Operations Manager
Goldcrest Cleaning Services Ltd
Location: Waterlooville, with daily travel to client sites
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Provided: Phone, laptop and company van for work journeys from the office
About us
Goldcrest Cleaning Services Ltd is a well-established commercial cleaning and building maintenance company headquartered in Waterlooville, serving clients throughout Hampshire and West Sussex. We support a diverse range of education, healthcare and commercial sites, with a focus on dependable service, high standards and strong client relationships.
We’re looking for an experienced, motivated Operations Manager who shares these values and will take an active role in supporting our teams.
About the role
Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you’ll manage day-to-day operations across multiple client sites, working closely with our wider management team, supervisors and office staff.
Based in Waterlooville, you’ll travel daily to visit clients, support cleaning teams and check that our services meet the required standards. You’ll combine forward planning with responding to the practical challenges of a busy cleaning business, ensuring staffing, schedules and resources are organised effectively.
This is a demanding role, and you must be able to work calmly under pressure, prioritise competing demands and follow issues through to resolution. You’ll lead by example and be willing to undertake cleaning work yourself when needed, particularly during busy periods or staff shortages. A background in cleaning is essential.
Leading and supporting our teams
- Supervise, motivate and mentor staff, setting clear expectations and providing constructive feedback.
- Support Area Managers and supervisors with daily operational challenges, staff performance and service improvements.
- Train and induct new employees in company standards, cleaning methods, customer service and safe working practices.
- Coordinate staffing, rotas and absence cover with the office team.
- Review and approve staff holiday requests and overtime, maintaining suitable cover and control of staffing costs.
- Identify training needs and ensure employees have the equipment, information and support to do their jobs well.
- Provide practical cleaning support and assist with cleaning and maintenance work within your skills and training.
- Take part in an out-of-hours support rota, responding to staff messages and providing guidance when required.
Maintaining standards and client relationships
- Conduct regular site visits and quality inspections, with a minimum of one supervisory visit per client each quarter and additional visits according to operational needs.
- Build strong client relationships, respond promptly to concerns and ensure agreed actions are completed.
- Monitor cleaning standards, contract requirements and productivity, making practical improvements where needed.
- Create cleaning schedules for new clients and review existing schedules as requirements change.
- Help plan and coordinate periodic cleaning, additional works and new contract mobilisation.
- Ensure client deadlines and company project commitments are met.
- Support the management team in identifying, meeting and onboarding new clients.
Health, safety and compliance
- Maintain safe working practices across all sites and address concerns promptly.
- Apply a strong understanding of COSHH and prepare or review site-specific risk assessments.
- Ensure each contract has the relevant health and safety documentation in place and that staff understand the requirements.
- Monitor equipment, stock and PPE needs, working closely with the Office Manager.
- Coordinate DBS checks for new starters and client-required BPSS screening with the relevant colleagues.
- Maintain your own DBS clearance, including the annual certificate required for the role.
- Undertake training needed to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.
Administration and business support
- Maintain accurate operational records and keep the management and administration teams informed of relevant changes.
- Manage your own email account and designated shared mailboxes, responding promptly to enquiries.
- Respond to suitable commercial cleaning and other agreed enquiries received through Bark.
- Maintain a good working knowledge of Goldcrest’s services and provide practical advice to clients and colleagues.
- Support company social media activity by posting relevant updates.
- Use company systems to manage schedules, record inspections and report on service delivery.
About you
You’ll bring at least two years’ supervisory experience in a similar role, together with practical cleaning experience and a clear understanding of what good service looks like.
You will also need:
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise a busy, changing workload.
- A calm, practical approach to pressure and unexpected problems.
- The confidence to make decisions, take ownership and handle difficult conversations professionally.
- An approachable leadership style, with the ability to motivate staff and hold people accountable.
- Good written and spoken English for communicating with clients and colleagues and maintaining clear records.
- Computer literacy and confidence using email, scheduling and reporting systems.
- A strong understanding of COSHH, risk assessments and safe cleaning practices.
- A willingness to travel daily and work the shift pattern below.
- A hands-on attitude and willingness to step in where the team needs support.
Experience with Microsoft Teams, Excel and ServiceM8 would be an advantage, as would experience supporting school, nursery or healthcare cleaning contracts.
Hours of work
This is a full-time role working 37.5 hours per week, with a one-hour unpaid lunch break each working day.
- One late shift per week is required: 13:30–22:00.
- All other working days: 09:30–18:00.
The late-shift day may vary from week to week and will be agreed with the successful candidate to suit operational requirements. Participation in the out-of-hours staff support rota is also required.
Travel arrangements
You will need to make your own travel arrangements to and from our Waterlooville office. A company van will be available once you arrive at the office for travel to client sites and other work duties. The van is not provided for commuting or personal use.
What we provide
- Company van for work journeys from the office.
- Company phone and laptop.
- Support from an established management team and office, HR and accounts colleagues.
- Training relevant to the role.
- The opportunity to contribute ideas and make a visible difference to our teams and client services.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £33,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Flexible schedule
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Have you had any road traffic accidents in the past 5 years?
- What is your current notice period?
Experience:
- Cleaning Supervisory: 2 years (required)
Language:
Licence/Certification:
- Clean driving licence (required)
Work Location: In person
