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 – P&L Growth, People & Safety employer: Safetykleen
At Safetykleen, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Maidstone where safety, compliance, and sustainability are at the forefront of our operations. With competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits including private healthcare and generous holiday allowances, and a strong focus on employee development, we empower our Operations Managers to lead diverse teams and drive meaningful change. Join us to unlock your potential in a collaborative culture that values your contributions and prioritises your well-being.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager – P&L Growth, People & Safety
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out for informational chats. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family. Focus on articulating your experiences and how they relate to the role of Operations Manager. The more comfortable you are speaking about your skills, the better you'll perform in the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Let’s make it happen together!
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager – P&L Growth, People & Safety
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Operations Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience, P&L management, and any relevant safety practices you've implemented.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've driven efficiency and inspired teams in previous positions. Make it personal and engaging!
Showcase Your Achievements:Quantify your successes! Whether it's improving customer satisfaction or increasing operational efficiency, use numbers to demonstrate your impact. This will help us see the value you can bring to our 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 your enthusiasm for joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Safetykleen
✨Know Your P&L Inside Out
As an Operations Manager, you'll be responsible for the P&L. Make sure you understand the financials of the business and can discuss how you've driven growth in previous roles. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've managed budgets and improved profitability.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong leadership skills. Prepare to talk about your approach to leading diverse teams. Think of examples where you've motivated staff, handled conflicts, or implemented training programmes that improved performance and safety.
✨Demonstrate Customer Focus
Customer satisfaction is key in this position. Be prepared to discuss how you've gone above and beyond for customers in the past. Share stories that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to build lasting relationships with clients.
✨Prepare for Safety Discussions
Safety is a top priority for this role. Brush up on health and safety regulations relevant to the industry. Be ready to discuss how you've championed safety initiatives in previous positions and how you plan to maintain a safety-first culture in your new role.
