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, private healthcare, generous holiday, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while shaping a high-performing, safety-first culture.
- Qualifications: Leadership skills, customer focus, and a valid UK Drivers Licence required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 72000 £ per year.
Location: Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom
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 employer: Safetykleen
At Safetykleen, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Maidstone, Kent, where your leadership as an Operations Manager will directly impact our commitment to safety, compliance, and sustainability. With competitive benefits including a generous salary package, private healthcare from day one, and extensive training opportunities, we foster a culture of growth and recognition, ensuring you can thrive both personally and professionally while making a meaningful difference in our operations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend local events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to current employees at Safetykleen. You never know who might help you land that Operations Manager role!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their values, recent projects, and challenges they face. This will not only impress your interviewers but also help you tailor your answers to show how you can drive operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Think of examples from your past experiences where you’ve led teams, improved processes, or exceeded targets. Be ready to discuss how you can inspire a diverse workforce and create a safety-first culture at Safetykleen.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Safetykleen team. Let’s get you on board!
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Operations Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant achievements that showcase your ability to drive efficiency and exceed customer expectations.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your skills align with our mission at Safetykleen. Be genuine and let your personality come through.
Showcase Your Communication Skills:As an Operations Manager, clear communication is key. In your application, demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively by being concise and articulate in your writing. This will give us a taste of how you might lead your team!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Safetykleen
✨Know Your Numbers
As an Operations Manager, you'll be responsible for P&L. Brush up on your financial acumen and be ready to discuss how you've managed budgets or improved profitability in past roles. This shows you understand the business side of operations.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership approach. Discuss how you've motivated teams, handled conflicts, or implemented training programmes. This role is all about leading a diverse workforce, so demonstrating your ability to inspire and develop others is key.
✨Customer-Centric Mindset
Be ready to talk about how you've prioritised customer satisfaction in previous positions. Share specific instances where you went above and beyond to meet customer needs, as this aligns perfectly with the company's focus on exceeding expectations.
✨Safety First!
Given the emphasis on health and safety, prepare to discuss your experience with risk assessments and safety protocols. Highlight any initiatives you've led to improve safety standards, as this will resonate well with the company's culture.
