Interim Soft Services Manager
Cleaning‑Led | Large Operational Team | 3‑Month Assignment (Potential Extension)
We are supporting a large, complex public‑facing contract in the appointment of an Interim Soft Services Manager to stabilise and strengthen cleaning‑led soft services over an initial 3‑month period, with potential for extension.
This assignment will suit a highly experienced Soft FM / Cleaning Manager who can step into a challenging operational environment, quickly establish control, and provide calm, credible leadership to a sizeable frontline workforce.
The Assignment
The Interim Soft Services Manager will take responsibility for the day‑to‑day performance and leadership of cleaning‑led soft services, supported by porterage and security teams, on a busy, multi‑shift site.
The role has a clear stabilisation focus, including:
- Restoring consistency across cleaning standards and routines
- Improving operational grip and supervisor effectiveness
- Ensuring services are delivered in line with contractual requirements
- Supporting senior leadership during a period of transition
This is a hands‑on role, requiring strong on‑site presence and the ability to engage confidently with frontline teams and senior stakeholders alike.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide operational leadership across cleaning‑led soft FM services on a large site
- Lead, motivate and manage a workforce of c.100+ staff across multiple shifts
- Stabilise cleaning standards, productivity and attendance
- Ensure services are delivered in line with SLAs, KPIs and statutory requirements
- Act as a point of escalation for operational issues and service risk
- Maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and service users
- Oversee rotas, timesheets, payroll inputs and workforce systems
- Manage absence, ER issues and workforce performance firmly and fairly
- Ensure compliance with health & safety, COSHH and method statements
Required Experience & Skills
Essential
- Strong, hands‑on cleaning management experience in a large, complex environment
- Proven experience managing large operational teams (100+ staff)
- Demonstrable capability in stabilising services under pressure
- Strong knowledge of cleaning standards, audits, staffing models and productivity
- Confident people manager with solid ER and absence management experience
- IOSH Managing Safely (or equivalent)
Desirable
- Experience overseeing additional soft services (e.g. security or porterage)
- Background in interim, contract or turnaround‑focused roles
- Experience working in regulated or customer‑critical environments
Note: Direct hospital or NHS experience is not essential. Strong cleaning leadership in any large, structured environment is the key requirement.
Why This Assignment Will Appeal
- Clear, time‑bound stabilisation brief
- Visible leadership role with real operational responsibility
- Opportunity to make immediate, measurable impact
- Potential to extend beyond the initial term
If you are an experienced Soft FM or Cleaning Manager with the availability and appetite for an interim stabilisation assignment, we would welcome a conversation.
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