At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a diverse team to drive operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
- Company: Join Safetykleen, a growing business focused on sustainability and safety.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, private healthcare, and wellness discounts.
- Other info: Exciting career growth opportunities in a collaborative and fast-paced setting.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while developing your leadership skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Leadership experience and a passion for customer service are essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 72000 £ per year.
This is a business critical, hands-on leadership role at the heart of our business. As Operations Manager, you’ll take full ownership of the Maidstone operation and its P&L, shaping performance, culture, and customer experience in equal measure. You’ll lead from the front - guiding a diverse, field-based workforce that includes service engineers, waste collection teams, warehouse operatives, and office-based employees. Your leadership will be fundamental to delivering outstanding service, unlocking growth opportunities, and building a high-performing, safety-first operation. This is your chance to make a real difference: driving efficiency, elevating standards, and inspiring a team to consistently exceed expectations.
Benefits for Operations Manager
- Base Salary £60,000 OTE - £72,000 including performance bonus.
- Monday - Friday day shifts.
- 25 days holiday + 8 Bank Holidays off.
- 5% contributory pension and life assurance (3x salary).
- Private healthcare from day one.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and sick pay.
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme with confidential support.
- Wellbeing-focused discounts, including Virgin Active gym membership, Gymflex, Tastecard, and major retailer cashback.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Employee recognition and referral rewards scheme.
- Training and development opportunities to support your career progression.
About Us
At Safetykleen, we provide essential parts cleaning, waste collection and environmental advisory services that help customers reduce their environmental footprint and improve operational performance. With operations in 15 countries and over 1 million services delivered each year, you’ll be joining a stable, growing business with a fast-paced and collaborative environment, where safety, compliance and sustainability are central to everything we do.
The Role
- Lead, recruit, develop, and energise a multi-skilled team of field-based Service and Sales Technicians, Waste Collection Representatives, Warehouse Operatives, and Customer Service/Administration staff.
- Set the tone for excellence through clear communication, hands-on coaching, structured training, regular feedback, and meaningful monthly 1:1s that unlock individual and team performance.
- Own customer retention and contract renewals, ensuring every customer is serviced on time, every time, with service levels that don’t just meet expectations - but consistently exceed them. Proactively identify and maximise every commercial opportunity.
- Drive operational efficiency through smart planning and optimisation of routes, fleet utilisation, and resource allocation.
- Champion a best-in-class Health & Safety culture - conducting robust risk assessments, leading incident investigations, and ensuring meticulous, high-quality reporting.
- Take full accountability for operational performance and cost control, with complete ownership of P&L delivery and improvement.
Key Success of an Operations Manager
- Qualified Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC); advantageous.
- Leadership - lead teams on an inclusive journey with respect, courage, and action.
- Customer Focussed - actively seeks out the best solution for the customer and recognises that our success is driven by our customers’ success.
- Good Communicator & Active Listener - clear and concise communicator and expresses genuine interest in what others are communicating.
- Achievement / Goal Driven - sets ambitious standards and challenging goals and is determined to exceed them.
- Organised - stay focused on different tasks and uses time & energy effectively and efficiently to achieve the desired outcome.
- Resilience and Tenacity - able to deal effectively with pressure, recover quickly from setbacks, and remain optimistic and self-confident even under adversity.
- A valid UK Drivers Licence.
Come and join us and be part of something exciting where you can reach your full potential, make a difference, change your lifestyle for the better and grow your career.
Operations Manager in Maidstone employer: Safetykleen
At Safetykleen, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and supportive work environment in Maidstone. As an Operations Manager, you will benefit from a competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and comprehensive health and wellbeing programmes, all while leading a diverse team dedicated to excellence and sustainability. With a strong focus on employee development and a culture that champions safety and performance, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact and advance your career in a thriving organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager in Maidstone
✨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 Operations Manager at Safetykleen!
✨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 Safetykleen or be willing to refer you for that Operations 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 Safetykleen who’s on the lookout for their next Operations Manager star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
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 Operations Manager role at Safetykleen!
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager in Maidstone
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 Safetykleen. 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 Safetykleen
✨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 Safetykleen. 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!
