporting evidence.

✓ Identify technical evidence gaps and opportunities for additional testing, EXAP, certification and technical activity.

✓ Develop strong relationships with scheme members, manufacturers and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the scheme remains technically credible, commercially relevant and responsive to industry requirements.

✓ Drive the continued growth of the Hardware Scheme, including increasing membership and identifying opportunities to expand its scope and position within the market.

✓ Monitor scheme performance and provide regular reporting on membership, certification activity, technical matters, commercial performance and development opportunities.

✓ Continually review the scheme and identify opportunities to improve its technical requirements, processes, member experience and overall effectiveness.

Additional Scheme Ownership & Development

✓ Take ownership of additional UKTC Ensure certification and assurance schemes as they are developed or assigned to the role.

✓ Lead and support the development of new schemes from concept through to implementation, including scheme rules, technical requirements, certification processes, surveillance arrangements and commercial considerations.

✓ Work closely with the Director of Certification to identify areas where UKTC can develop credible new certification and assurance offerings.

✓ Assess potential new schemes against industry need, technical feasibility and commercial opportunity.

✓ Ensure new schemes are technically robust, commercially viable and respond to a clearly identified industry need.

✓ Continually review schemes within the role’s portfolio and identify opportunities for improvement, expansion and alignment across UKTC Ensure.

✓ Support the transition of new schemes from development into effective day-to-day operation.

Certification Leadership & Strategy

✓ Provide senior certification expertise and guidance across UKTC’s certification activities

✓ Act as a technical and certification sounding board to the Director of Certification

✓ Help ensure UKTC’s certification offering develops in a controlled, technically credible and commercially sustainable manner.

Commercial & Business Development

✓ Take an active role in the commercial growth of the Hardware Scheme and other schemes within the role’s portfolio.

✓ Build and maintain strong relationships with hardware manufacturers, doorset manufacturers, scheme members and other relevant organisations.

✓ Develop scheme membership and support the onboarding of new companies.

✓ Promote UKTC Ensure schemes within the industry and communicate their technical and commercial value to prospective members.

✓ Identify opportunities for associated UKTC services arising through scheme relationships, including testing, EXAP, classification, certification and wider technical services.

✓ Work collaboratively with UKTC’s commercial and technical teams to develop opportunities and strengthen strategic client relationships.

✓ Use market knowledge and industry relationships to identify emerging opportunities for UKTC.

✓ Contribute to commercial planning, forecasting and growth objectives associated with schemes within the role’s portfolio.

Audit, Sampling & Surveillance Support

✓ Support UKTC’s auditing and sampling teams in the effective delivery of scheme surveillance activities.

✓ Provide technical and scheme-specific guidance relating to audit, sampling, surveillance and ongoing compliance requirements.

✓ Participate in audits, sampling and verification activities where appropriate, particularly where additional scheme or technical expertise is required.

✓ Support the development and continual improvement of audit, sampling and surveillance processes for schemes within the role’s portfolio.

✓ Review significant findings and provide scheme-level guidance on compliance matters where required.

✓ Ensure appropriate records, traceability and supporting certification evidence are maintained in accordance with scheme requirements.

Technical Leadership & Capability Development

✓ Provide technical leadership and certification expertise to colleagues across the Certification function.

✓ Mentor and support Certification Officers and other relevant team members, sharing knowledge and experience to strengthen UKTC’s internal certification capability.

✓ Support the development of consistent approaches to scheme management, certification, surveillance and technical decision-making.

✓ Provide guidance on complex or unusual certification matters relating to schemes within the role’s portfolio.

✓ Encourage knowledge sharing and continuous professional development across the Certification team.

✓ Help identify competency and training requirements as UKTC’s certification activities and scheme portfolio develop.

Industry Engagement & Strategic Relationships

✓ Represent UKTC at relevant industry meetings, technical forums, trade events and other appropriate industry activities.

