Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead soft services delivery, ensuring quality and compliance in a pharmaceutical environment.
- Company: Join a global leader in the pharmaceutical industry with a focus on service excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, Sodexo benefits, and opportunities for career progression.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-profile role with ownership of service performance.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in facilities management and strong client engagement skills.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with support from experts and a focus on continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 65000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced Soft Services Manager to lead the delivery of soft services across the Eli Lilly site in Limerick. This is a senior leadership role with full responsibility for the performance, quality, and compliance of services including cleaning, GMP cleaning, catering, hospitality, landscaping, and pest control within a highly regulated pharmaceutical environment. You will act as the single point of contact for all Soft Services operations on site, ensuring service excellence, strong client engagement, regulatory compliance (GMP/GDP), and high performing, engaged teams. This role is about operational leadership, service quality, and people management — with commercial accountability for a €4m+ contract and a workforce of 48+ colleagues.
Key Responsibilities
- Soft Services Leadership
- Lead the delivery of all soft FM services across the site, ensuring consistent, high-quality standards
- Drive excellence in GMP cleaning and regulated service environments
- Ensure catering and hospitality services align with client expectations and compliance standards
- Oversee vendor management for pest control, landscaping, and specialist soft services
- Client & Contract Management
- Act as the primary client interface for all soft services
- Lead service reviews, performance meetings, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Ensure SLAs and KPIs are consistently met or exceeded
- Identify opportunities for service innovation and contract growth
- Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure full compliance with GMP/GDP, health & safety, environmental and statutory requirements
- Maintain robust risk registers and business continuity plans
- Ensure all SOPs and regulatory standards are adhered to across services
- Financial & Commercial Accountability
- Manage budgets, forecasting, P&L and cost control
- Monitor labour productivity and operational efficiencies
- Deliver contract targets including margin and service performance metrics
- People Leadership
- Lead, coach and develop multidisciplinary soft services teams
- Drive employee engagement, performance management, and development plans
- Promote a culture of safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement
About You
Essential
- Proven senior leadership experience within Soft FM or integrated facilities management
- Strong background in cleaning and/or GMP-regulated environments (5+ years preferred)
- Demonstrable experience managing large, diverse operational teams
- Strong commercial and financial acumen including P&L responsibility
- Excellent client-facing and stakeholder management skills
- Experience operating within a highly regulated pharmaceutical or similar environment
Desirable
- Hospitality, Facilities, or Business-related qualification
- NEBOSH (or equivalent)
- Experience in pharmaceutical or FMCG sectors
- Professional FM qualification
What’s on Offer
- A senior leadership role on a flagship pharmaceutical contract
- Full ownership of Soft Services performance and strategy
- Support from central subject matter experts within a strong matrix structure
- Career progression within a global organisation
- Opportunity to shape service excellence in a highly regulated, high-profile environment
Soft Services Manager employer: Sodexo Group
Contact Detail:
Sodexo Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Soft Services Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Soft Services Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your experience in soft services management. We want you to showcase your leadership skills and demonstrate how you can drive service excellence at Eli Lilly.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your background in GMP cleaning and facilities management makes you the perfect fit for this role. We suggest rehearsing common interview questions and preparing examples of your past successes in managing diverse teams.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the position. We believe that a little extra effort can make you stand out from the crowd and keep you top of mind for the hiring team.
We think you need these skills to ace Soft Services Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Soft Services Manager role. Highlight your experience in soft FM and any relevant leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your background aligns with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific examples of your achievements in managing teams and ensuring compliance in regulated environments. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this is a senior leadership position, make sure to emphasise your people management skills. Talk about how you've led diverse teams and driven performance improvements in previous roles. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and engage their team!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply 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 you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sodexo Group
✨Know Your Soft Services Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on all aspects of soft services management, especially in a GMP-regulated environment. Be ready to discuss your experience with cleaning, catering, and compliance, as well as how you've led teams in these areas.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership style and how you've successfully managed diverse teams. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you motivated your team to achieve service excellence.
✨Understand the Client's Needs
Research Eli Lilly and their expectations for soft services. Be prepared to discuss how you would ensure client satisfaction and exceed SLAs and KPIs, demonstrating your understanding of their operational goals.
✨Be Ready for Compliance Questions
Since this role involves strict adherence to GMP/GDP standards, expect questions about compliance and risk management. Prepare to discuss how you've maintained regulatory standards in previous roles and your approach to managing risks.