Director of Certification Operation

Founded in 1995, QPS Evaluation Services Inc. is the world's largest Accredited Field Evaluation Agency and a leading independent third-party testing, certification, and field evaluation organization. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, we operate a state-of-the-art testing laboratory with engineering service offices across Canada, the USA, and Europe.

As an accredited Nationally Recognized Testing Body (NRTL) and a division of Applus Laboratories, we pride ourselves on employing top-tier engineering and support staff with unparalleled expertise. Our unmatched customer service demonstrated through exceptional delivery times, cost efficiency, and a positive attitude, has attracted and retained thousands of satisfied customers. As we enter a growth phase, we are looking for talented individuals to join our engaged workforce. For more information, please visit our website at qps.ca and Applus Laboratories.

Director of Certification Operations – Electrical & Electronic (E&E) is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational excellence, and continuous improvement of Applus+ QPS’s certification services related to electrical and electronic products.

This role oversees end‑to‑end certification operations, ensuring compliance with applicable standards, accreditation requirements, and regulatory expectations while driving efficiency, quality, and business growth.

The Director serves as a key leader within the TIC organization, partnering closely with Quality, Engineering, Sales, Regulatory, and Global Operations to ensure consistent, scalable, and high‑quality certification services across regions. The role is full time located at our headquarters in Etobicoke, ON.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and direction for laboratory certification operations, ensuring alignment with Applus QPS corporate strategy and growth objectives.
• Establish and execute operational strategies to improve efficiency, scalability, service delivery, and profitability within certification programs.
• Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs), operational metrics, and service-level agreements (SLAs).
• P&L Ownership & Management owns full profit and loss responsibility for the E&E certification business unit, including revenue planning, cost management, margin optimization, and financial forecasting.
• Develop and manage annual operating budgets in alignment with corporate financial targets, ensuring disciplined resource allocation across headcount, capital, and operating expenses.
• Monitor financial performance against plan, identify variances, and drive corrective actions to protect and improve profitability.
• Partner with Finance to produce accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting, and present results and outlook to senior leadership.
• Identify and pursue revenue growth opportunities through capacity utilization, service expansion, and operational efficiency gains that directly improve contribution margin.

Certification & Technical Oversight

• Oversee certification activities related to electrical and electronic standards, including but not limited to:
• UL, IEC, CSA, EN, and other applicable national and international standards
• NRTL, CB Scheme, SCC, OSHA, IECEE, and other accreditation frameworks
• Ensure consistent application and interpretation of standards across teams.
• Provide technical governance and escalation support for complex certification decisions.

Quality, Compliance & Accreditation

• Ensure compliance with ISO/IEC 17065, ISO/IEC 17025 (as applicable), and other relevant accreditation requirements.
• Partner closely with Corporate Quality and Accreditation teams to prepare for and successfully complete audits, assessments, and surveillance activities.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions related to non‑conformances, customer complaints, and audit findings.
• Lead, develop, and mentor certification managers, engineers, reviewers, and operational staff.
• Support workforce planning, succession planning, and capability development for certification operations.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.

Client & Business Engagement

• Act as an executive sponsor for key certification clients, supporting strategic relationships and resolving escalated issues.
• Collaborate with Business Development and Sales teams to support proposals, pricing strategies, and new certification offerings.
• Identify market trends, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies to expand and enhance certification services.

Process Improvement & Digital Enablement

• Drive standardization and optimization of certification workflows, documentation, and reporting.
• Support the implementation and effective use of certification management systems and digital platforms.
• Champion efficiency initiatives that improve turnaround times, quality, and customer experience.

Governance & Collaboration

• Foster strong collaboration across regions, laboratories, and service lines.
• Represent Applus QPS in industry committees, standards bodies, and external stakeholder forums as required.
• Ensure alignment between regional operations and global certification governance models.
• Other duties to be assigned to meet business demands.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related technical field
• 10+ years of experience in Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC), with significant exposure to electrical and electronic certification programs.
• 5+ years in a senior leadership or management role overseeing certification or technical operations.
• In‑depth understanding of electrical and electronic product safety standards and certification schemes.
• Strong knowledge of TIC industry regulations, accreditation requirements, and compliance frameworks.
• Familiarity with regulatory markets in North America and internationally.
• Experience working with accredited certification bodies and regulatory authorities.
• Professional certifications (PE, CET, or equivalent) are a plus.
• Executive leadership and decision‑making
• Deep technical and regulatory knowledge in Electrical & Electronic certification
• Strong operational, financial, and analytical acumen
• Change management and continuous improvement leadership
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to lead global and cross‑functional teams

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.
• Must have a valid driver's license
• Comfortable operating in a global, matrixed organization.

What We Offer

• Collaborative Environment: Work alongside experienced and supportive professionals dedicated to your success.
• Career Growth: Grow your career in a company that values and recognizes the contributions of its employees.
• Energizing Work Atmosphere: Join a dynamic environment committed to delivering quality results and treating customers with the utmost respect.
• Competitive Salary: We offer a competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience.
• Expected Compensation: $150,000 to $200,000 per year. Compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and qualifications and falls within the expected range for this role.
• Generous Time Off: Enjoy a paid vacation to ensure a healthy work-life balance.
• Opportunities for Professional Development: Access training and development programs to help you reach your career goals.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Enjoy additional benefits, including an RRSP match, health, dental, and vision coverage, a flexible work schedule, and the assurance that your well-being is prioritized.

This position represents an existing vacancy within our organization, an opportunity to step into a role where your talents will make a meaningful difference.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Hiring

We use no AI in our recruitment process. Artificial intelligence is not used to screen, assess, or select applicants for this role.

Accessibility & Equal Opportunity

QPS is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Accommodations are available upon request at any stage of the hiring process.

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