Soft Services Manager
Location:Limerick, Ireland
Salary: €80,000 – €90,000 + Sodexo Benefits
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Soft Services Manager to lead the delivery of soft services across the Eli Lilly site in Limerick.
This is a senior leadership role with full responsibility for the performance, quality, and compliance of services including cleaning, GMP cleaning, catering, hospitality, landscaping, and pest control within a highly regulated pharmaceutical environment.
You will act as the single point of contact for all Soft Services operations on site, ensuring service excellence, strong client engagement, regulatory compliance (GMP/GDP), and high performing, engaged teams.
This role is about operational leadership, service quality, and people management — with commercial accountability for a €4m+ contract and a workforce of 48+ colleagues.
Key Responsibilities
Soft Services Leadership
Lead the delivery of all soft FM services across the site, ensuring consistent, high-quality standards
Drive excellence in GMP cleaning and regulated service environments
Ensure catering and hospitality services align with client expectations and compliance standards
Oversee vendor management for pest control, landscaping, and specialist soft servicesClient & Contract Management
Act as the primary client interface for all soft services
Lead service reviews, performance meetings, and continuous improvement initiatives
Ensure SLAs and KPIs are consistently met or exceeded
Identify opportunities for service innovation and contract growthCompliance & Risk Management
Ensure full compliance with GMP/GDP, health & safety, environmental and statutory requirements
Maintain robust risk registers and business continuity plans
Ensure all SOPs and regulatory standards are adhered to across servicesFinancial & Commercial Accountability
Manage budgets, forecasting, P&L and cost control
Monitor labour productivity and operational efficiencies
Deliver contract targets including margin and service performance metricsPeople Leadership
Lead, coach and develop multidisciplinary soft services teams
Drive employee engagement, performance management, and development plans
Promote a culture of safety, collaboration, and continuous improvementAbout You
Essential:
Proven senior leadership experience within Soft FM or integrated facilities management
Strong background in cleaning and/or GMP-regulated environments (5+ years preferred)
Demonstrable experience managing large, diverse operational teams
Strong commercial and financial acumen including P&L responsibility
Excellent client-facing and stakeholder management skills
Experience operating within a highly regulated pharmaceutical or similar environmentDesirable:
Hospitality, Facilities, or Business-related qualification
NEBOSH (or equivalent)
Experience in pharmaceutical or FMCG sectors
Professional FM qualificationWhat’s on Offer
A senior leadership role on a flagship pharmaceutical contract
Full ownership of Soft Services performance and strategy
Support from central subject matter experts within a strong matrix structure
Career progression within a global organisation
Opportunity to shape service excellence in a highly regulated, high-profile environment