Operations Manager – Rail Cleaning (Soft FM) Midlands-based (Coventry to Preston patch) c. £55,000 Car Allowance Benefits (including free First Class rail travel) The Opportunity A leading Soft Facilities Management provider is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to take ownership of a key national rail cleaning contract. This role comes at a pivotal time, following the retirement of a long-standing manager, and offers the chance to oversee and further develop a £7m contract with significant growth potential. About the Contract Sector: Rail – Soft FM Coverage: London Euston to Edinburgh (majority of work between Coventry and Preston) Sites: 16 primary stations and 9 First Class lounges Current Value: £7 million (with expansion opportunities) Team: Direct line management of ~120 employed staff Note: No agency staff permitted on this account Key Responsibilities Full operational responsibility for delivery of cleaning services across the contract Lead, manage and motivate a large, multi-site team across the Midlands rail network Ensure compliance with service level agreements (SLAs) and safety standards Manage budgets, resource planning, and performance reporting Drive continuous improvement and identify opportunities for contract growth Liaise closely with client stakeholders and internal support functions Maintain high levels of employee engagement and operational excellence Candidate Profile Strong background in Soft FM / Rail / Transport cleaning operations Proven experience managing large-scale teams across multiple sites Excellent leadership, communication, and organisational skills Commercially aware with ability to manage budgets and drive efficiencies Able to travel frequently across the contract patch Comfortable working in a regulated, customer-facing environment Package & Benefits Salary: circa £55,000 Car Allowance Benefits: including free First Class rail travel across the network Company pension, holidays, and additional perks Location This role is Midlands-based, ideally located for travel between Coventry and Preston. Regular travel across the network is required