Cleaning Manager - Belfast

Group Cleaning Manager Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Salary: 35,000 per annum

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and driven Group Cleaning Manager to lead the delivery of cleaning services across a high-profile contract portfolio in Northern Ireland. This is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality cleaning services, maintaining compliance with contractual obligations, and driving operational excellence across multiple sites. You will work closely with the Senior Management Team, service leads, and client stakeholders to achieve service level agreements, exceed performance targets, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. The successful candidate will be a strong people leader with a proven background in cleaning or integrated facilities management, exceptional stakeholder management skills, and a passion for delivering outstanding customer service.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Management
  • Lead and manage cleaning operations across a portfolio of sites, ensuring all contractual requirements are met.
  • Maintain and improve cleaning standards, ensuring services are delivered in line with client specifications and company procedures.
  • Ensure all cleaning requests are completed efficiently and in accordance with agreed service levels.
  • Conduct regular site audits and inspections, ensuring audit scores consistently meet or exceed targets.
  • Drive operational performance through innovation, best practice, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Ensure all staff training is completed, compliant, and up to date.
• Health, Safety & Compliance
  • Ensure full compliance with all health, safety, and environmental legislation.
  • Promote a strong behavioural safety culture through regular site inspections, observations, and engagement initiatives.
  • Ensure all employees have the appropriate PPE and training to carry out their duties safely.
  • Investigate and report accidents, incidents, and near misses in line with company and client requirements.
  • Maintain accurate compliance records and support internal and external audits.
• Client Relationship Management
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and key stakeholders.
  • Attend client meetings and deliver monthly performance reviews and reports.
  • Proactively seek client feedback and implement action plans to drive service improvements.
  • Support client retention through the delivery of exceptional service standards.
  • Identify opportunities for service enhancements and business growth.
• People Management
  • Lead, coach, and develop Cleaning Supervisors and Cleaning Operatives across the contract.
  • Conduct regular one-to-one meetings, performance reviews, and development discussions.
  • Drive employee engagement and implement initiatives to improve team morale and retention.
  • Manage recruitment, onboarding, training, and workforce planning activities.
  • Ensure all HR processes are completed in line with company policies and procedures.
  • Deliver team briefings and promote a collaborative, one-team culture.
• Financial Management
  • Manage budgets and monitor financial performance across the contract.
  • Participate in monthly financial reviews and implement actions to improve performance.
  • Monitor labour productivity and resource planning to ensure efficient service delivery.
  • Manage stock control, asset management, and cost-saving initiatives.
  • Support the delivery of budget targets through effective cost control and operational efficiencies.

About You

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in a Cleaning Management, Facilities Management, or similar operational leadership role.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience managing client relationships within a service-led environment.
• Strong understanding of cleaning operations, compliance, and service delivery standards.
• Knowledge of health and safety legislation and best practice.
• Experience managing budgets, labour planning, and operational performance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to work independently and make informed decisions in a fast-paced environment.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• BICS qualification or equivalent.
• IOSH qualification or equivalent health and safety certification.
• COSHH qualification.
• IFM Accreditation.
• Train the Trainer qualification.
• Experience within an Integrated Facilities Management environment.

Why Sodexo?

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it's a chance to be part of something greater. Belong in a company and team that values you for you. Act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions. Thrive in your own way. We also offer a range of perks, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering wellbeing support.
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or life's larger problems, including legal and financial advice, support with work or personal issues impacting your wellbeing.
• Access to a 24hr virtual GP Service.
• Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 across popular high street retailers (also open to friends and family).
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Pension Plan.
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools.
• Bike to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit.
• Sodexo UK and Ireland's enhanced benefits and leave policies.

A little more about Sodexo:

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services. We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, SoTogether, Generations and Origins. We're a Disability Confident Leader employer. We're committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.