✓ Develop and maintain strategic relationships with manufacturers, trade associations, industry bodies and other key stakeholders.

✓ Maintain awareness of market developments, emerging requirements and changes that could affect UKTC’s certification activities.

✓ Use industry relationships and market insight to identify opportunities, risks and potential areas for scheme development.

✓ Promote UKTC as a technically credible and progressive certification provider.

Essential Requirements:

✓ Significant experience within third-party product certification, conformity assessment or a closely related technical compliance environment.

✓ Strong practical understanding of certification scheme management, including scheme rules, certification requirements, surveillance and ongoing compliance.

✓ Demonstrable experience of developing, managing or providing senior technical input into product certification schemes.

✓ Strong understanding of the relationship between certification and supporting technical evidence, including testing, classification, assessments and extended application where applicable.

✓ Ability to interpret complex technical information and apply appropriate judgement within a certification environment.

✓ Experience of working with manufacturers and other industry stakeholders.

✓ Strong commercial awareness with the ability to identify and develop opportunities while maintaining the integrity and impartiality required of certification activities.

✓ Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with technical specialists, manufacturers, clients and senior stakeholders.

✓ Strong understanding of the importance of impartiality, confidentiality, consistency and integrity within third-party certification.

✓ Ability and willingness to undertake regular UK travel where required.

Desirable Skills:

✓ Significant experience within fire performance, fire doors, doorsets, architectural ironmongery or associated construction products.

✓ Experience specifically relating to the certification of door hardware or associated products.

✓ Experience of developing or launching new certification schemes.

✓ Experience of manufacturer auditing, product sampling and certification surveillance activities.

✓ Knowledge of relevant fire resistance testing, classification and extended application standards.

✓ Experience of working within an accredited certification or conformity assessment environment.

✓ Established relationships within the hardware, doorset, passive fire protection or wider construction products industries.

✓ Relevant auditing, certification, quality or technical qualifications.

Essential personal attributes:

✓ Technically credible with the confidence to exercise sound professional judgement.

✓ Strong sense of ownership and personal accountability.

✓ Commercially aware while maintaining a clear commitment to certification integrity and impartiality.

✓ Strategic thinker who can also take responsibility for effective day-to-day scheme operation.

✓ Confident in constructively challenging existing approaches and contributing new ideas.

✓ Strong relationship builder with the ability to establish credibility with manufacturers, clients, colleagues and industry stakeholders.

✓ Collaborative leadership style with a willingness to share knowledge and develop others.

✓ Demonstrates a strong commitment to impartiality, integrity, confidentiality and ethical conduct.

Why SOCOTEC?

Join a thriving community of over 2,000 industry professionals who are passionate about making a real difference. At SOCOTEC UK, we're not just delivering services - we're shaping the future of testing, inspection, and certification across the nation.

What sets us apart? Our people. We've built our reputation on attracting exceptional talent like you and empowering them to deliver excellence at every turn. Our comprehensive range of TIC services means you'll have the opportunity to work on diverse, challenging projects that truly matter.

In this role, you won't just be another employee - you'll be a key player in our continued success story. Your expertise will directly contribute to our mission of building a safer, more sustainable world, while you grow your career alongside some of the industry's finest professionals.

Your Career, Your Way

Build a traditional career path or explore opportunities across multiple disciplines - all within SOCOTEC. Your choice, your direction.

Work Your Way

Local, national, or global projects. Office-based, remote, or hybrid. We offer the flexibility that empowers you to perform at your best.

Committed to Your Growth

From day one, you'll have access to comprehensive training, mentorship, and development programs. We support every step of your professional journey. #YouGrowWeGrow

Think you've got what it takes to add value to our success? We would love to hear from you and look forward to receiving your application.

Building a safer and more sustainable world is the core mission we set out to achieve at SOCOTEC, it is at the heart of everything that we do. We are committed to acting as a key player in society, investing in innovative solutions to ensure social and environmental concerns are at the forefront of all of our business operations.