Position Details
Campus Services
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £27,546 to £29,171, with potential progression once in post to £32,595
Grade: 4
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 6th September 2026
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham
Background
The University’s Facility Services Department strives to excel in its service delivery and uphold its sustainable credentials and status as an award-winning team. Cleaning Services forms part of the Facility Services Department within Campus Services at the University of Birmingham. Campus Services encompasses a diverse range of services which are pivotal to the smooth running of the University and its business sustainability.
Cleaning Supervisor(s) will be responsible for the delivery of a high quality professional cleaning service within a specific area of the University campus and each will be supported by a Cleaning Support Supervisor.
The post holder(s) will have up-to-date knowledge of the cleaning industry and will be responsible for assisting with supervising, motivating and supporting a team of staff delivering a service operating 7 days a week, therefore you will be required to work 5 out of 7 days.
Role Summary
You will be responsible for the teams’ recruitment, training, development, service excellence, staff performance and accountability and will be expected to ensure services are delivered consistently meeting agreed Service Level Agreements in all areas. You will be part of the Cleaning Services management team.
You will work with a Cleaning Support Supervisor, to ensure resources are in the correct place at the correct time, to provide and maintain the highest possible Cleaning Standards at all times. This will require you to cover the core hours of 6am – 6pm between them, and be flexible to cover events and teaching requirements, up to 10pm by altering shift patterns. Cleaning Supervisors will work together, with their Support Supervisor to cover all shifts, equally sharing the early and late commitments to their team and cover emergency call out.
In order to flexibly use resource you may be given the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or wider University.
Main Duties
Staff Supervision, Training and Development
- You will have overall management responsibility for co-ordinating, motivating and leading a large team of staff to ensure a high quality, professional cleaning service is provided across the area under your control. This will involve:
- Reviewing information provided by your Support Supervisor regarding underperformance and taking action to resolve this, such as further training, setting objectives and monitoring and escalating to HR where necessary;
- Conducting sickness review meetings and where required, making Occupational Health referrals;
- With support from the Deputy Operations manager, manage any ongoing capability concerns including reasonable adjustments;
- Carrying out staff briefings, 1-2-1 meetings and PDR meetings;
- You will assist the Deputy Operations Manager and Operations Support Co-Ordinator with recruitment, induction, development and identifying the training needs of new and existing staff.
- Ensure all staff in your team are smartly presented in Cleaning Services uniform with visible ID badge.
Cleaning Standards
- Carry out audits of buildings to ensure cleaning standards are achieved and maintained in line with agreed service standards, taking appropriate action to rectify issues where these standards are not met.
- Ensure access to buildings is available when required, this may be by organising the opening of buildings with Security Services or taking responsibility for opening buildings and deactivating intruder alarms.
- In conjunction with the Deputy Supervisor, ensure all staff have the correct stock of chemicals and equipment to complete cleaning tasks effectively and efficiently.
- Assess and plan any one off cleaning or special cleaning events, working with the Deputy Operations Manager to provide a quotation for the works.
- Work with your team and the Deputy Operations Manager to trial, review and recommend the best chemicals and equipment to effectively clean all areas.
- Work with the Deputy Operations Manager to ensure servicing of equipment takes place as required and investigate any maintenance issues, reporting to the Deputy Manager for a timely repair.
Customer Service
- Ensure a high level of customer service is provided to staff, students and visitors to the University.
- Build effective relationships with Building Managers and Facility staff by organising regular meetings to discuss service needs and review the service and resources to meet the needs of the building.
- Act as the first point of escalation for customers, investigating issues and identifying solutions; inform the Deputy Operations Manager as appropriate.
- Reporting complaints to the Facility Services Administration Officer for recording purposes.
Health and Safety
- Monitor Health and Safety standards across your team, ensuring that appropriate records are maintained and staff receive the appropriate training and assessment.
- Ensure all staff are fully trained and understand relevant Health and Safety legislation and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations.
- Order, distribute and review Personal Protective Equipment for all staff.
