Area Manager in Preston

Location: Preston and Surrounding Areas

Salary: £30,000 - £32,500 per annum

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours Per Week: 40

As an Area Manager, you will lead and manage cleaning operations across multiple client sites, ensuring consistently high standards of service delivery, operational performance, and client satisfaction. This is a fast‑paced, multi‑site role where you will take full accountability for the performance of your area. You will work closely with clients and internal stakeholders to ensure services are delivered efficiently, within budget, and in line with contractual expectations.

You will be responsible for managing day‑to‑day operations across your sites, including regular client engagement, performance reviews, and site visits—both planned and unannounced—to monitor standards, resolve issues, and drive continuous improvement.

A key part of the role is leading your teams. You will oversee recruitment, induction, training, and performance management, ensuring staffing levels are maintained and your teams are supported to deliver consistently high standards. You will also implement strategies to improve retention, engagement, and overall team performance.

You will manage budgets and control wage spend, ensuring the efficient use of labour, materials, and equipment while maintaining service quality. You will also oversee time and attendance processes and ensure accurate reporting across your area.

Compliance remains a core part of the role. You will ensure all sites operate in line with health and safety legislation, company policies, and client requirements. This includes maintaining accurate documentation, completing regular audits, and ensuring all team members follow site rules and professional standards.

You will also have responsibility for maintaining information security and site security standards, ensuring that confidential information is handled appropriately, access to sites is controlled, and company policies relating to data protection and security are upheld.

This role requires a hands‑on leader who can balance operational delivery with commercial awareness, make decisions confidently, and drive high performance across multiple sites.

You are an experienced and driven leader with a background in managing teams within a service delivery environment, ideally within cleaning, facilities management, or a similar sector. You thrive in a multi‑site role and are comfortable balancing competing priorities while maintaining a clear focus on service delivery, client satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

You are a strong people manager who can build, develop, and motivate teams. You are confident managing performance, addressing challenges, and supporting your team to deliver high standards consistently. You have excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, enabling you to work effectively with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders at all levels. You take a proactive approach to client management, ensuring expectations are met and issues are resolved quickly and professionally.

You are highly organised, with strong attention to detail, and are confident managing budgets, controlling costs, and using data to inform decision‑making. You are solution‑focused and adaptable, with the ability to respond quickly to operational challenges and implement effective, practical solutions.

You will also bring:

• Proven experience in a supervisory or management role
• Strong customer service and client relationship skills
• Experience managing budgets and controlling costs
• Health and safety awareness and commitment to safe working practices
• IT literacy, with the ability to use reporting and workforce management systems
• A full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel across multiple sites

Please note that due to the nature of the position, the successful candidate will be subject to a driving licence check before deployment. Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate will be required to undergo pre‑employment screening appropriate to the environments and clients they support. This will include an Enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List where the role involves responsibility for education and childcare settings. Depending on business requirements, the successful candidate may also be required to undergo additional screening, BPSS, adverse financial checks, Adult Barred List checks, or other client‑specific vetting in accordance with contractual, legislative and regulatory requirements. Appointment to the role is conditional upon successfully meeting the relevant vetting requirements.

Above all, you take ownership of your area, lead by example, and align with Atlas values, delivering high standards, acting with integrity, and creating a positive working environment for your teams and clients.

Benefits:

• Full learning and support from Atlas to help you succeed in your role.
• Financial wellbeing benefits via Stream – real‑time access to earned wages and exclusive discounts at top retailers.
• Career progression opportunities within a growing company.
• Tailored learning and development support in areas that interest you.
• Recognition programs, including our Stars of Atlas awards.
• Cycle to work scheme and workplace pension.
• A collaborative and supportive work environment where people value and help each other.
• An opportunity to work in a fast‑growing business with significant career advancement potential.

Atlas commits to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and as such aims to ensure that no employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment or is placed at a disadvantage by imposed conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justified because of a protected characteristic. Atlas strives to see its workforce broadly reflecting the community in which its operation is based.