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- Tasks: Lead security and cleaning services across shopping centres, ensuring safety and operational excellence.
- Company: Join a leading firm focused on retail security and cleaning solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and professional development in a dynamic environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor teams and drive innovation in a fast-paced industry.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customer safety and service quality in vibrant shopping centres.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in multi-site operations with strong commercial acumen.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We are looking for an established Key Account Director to join us, focusing on Security & Cleaning within our retail business. You'll be responsible for the strategic leadership, operational excellence, and commercial performance of all services delivered across a national portfolio of shopping centres. You'll ensure safe, secure, welcoming, and compliant environments for customers, retailers, landlords, and asset managers, while driving continuous improvement, contract performance, and value creation.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Define and deliver a national strategy for security and cleaning services aligned with client, landlord, and asset management objectives.
- Act as the senior subject-matter expert for retail security, customer safety, and cleaning excellence within shopping centre environments.
- Lead nationwide initiatives covering innovation, technology adoption, sustainability, and service transformation.
- Represent the organisation at senior level meetings, client forums, and industry bodies.
- Operational Excellence
- Oversee security (manned guarding, mobile patrols, control rooms, CCTV, incident management) and cleaning operations across multiple shopping centres.
- Ensure consistent high service standards, customer experience, and brand alignment across all sites.
- Establish and monitor KPIs, SLAs, and performance frameworks, driving accountability at regional and local levels.
- Manage critical incidents, high-risk events, and business continuity planning.
- Preparation and delivery of monthly and quarterly client review presentations.
- Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure full compliance with UK legislation and industry standards, including: Health & Safety at Work Act, BS 7499 (Security Guarding), SIA licensing and ACS standards, COSHH and cleaning compliance, Equality, Safeguarding, and Data Protection requirements.
- Lead risk assessments, audits, and governance reviews across the national estate.
- Act as the escalation point for serious incidents, reputational risk, and client concerns.
- Commercial & Financial Management
- Hold full P&L responsibility for the national shopping centre portfolio.
- Manage budgets, cost control, margin delivery, and value engineering.
- Lead contract negotiations, mobilisations, retentions, and renewals.
- Identify growth opportunities, added-value services, and innovation pathways.
- Client & Stakeholder Engagement
- Develop senior relationships with shopping centre owners and landlords, managing agents and asset managers, retail directors and centre management teams.
- Serve as the primary national escalation point for key clients.
- Support bids, tenders, and proposals relating to shopping centre security and cleaning.
- People Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing soft services team at each centre.
- Drive engagement, diversity, wellbeing, and talent development across large frontline workforces.
- Ensure robust succession planning and capability building.
- Champion a culture of professionalism, accountability, and customer focus.
Person Specification
- Proven senior leadership experience in multi-site security and/or cleaning operations, ideally within shopping centres or retail estates.
- Strong understanding of UK security and cleaning regulations, standards, and best practice.
- Demonstrable experience managing large-scale P&L and complex contracts.
- Ability to operate credibly at client and executive level.
- Excellent people leadership skills across geographically dispersed teams.
- Commercially astute, data-driven, and outcome focused.
- Willingness to travel extensively across the UK.
Key Account Director employer: Bidvest Noonan
Contact Detail:
Bidvest Noonan Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Key Account Director
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current employees at companies you’re interested in. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for your interviews by researching the company and its culture. Think about how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in security and cleaning operations. We recommend practising common interview questions and having a few of your own ready to show your interest!
✨Showcase Your Expertise
When you get the chance, highlight your knowledge in security and cleaning regulations. Share examples of how you've driven operational excellence or improved client relationships in past roles. We want to see your passion and expertise shine through!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Key Account Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Key Account Director role. Highlight your experience in security and cleaning operations, especially in retail environments. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this position. Share specific examples of your strategic leadership and operational excellence in previous roles. Let your personality shine through!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use metrics and data to demonstrate how you’ve driven performance and value creation in past roles. We love numbers that tell a story!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Bidvest Noonan
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of security and cleaning regulations, especially those relevant to shopping centres. Being able to discuss UK legislation and industry standards confidently will show that you're the expert they need.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams in multi-site operations before. Highlight your experience in mentoring and developing staff, as well as how you've driven engagement and accountability within your teams.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about managing critical incidents or high-risk events. Think of specific situations where you successfully navigated challenges, and be ready to explain your thought process and the outcomes.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Demonstrate your ability to build relationships with key clients and stakeholders. Prepare to discuss how you've developed senior relationships in the past and how you plan to engage with shopping centre owners and asset managers in this role.