Senior Certification Scientist

• We’re thrilled that you’re interested in joining the British Board of Agrément.

• The BBA is looking to hire a Senior Certification Scientist to join our Client Delivery department, within our Materials team.

• This role can be based in be in our Croxley or Liverpool offices.

About Us:

• The British Board of Agrément (BBA) provides services that help clients create accountability and mitigate risk.

• Through extensive research, auditing, inspection, testing and certification, we help to instill confidence in the entire Construction product supply chain.

• With a 50-year legacy as a trusted certification body, the BBA develops long-term partnerships with clients, assisting in the innovation and development of products and services, enabling continued commercial growth in both the UK and Global marketplaces, while remaining reassuringly impartial.

• As a for-profit organisation Limited by Guarantee, the BBA looks to reinvest in the industry for the benefit of all stakeholders.

About You:

•We’re looking for a candidate that is excited about excellence and playing a critical part in the business’ focus on serving our customers better.

• You are comfortable working in a structured environment, with the agility to adapt when necessary.

• You can work independently, and as part of a team and confident to suggest improvements to work more efficiently.

Role Purpose:

The main purpose of the Senior Certification Scientist role is to plan, co-ordinate and carry out assessments of construction products and systems. You will be managing multiple projects where you will be expected to prepare contract offers and estimates for the assessment of various types of construction products and systems. The job holder will be required to research and investigate aspects of construction product/system performance, work as part of a team contributing to team and individual targets and objectives and regularly converse with clients ensuring you maintain good quality and standards at all times. The job holder is also expected to collaborate, share knowledge, assisting the Principle Certification Scientist and other senior colleagues in developing new schemes/services and policies, guiding and mentoring junior colleagues, and review assessment work of junior colleagues to ensure the tasks are completed accurately. The job holder may also be expected to cover duties and represent the BBA at external committees.

Main Responsibilities:

Contract Preparation and Planning Duties

• Prepare contract offers for assessments, ensuring that they are proportionate and realistic for the work to be done and that they are delivered within agreed timescales.

• Plan allocated assessments and produce, maintain and update detailed work programmes.

• Draft Certificates and Reports, seek and take due regard of comments thereon and arrange production of documents for publication.

• Review the reports and draft certificates prepared by less experienced colleagues and provide guidance to them on how to best carry out such work. 

Product Assessment and Research Duties

• Research and investigate aspects of construction product/system performance as required.

• Assess the fitness for purpose of construction products and systems within contract periods and price estimates.

• Co-ordinate all work and activities involved in assessments, including sub-contracting work, e.g. testing and inspection of production.

• Ensure that satisfactory information and data is available for the timely progress and completion of assessments.

• Carry out Certificate maintenance tasks, such as assessment of factory surveillance reports, as required.

• Monitor progress on allocated work and adjust priorities as required.

• Seek information and clarification from others as required, e.g. BBA Test, the potential client, technical experts, etc.

• Ensure that work is carried out with integrity, objectively and without fear or favour in accordance with all relevant BBA policies and procedures.

Client Contact and Service Delivery

• Ensure that BBA policies and procedures are explained and understood.

• Keep clients updated on the progress of project and contract preparations on a regular basis.

• Attend and holding client meetings as and when required.

• Raise, explain and resolve without delay with clients, sub-contractors or others as appropriate any problems or concerns about products/systems under assessment or for which contracts have been requested.

Maintain Effective Communication

• Maintain and promote effective communication both internally and externally.

•Work as part of the Team and contribute to the achievement of its objectives.

• Contribute to the technical and business development of the department/team.

• Understand and ‘buy-in’ to Department/Team business plans.

• Commercially aware and understand the importance of good client relations.

Other Duties

• Participate in new initiatives and changes to facilitate improved service delivery.

• Maintain quality and standards at all times.

• Ensure compliance with all relevant health & safety requirements.

• Demonstrate the ability to understand and apply advanced technical concepts applicable to certification matters.

• Able to guide colleagues in technical matters.

• Assist the Principle Certification Engineer and other senior colleagues in developing new schemes and services/ policies, as required by the business.

• Deliver the required productivity levels whilst maintaining a professional and courteous service.

• Provide information and advice on the range of services provided by the BBA.

• Keep up to date with all relevant legislation, regulations and technical documentation that apply to the work accordingly.

• Maintain professional competence by attending training courses and updating skills as and when required.

• Attend relevant BBA/Committee meetings as and when required.

• Covers the duties / responsibilities of team members when required.

General Responsibilities 

• To promote and adhere to all BBA policies and actively promote the BBA wherever possible.

• To be responsible for your own Health and Safety and that of your colleagues and others on the BBA premises in accordance with relevant health and safety legislation and the BBA H&S manual.

• To carry out tasks broadly similar to those in this job description.

• To act professionally with integrity, impartiality and honesty at all times.

• To endeavour to self-improve and develop.

What we offer:

• We believe that our strength lies in our people; that’s why we invest heavily in them through providing training to maintain and develop the skills of all our teams, enabling us to serve our clients better.

• Because of that, we offer a total reward package including competitive salaries and benefits, including:

o BBA Contributory Pension Scheme of 6%

o 4x Life assurance Scheme

o Generous holiday allowance starting at 25 days and increasing to 30 after five years of service

o Health care cash plan scheme

o An Employee Assistance Programme – with up to 6 counselling sessions

o Flexible working hours to fit in with individual lifestyles

We’re a social group and when we’re not working, we love to get together socially, and support local community initiatives whenever possible