This role offers flexibility, allowing for hybrid or fully remote working arrangements

WE ARE 

The Building Engineering Services Association is the UK's leading trade organisation for building engineering services contractors – representing the interests of firms active in the design, installation, commissioning, maintenance, control and management of engineering systems and services in buildings. Want to find out more? Visit: www.thebesa.com 

The Competence & Compliance (C&C) Department plays a central role in enabling both businesses and individuals within the building engineering services sector to achieve, maintain, and evidence high standards of professionalism. Through a comprehensive range of schemes, products, and services, we provide the mechanisms by which individuals can demonstrate competence and businesses can prove compliance. Our work ensures these principles remain the foundation of industry best practice, supporting organisations to meet regulatory obligations and championing excellence across the sector. 

ABOUT THE ROLE 

As Head of Compliance, you will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across all compliance and certification functions within the C&C department, with direct line management of both the Audit Manager and Compliance Manager, and their respective teams. You will be responsible for the effective governance, performance, and continuous improvement of all compliance and audit schemes delivered through Refcom and BESCA, which currently include:

• Refcom: F-Gas Register and Refcom Elite

• BESCA: Vent Hygiene Register (VHR), Competent Person Scheme (CPS), and Competence Assessment Standard (CAS)

You will act as the senior lead for the Certification Body, maintaining ISO 17065 compliance and supporting ISO 9001 quality management. The role is pivotal to protecting licensing agreements (e.g. DEFRA) and maintaining UKAS accreditation, while delivering commercial value and promoting operational excellence.

The Head of Compliance is a key leadership role within the department, contributing to strategic planning, shaping policy, and representing BESA at both internal governance boards and external regulatory and technical forums. You will role‑model our key behaviours — Accountability, Care, Agility, Customer Empathy, Continuous Improvement, and Commerciality — ensuring they guide decision-making, stakeholder relationships, and team culture.

KEY DUTIES 

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Lead the design and execution of the Compliance strategy with a strong sense of accountability, ensuring alignment with C&C’s objectives and business plan.

• Act as a member of the C&C leadership team, influencing, planning, and delivery of its services and product, with clear accountability for outcomes.

• Maintain oversight of certification schemes and auditing functions across Refcom and BESCA.

• Ensure scheme delivery remains commercially viable, operationally efficient, and compliant with all legal and accreditation frameworks, demonstrating agility in response to change, strong customer empathy, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Certification Body & Accreditation Oversight

• Serve as the accountable lead for ISO 17065 compliance across all certification activities, demonstrating accountability for regulatory outcomes.

• Ensure all policies, procedures, and documentation meet accreditation standards and remain up to date.

• Ensure readiness for all UKAS surveillance and reassessment visits.

• Manage the Schemes Board to ensure transparency, mitigate conflicts of interest, and ensure the mechanism for impartiality is maintained.

• Drive continuous improvement through audit performance monitoring, scheme governance reviews, and operational innovation.

Audit & Compliance Operations

• Provide senior oversight of audit activity across all schemes and training centres.

• Support the Audit & Compliance Managers in ensuring effective scheduling, delivery, and performance of technical audits.

• Promote standardisation across audit functions and lead the implementation of new audit frameworks or technology with agility as required.

• Monitor emerging risks and compliance obligations arising from sector legislation and regulatory changes (e.g. Building Safety Act).

Governance, Representation & External Relations

• Represent C&C at key stakeholder forums including:

  • RACHP Group

  • Schemes Board

  • Vent Hygiene (VH) Group

  • Competent Person Forum

• Build strong relationships with external regulators, industry bodies and clients to ensure BESA’s schemes remain relevant and credible.

• Report to the Director of C&C and contribute to Board and SLT updates on performance, risk and compliance demonstrating accountability.

People & Performance Management

• Lead, inspire and develop both the Compliance and Audit teams through direct reports, modelling our key behaviours of Care, Continuous Improvement, Customer Empathy, Commerciality, Agility and Accountability.

• Foster a high-performance culture that balances compliance with commercial awareness and customer service excellence.

• Promote cross-skilling, CPD and progression opportunities across the Compliance function.

ABOUT YOU 

Skills

• Strategic leadership and operational oversight of certification and audit functions.

• Risk-based thinking, policy development, and quality assurance.

• Excellent stakeholder engagement, presentation, and communication skills.

• Governance and committee management (including impartiality and conflicts of interest).

• Performance analysis, reporting and commercial acumen.

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of ISO 17065 and UKAS accreditation requirements.

• In-depth knowledge of industry-specific compliance schemes (e.g. F-Gas, CPS, VHR, CAS).

• Familiarity with the Building Safety Act and wider regulatory frameworks affecting the BSE sector.

• Audit methodologies, certification processes, and quality management systems.

Experience

• Significant experience managing a Certification Body, or within a regulated, scheme-based environment.

• Proven success maintaining accreditation.

• Representation on boards, governance forums, or with regulatory bodies.

• Leadership of multi-functional teams

Behaviours

Aligned to BESA’s core behaviours, including:

• Customer Empathy – Understands and responds to the needs of members and scheme users.

• Accountability – Takes ownership of compliance outcomes, upholds high standards and integrity.

• Agility – Adapts to regulatory change and industry developments with resilience and flexibility.

• Continuous Improvement – Seeks innovation and value through data, feedback, and collaboration.

• Commerciality – Balances quality with business performance and scheme sustainability.

• Care – Promotes wellbeing and team culture through support, respect, and positive leadership.

Closing Date: 16th February 2026

1st Interview Date: 24th - 25th February 2026

2nd Interview Date: 6th March 2026

Don’t meet every single requirement? At BESA, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you're enthusiastic about this role but your experience doesn't match every requirement perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be exactly the candidate we're looking for!

We encourage early applications, as we may close the vacancy once we receive a strong pool of candidates!