- Ensure that cleaning equipment is appropriately Portable Appliance Tested before use.
General
- Ensure that all staff comply with all University policies, procedures and processes. Take action to rectify where this is not happening, escalating to the Deputy Manager where appropriate.
- Ensure that the University’s Health and Safety Policy and other relevant statutory requirements are complied with at all times.
- Operate and understand all University IT systems including Microsoft products, HR Portal, Core systems and Servicetrac.
- Make a key contribution to the planning for Open Days, Graduations, Examinations, Summer Cleans or similar events as required and collate any associated overtime payments.
- Ensure the processing of accurate salary, pay awards and overtime payments in a timely manner and resolve any personal financial discrepancies raised by Cleaning Staff.
- Assist in resolving any financial issues identified which may include, delivery and invoice discrepancies.
- Support Cleaning Staff to access specialist University Schemes such as the Employee Assistance Scheme, Travel Pass Scheme or Car Parking Scheme.
- Keep up-to-date with internal communications including Buzz, press releases and staff newsletters.
- Treats everyone with dignity and respect in line with current equality legislation.
- Respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant university policies and procedures.
- Other relevant criteria from our equality and diversity duties document.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
- Proven experience of leading a large team, ideally within a cleaning or facilities environment, including being responsible for undertaking Personal Development Reviews, recruitment and selection and induction of staff.
- Membership of the British Institute of Cleaning Science or a relevant equivalent qualification or relevant equivalent substantial experience.
- To hold or be willing to work towards the Chartered Management Institute Team Leader/Supervisor Level 3 Apprenticeship or equivalent within 2 years of appointment
- Experience of monitoring performance and identifying the training needs of staff.
- Experience of planning and organising a large team of staff efficiently.
- Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues in other professional service areas, such as HR and Finance.
- A strong communicator and confident dealing with stakeholders in a customer focused environment.
- You need to demonstrate good MS office skills including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
- Experience of working in a H&S environment with detailed understanding of COSHH.
- A comprehensive understanding of cleaning standards and how to identify and escalate issues when those cleaning standards are not being met.
- Proven ability to work under pressure to meet strict deadlines, adaptable and flexible when faced with change.
- A full clean driving licence if desirable but not essential.
- Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.
- Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant university policies and procedures relating to equality and diversity.
- Other relevant criteria from our equality and diversity knowledge, skills and experience document .
Other requirements
Fit to carry out cleaning duties including bending, walking, pushing, lifting and handling equipment. You will be required to participate in any training relevant to the post as requested. Corporate clothing will be provided.
Dimensions
You will be responsible for a team comprising of a Deputy Cleaning Supervisor and up to 50 Cleaning Operatives.
Planning and organising
- Forward planning to ensure that there is minimal impact on service delivery due to A/L, sickness, maternity leave etc.
- Planning staffing etc. for large events i.e. Open Days, Accommodation cleans.
- Ensuring accurate records are held regarding staff sickness and overtime, stock and machinery and training.
Problem solving and decision making
- Ensuring complaints from Customers are dealt with in a timely manner. Some complaints will be escalated to you from your Support Supervisor and you will be expected to deal with these, only escalating to the Deputy Operations Manager where you cannot resolve them.
- Discuss training needs with your Support Supervisor, identify solutions and either carry these out or recommend them to the Deputy Operations Manager.
- Your Support Supervisor will let you know where cleaning standards are not being met and will help to identify solutions. You will be responsible for resolving issues independently or for escalating to the Deputy Operations Manager if you cannot resolve them.
Internal and external relationships
- You will build excellent working relationships with a wide range of staff in the areas where your team works to ensure there is good ongoing communication and that you can manage and resolve any complaints escalated to you.
- You will need to work with Security personnel – to arrange access and security arrangements.
- You will work with Finance staff to ensure payments are made accurately and on time and that issues are resolved. You will work with HR staff to discuss any ongoing staffing issues.
You will work with other Cleaning Supervisors.
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Informal enquiries to Tasha Nicholls, email: [email protected]
View our staff values and behaviours here
Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.
We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website .
