At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire teams in security and cleaning to create a thriving retail environment.
- Company: Join Mitie, the UK's leading facilities management company with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible benefits, financial wellbeing support, and access to discounts from top retailers.
- Other info: Great career progression opportunities and a culture that values your growth and contributions.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving innovation and enhancing customer experiences in a dynamic setting.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in soft services, strong communication skills, and a data-driven mindset.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 55000 £ per year.
Better places, thriving communities.
Location: Westgate Oxford
Contract: Full-time (40 hours, including weekends and flexibility as required)
Salary: Up to £55,000
Reporting to: Area Manager
About The Role
This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for driving a high-performing, engaged and customer-focused Security and Cleaning function within a key retail destination. You will lead from the front, developing your teams, shaping strategy and embedding a culture of accountability, excellence and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & People Management
- Provide visible, hands-on leadership to Security and Cleaning teams, fostering a high-performance, values-led culture.
- Lead, coach and develop direct reports, setting clear objectives, conducting performance reviews and supporting career progression.
- Build a strong succession pipeline through coaching, mentoring and talent development.
- Ensure effective workforce planning, recruitment and retention aligned to business needs and diversity goals.
- Champion Mitie One Code and Elevate principles, embedding them into everyday behaviours.
- Operational Leadership & Strategy
- Own and deliver best-in-class soft services through clear standards, governance and continuous improvement.
- Translate strategic objectives into operational delivery plans, aligning teams to wider business goals.
- Drive a proactive, data-led approach to performance using systems such as Merlin, Workplace+ and client reporting tools.
- Ensure consistent, compliant service delivery across all areas of the estate, both internal and external.
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Build strong, credible relationships with clients, contractors and stakeholders across the estate.
- Act as a key representative for soft services, confidently leading audits, inspections and performance reviews.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (QHSE, ESG, H&S, HR) to deliver aligned outcomes.
- Performance & Compliance
- Take full ownership of KPIs, SLAs and service standards, holding teams accountable for delivery.
- Lead a culture of safety and compliance, ensuring adherence to all statutory, ISO and British Standards.
- Proactively manage risk, including H&S, fire safety and operational compliance.
- Financial & Commercial Accountability
- Manage operational budgets (service charge and non-recoverable), ensuring cost-effective delivery without compromising quality.
- Identify efficiencies and value-add opportunities to enhance service delivery and asset value.
- Customer Experience & Innovation
- Champion a best-in-class guest experience through engaged, service-driven teams.
- Drive innovation in service delivery, sustainability and technology adoption.
- Continuously review and improve processes to enhance efficiency and experience.
What We're Looking For
- Proven leadership experience in soft services, with Security and Cleaning experience desirable.
- A strong people leader with a track record of building high-performing, engaged teams.
- Commercially astute with experience managing budgets and driving performance outcomes.
- Confident communicator with strong stakeholder management skills.
- Data-driven mindset with experience using operational systems and performance metrics.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and lead in a fast-paced environment.
- IOSH qualification desirable.
Our market-leading offering provides you with benefits that suit your lifestyle. We have a virtual GP on hand for you and members of your household. So you can get expert advice by video or phone without having to leave your home. We offer financial wellbeing assistance through our Salary Finance scheme. For example, you could access 50% of your earned pay before payday for a small fee. Salary Finance also offers competitive loans. When you join us, we’ll give you a link to our flexible lifestyle benefits platform, Choices. You might choose to purchase up to five extra days’ holiday each year. You might buy critical illness insurance, seek dental treatment or buy technology products at an affordable cost. There are many choices! We give you access to high street discounts from thousands of well-known retailers, gyms and more through our MiDeals platform. And we have a cycle-to-work scheme. Life cover of up to four times your salary is available. We also offer enhanced pension contributions, a save-as-you-earn scheme, and a Mitie Matching Share Plan (you could even be awarded free shares in Mitie). We award our employees with Mitie Stars as recognition for their hard work. There are cash prizes up for grabs each month and at the end of the year there’s a chance to scoop a top prize of £10,000! Our success is a direct result of the experience and quality of our people. Progressing your career is therefore a top priority for us. We offer a diverse variety of training and development avenues via a wide selection of learning resources to suit you. We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term condition (for example dyslexia, anxiety, autism, a mobility condition or hearing loss) and need us to make any reasonable adjustments, changes or do anything differently during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing at . Since 1987, Mitie’s 84,000 employees have been maintaining companies globally. We are the UK’s leading facilities management and professional services company, and our clients range from household names in banking, critical government sites as well as hospitals and schools. Join our Mitie Team. Together our diversity makes us stronger.
Soft Services Manager in Oxford employer: Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services
Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and development. Located in Dalkeith, this role as a Licensed Security Officer not only provides competitive benefits such as life cover and dental insurance but also fosters personal and professional growth through various opportunities. Join us to be part of a team that values proactive protection and compliance while enjoying unique perks like discounts through MiDeals.
Contact Details:
Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Soft Services Manager in Oxford
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Soft Services Manager at Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services or be willing to refer you for that Soft Services Manager position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services who’s on the lookout for their next Soft Services Manager star!
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Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Soft Services Manager role at Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services!
We think you need these skills to ace Soft Services Manager in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Mitie Cleaning & Hygiene Services. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!