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