The Testing and Inspection segment of the TIC (Testing, Inspection, and Certification) industry operates under complex regulatory standards and often requires technically skilled, leadership-ready executives to drive results. Whether you’re filling a Director of Compliance role in a calibration lab or sourcing a Managing Director for a certification body, the stakes are high, and the talent pool is specialized.
So how do you ensure a successful executive hire in this space?
This guide walks through the critical steps to hiring top-tier executive talent in Testing and Inspection, and explains why partnering with a sector-specialist search firm like Velocity Talent can give you a real edge.

What Are the Key Steps in Hiring TIC Executives?

1. Define the Role and Requirements

Before posting a role or speaking to recruiters, you need absolute clarity on:

  • Technical requirements: Is ISO/IEC 17025 familiarity mandatory? Does the role require hands‑on lab management or regulatory oversight experience? (kellerexecutivesearch.com, iso.org)
  • Leadership expectations: Will the candidate oversee multi‑site operations? Do they need experience in audits, compliance, or accreditations?
  • Cultural fit: Are you scaling a startup or realigning a legacy firm? The right leader must fit not just your KPIs but your company’s leadership DNA.
    This foundational step ensures precision in your brief and internal alignment.

2. Market Mapping & Research

The best executives aren’t always looking — they’re passive candidates, often embedded in TIC roles across the UK and beyond.
Market mapping involves deep research into companies like labs, CROs, certification bodies, and more:

  • Identifying senior leadership driving outcomes in regulated environments
  • Benchmarking compensation and leadership credentials
    This strategic research approach, detailed in our Market Mapping guide is key to standing out from generic recruitment.

3. Sourcing & Strategic Outreach

Building a robust candidate pipeline requires:

  • Targeted LinkedIn outreach with keywords like compliance director and test & inspection engineer
  • Headhunting through specialist recruiters with niche networks
  • Selecting trusted referrals from industry insiders
    Outreach should always be discreet, strategic, and tailored — executive talent rarely responds to mass messaging.

4. Evaluation & Shortlisting

Once interest is secured, hiring needs to focus on outcomes, not just credentials:

  • Conduct competency-based interviews to assess regulatory experience and strategic vision
  • Use personality profiling and structured assessments to evaluate leadership style
  • Perform cultural fit analysis, especially critical for PE/VC-backed or growth-stage environments

5. Offer, Onboarding & Integration

Closing the hire is just the start. Ensure seamless integration by:

  • Setting clear 90-day goals and performance checkpoints
  • Facilitating a stakeholder-aligned welcome for leadership integration
  • Conducting regular performance reviews and cultural assimilation
    In TIC, where quality and compliance are essential, effective onboarding directly supports long-term performance.

Why Partner with an Executive Search Firm?

Hiring executives in TIC is complex and confidential. Choosing a specialist partner offers key advantages:

  • Sector expertise in regulated roles and technical leadership
  • Access to vetted, passive candidates not found through traditional channels
  • Speed and reliability, avoiding months of unproductive hiring
    Firms like Velocity Talent offer retained search, comprehensive onboarding, and deep industry insight spanning CROs, CDMOs, labs, and certification facilities.

“Working with Velocity Talent meant we didn’t just fill the role—we secured a strategic leader who transformed our compliance function.”
— Compliance Director, PE-backed CRO

Final Thoughts

Hiring in Testing and Inspection isn’t about casting a wide net — it’s about precision, partnership, and performance. Partnering with a specialist like Velocity Talent ensures you not only fill roles but also build leadership teams that shape your business’s future success.

Need help hiring in TIC?
Velocity Talent is the UK’s #1 executive recruiter for Testing, Inspection, and Certification, led by James Smethurst.
📞 Schedule Your Consultation Today