Customer Relationship Manager in Sowerby Bridge

Working hours: 37.5 Hrs - 6-month Fixed Term Contract (with potential extension). This is a full-time role designed to provide consistent primary ownership and continuity for customers.

Role Overview

The Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) is responsible for owning the customer experience and relationship for SME accounts, especially where issues are complex, prolonged or high impact. The role provides customers with a consistent primary point of contact, ensuring clear communication, coordinated resolution and fair, timely outcomes. The CRM role exists to strengthen customer relationships, support retention and renewal activity, protect cash collection and ensure learning from customer issues is translated into preventative action across the business. CRMs work in close partnership with Care Advisors, Resolution Experts, Account Managers and Customer Success to deliver joined up, professional customer outcomes.

Key tasks

• Primary Customer Relationship Ownership
  • Act as the primary point of contact for customers.
  • Own customer communication throughout the resolution journey, providing clear updates and managing expectations.
  • Build trust and confidence through consistent, professional and proactive engagement.
  • Ensure customers experience continuity, transparency and accountability.
• Coordination of Complex Resolution Activity
  • Coordinate multi-step customer issues across Operations, Finance, Sales and other support functions.
  • Maintain momentum on complex or aged cases, removing blockers and driving progress.
  • Work in structured partnership with assigned Care Advisors to progress tasks and gather information.
  • Escalate appropriately to Resolution Experts where formal complaints, remedies or governance decisions are required.
• Structured Insight, Root Cause Analysis and Feedback Loops
  • Lead structured root cause analysis on complex and recurring customer issues.
  • Identify patterns, trends and systemic weaknesses impacting customer experience.
  • Translate customer insight into clear, evidence-based feedback for Operations, Customer Experience and leadership teams.
  • Support agreed preventative actions and track completion to reduce repeat failure.
• Commercial Awareness and Retention Support
  • Maintain awareness of customer risk, sentiment and relationship health.
  • Work closely with Area Sales Managers (ASMs) to support renewal, re-sign and wider relationship activity.
  • Provide structured insight to Customer Success where customers progress toward termination.
  • Contribute to informed decision making around retention gestures and commercial outcomes.
• Customer Adoption and Enablement
  • Deliver MyJLA portal walkthroughs and customer education.
  • Encourage digital adoption and self-service behaviours.
  • Reduce avoidable demand by improving customer understanding of visibility, status and processes.
• Governance, Quality and Professional Standards
  • Ensure customer communication is accurate, considered and aligned to business position.
  • Maintain high standards of written and verbal communication.
  • Operate within agreed governance frameworks, escalation pathways and authority levels.
  • Ensure customer records, timelines and case information are complete and reliable.

Essential Key Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in customer relationship management, account management or complex customer support.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage ambiguity and apply judgement in complex situations.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to coordinate and influence across teams without direct authority.

Desirable

• Experience working in a contract-based or regulated environment.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of customer lifecycle value.
• Experience contributing to root cause analysis and service improvement.
• Familiarity with CRM or case management systems.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and self-motivated.
• Calm, confident and professional under pressure.
• Detail focused with the ability to think systemically.
• Comfortable taking ownership and accountability.
• Collaborative and relationship oriented.

Key Outcomes

• Improved customer confidence and experience on complex issues.
• Reduced repeat and avoidable customer queries.
• Stronger insight into systemic issues and preventative action.
• Improved support for retention, renewal and cash collection activity.
• Clear, consistent and professional customer communication.

About Our Business

JLA has been providing critical assets and services to a range of businesses and sectors including Care Homes, Hospitals, Schools, and Hotels for over 50 years. These assets and services are crucial in supporting customers with their Laundry, Catering, Heating, Fire Safety, Infection Control, and Air Conditioning. The company offers a unique, all-inclusive package called Total Care, this rental model allows customers to make a single monthly payment, to receive brand new equipment, and have maintenance costs taken care of.

When you join the JLA family, you'll also gain access to an extensive benefits package. We care about our people and take your well-being seriously, which is why we offer a range of supportive tools for health and wellbeing, financial guidance, and legal advice. Our Employee Assistance Programme, 24/7 Wellness and Lifestyle App plus a dedicated team of Mental Health First Aiders are there to support you through life's challenges. We also offer up to 8 counselling sessions, which can be in-person or remote, providing you with the support and flexibility to suit your own personal needs. You can reach any fitness goals with our free onsite gym at head office along with a range of other gym membership discounts available.

To offer financial support, we not only provide life assurance coverage, company sick pay, and a company pension scheme, we offer a range of added benefits such as free office parking, eye care vouchers, a cycle-to-work scheme, and exclusive discounts through our staff benefits hub. We really pride ourselves in offering a healthy work-life balance and believe it is important to have time away to recharge which is why we provide 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, flexible working options, and enhanced family leave policies. We are a company that appreciates you and invests in your success and even have a Colleague Recognition Scheme to celebrate your achievements. We're dedicated to your growth, offering support in career development and training. We value your referrals, and through our Refer a Friend scheme, you can earn up to £1,000 in bonus rewards!

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract, Temp to perm. Contract length: 6 months.

Benefits: Canteen, Company pension, Free parking, On-site gym, On-site parking, Work from home.

Experience: Customer relationship management: 1 year (preferred).

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Sowerby Bridge HX6 4AJ.