About this role
Are you an experienced Facilities Management professional with a strong background in operational leadership, soft services and commercial performance? Sodexo is looking for an Operations & Soft Services Manager to lead the delivery of integrated facilities services across our high-profile Grangegorman PPP contract in Dublin. This is an exciting opportunity for a hands-on leader who can manage a large, multidisciplinary team, build strong client relationships and drive service excellence across a busy third-level education environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, motivate and develop a team of approximately 50 employees, including managers, supervisors and frontline staff.
- Oversee the delivery of hard and soft Facilities Management services, ensuring contractual compliance and consistently high service standards.
- Manage cleaning, security, grounds maintenance, waste management, caretaking and associated support services.
- Coordinate planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and reactive maintenance activities alongside service partners and specialist contractors.
- Act as the key operational contact for the client, building strong relationships through proactive communication and effective stakeholder management.
- Monitor contractual KPIs and SLAs, driving continuous improvement and ensuring service delivery meets agreed expectations.
- Support budget management, forecasting and financial reporting, controlling labour, supplier and consumable costs.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, introduce innovative solutions and enhance the value delivered to the client.
- Manage subcontractors and supply chain partners, ensuring safe, compliant and cost-effective service delivery.
- Lead health and safety initiatives, audits, inspections and compliance activities, ensuring corrective actions are completed promptly.
- Oversee recruitment, training, performance management, employee engagement and development.
- Maintain accurate operational and compliance records using CAFM systems, Safeguard, SEMS and relevant auditing platforms.
- What We’re Looking For Proven experience managing large-scale Facilities Management contracts encompassing both hard and soft services.
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience developing and motivating high-performing teams.
- Commercial awareness and experience managing budgets, cost control and financial performance.
- Excellent client relationship, communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- A strong understanding of health and safety legislation, statutory compliance and quality management systems.
- Experience monitoring KPIs, managing SLAs, conducting audits and driving continuous improvement.
- Good IT skills, including experience with CAFM systems, auditing platforms and Microsoft Office.
- The ability to manage competing priorities, resolve operational challenges and deliver results in a demanding environment.