The Cleaning Supervisor is responsible for leading daily cleaning operations across GBS campuses to ensure safe, hygienic, and welcoming environments for students, staff, and visitors. The role combines hands-on duties with operational leadership, driving quality standards, statutory compliance, sustainability goals, and excellent service delivery. The postholder acts as the first point of escalation for cleaning-related issues, coordinates response to incidents, and ensure planned and periodic tasks are completed to great quality.
ROLE and RESPONSIBILITIES:
* Lead, motivate, mentor and supervise Cleaners across shifts, ensuring adherence to schedule, standards, and procedures.
* Plan daily deployment and rota coverage, ensuring adequate staffing, coordinate agency or contractors when required.
* Please note, this role will require the candidate to take part in cleaning services of classrooms, offices, libraries, washrooms, receptions, circulation areas, and external areas.
* Ensure completion of routine, periodic, and deep-clean schedules (e.g. floors, carpets, washroom descaling, kitchens, windows, high-level dusting) to agreed specifications.
* Uphold colour-coding systems, infection-prevention protocols, and quality assurance processes aligned with industry best practice.
* Conduct regular audits/inspections of task completed; record finding, rectify defects promptly, and follow through on corrective actions.
* Monitor and operate relevant systems (e.g. Timetabler, Jira), respond within agreed SLAs.
* Manage stock levels for consumables and materials; ensure timely ordering, secure storage, cost and usage control.
* Complete monthly stocktakes; maintain accurate stock control records and support internal audit requirements.
* Ensure safe use, maintenance, and availability of cleaning equipment and machinery; coordinate servicing, repairs, and training.
* Complete and record checks on cleaning machinery and equipment for health & safety; escalate defects to Facilities Manager for repair and remove unsafe items from service.
* Maintain COSHH documentation, risk assessments, method statements, and safe systems of work for all tasks and chemicals.
* Empty and disinfect waste bins and receptacles; ensure safe segregation and disposal of rubbish in line with environmental legislation and GBs procedures.
* Support waste management and recycling programmes, ensuring correct segregation, presentation, and traceability (confidential waste, WEEE, toner, general/recycling).
* Collect data and prepare KPI reports (audit scores, SLA compliance, attendance, consumables usage, complaints) for the Facilities Manager.
Maintain a training matrix for Cleaners, scheduling refreshers and keeping accurate records of all training completed; contribute to training plans, toolbox talks, inductions, and ongoing coaching for the team; promote continuous improvement.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS and EXPERIENCE:
* Proven supervisory experience in cleaning or facilities services within busy environments.
* Demonstrable understanding of Health & Safety, COSHH, manual handling, and risk assessment.
* Knowledge of cleaning methods, materials, equipment, and quality standards; ability to set and check standards.
* Strong communication, organisation, and problem-solving skills; able to prioritse and adapt to changing needs.
* Experience in planning rotas, allocating work, conducting audits, and maintaining compliance records.
* Proficiency with emails, MS Office, and basic IT systems.
* Practical knowledge of professional cleaning chemicals and aids across different surfaces and finishes.
* Flexible, proactive, ‘can-do’ approach; able to work under own initiative while meeting service standards.