The Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle (LFCG) is an all-through school (ages 3–18), comprising four primary schools and one secondary school spread across four sites: the main site in South Kensington, together with Wix, Marie d'Orliac and André Malraux primary schools. Current enrolment exceeds 3,500 pupils.
The Lycée is seeking to appoint a Cleaning Operations Manager responsible for leading cleaning, housekeeping and associated support services across its sites. Reporting to the Deputy Bursar, the postholder will manage a team of 26 cleaning staff, oversee in-house laundry services, manage external cleaning contracts, and ensure the effective use of budgets, resources and equipment.
The role is responsible for maintaining high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and safety across the school estate, including 124 classrooms, offices and communal areas.
Key Responsibilities:
Operations Management
- Oversee cleaning and housekeeping operations across all designated school sites.
- Conduct regular inspections and quality audits to ensure SLA standards are maintained.
- Identify operational issues and implement corrective actions in a timely manner.
- Coordinate cleaning support for school events, open days, elections and other activities.
- Liaise with the Maintenance team regarding facilities-related issues and service requests.
- Build and maintain constructive working relationships with various stakeholders in the school to ensure needs are being met (Teaching staff, non-teaching staff, pastoral care etc)
Team Leadership
- Lead, supervise and support a team of 26 cleaning staff, including Supervisor.
- Manage rotas, staff levels, absences and shift cover arrangements.
- Allocate resources and delegate tasks to ensure effective service delivery.
- Work closely with Supervisors and provide operational support, including participating in cleaning activities when required.
- Monitor performance, set expectations and support staff development through training and coaching.
Laundry and Textile Services
- Manage in-house laundry operations supporting the four primary schools, laboratories, infirmary, sports facilities and other school departments.
- Ensure the appropriate handling, storage and care of textiles, uniforms and specialist items.
Budget, Procurement and Contract Management
- Manage the departmental budget and monitor expenditure to ensure cost-effective use of resources.
- Oversee purchasing, stock control and inventory management for cleaning products, PPE, consumables and equipment.
- Maintain effective relationships with suppliers and negotiate value-for-money solutions.
- Manage external cleaning contracts for designated facilities, including Marie d'Orliac and André Malraux sites.
- Coordinate servicing and preventative maintenance of cleaning equipment and machinery.
Health, Safety and Compliance
- Ensure compliance with health and safety legislation, COSHH requirements and school procedures.
- Maintain accurate documentation and operational records.
- Promote safe working practices across all cleaning operations.
Administration and Reporting
- Prepare operational reports and performance data.
- Support effective coordination with school departments and external stakeholders.
- Contribute to service improvement initiatives and operational planning.
Profil :
Essential
- Experience managing cleaning, housekeeping or facilities operations within a large organisation.
- Proven experience leading and supervising teams.
- Experience managing operational budgets and controlling expenditure.
- Experience managing supplier and contractor relationships.
- Strong organisational and planning skills.
- Knowledge of health and safety requirements, including COSHH.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities across several sites.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Fluent English.
Desirable
- Experience within a school, educational or multi-site environment.
- Knowledge of deep-cleaning programmes and seasonal operational planning.
- Experience managing laundry or textile care services.
- Working knowledge of French.
- Professional qualification in facilities, cleaning operations or health and safety management.
Working Hours: 40 hours per week over 40 weeks (1600 hours a year)
Location: South Kensington (London). The LFCG operates across four school sites. As part of the role, occasional travel between the different primary schools may be required, including visits to the primary school sites at Wix, Marie d’Orliac and André Malraux.
Monthly gross salary and benefits:
- £3,037.61 per month
- Employer contribution to private healthcare
- 15% employer contribution to private pension
- 60 days holiday per annum
Application deadline: 21 June 2026 at midnight
Succesful candidates will be invited to an interview the week starting on 22 June 2026 (practical details and the time of the interview will be communicated by email)
Pay: £3,037.61 per month
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Company pension
- Private medical insurance
- Sick pay
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
