Senior Soft Services Manager – School Facilities & Safety

Kunnected Living Facilities Management Services LLC; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Kunnected Living Facilities Management Services LLC is seeking a Soft Services Executive to oversee day-to-day operations of soft services at a large-scale Abu Dhabi school facility. You will lead a multicultural team, ensure safety standards, and maintain a clean, well-managed learning environment across academic buildings and grounds.

You will coordinate with HR and service providers, manage contractors, and drive performance against KPIs while upholding UAE regulations and school policies.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Facilities Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field (Undergraduate acceptable with strong experience).
• Certified in First Aid (CPR/AED), Basic Firefighting, IOSH, or equivalent HSE certifications.
• Training in risk assessments, chemical safety (COSHH), and manual handling.
• Additional training in customer care, emergency preparedness, or security procedures is a plus.
• Minimum 7–10 years of experience in Facilities Management with strong exposure to soft services, ideally within educational, healthcare, or hospitality sectors.
• Experience managing large teams of housekeeping, cleaning, and support staff in a school, campus, or similar environment is highly preferred.
• Practical experience in contractor and subcontractor management, audits, and ensuring service excellence.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate daily operations of soft services including cleaning, security, pest control, waste management, landscaping, mailroom, and reception services.
• Lead and manage a team of soft services supervisors and frontline staff to ensure efficient shift coverage, performance, and attendance.
• Respond promptly to requests or complaints from school management, teaching staff, and stakeholders, ensuring issues are resolved efficiently.
• Ensure a safe, clean, and supportive learning environment across academic buildings, staff accommodations, common areas, and external grounds.
• Prepare and review work permits, risk assessments, and safe work method statements (SWMS) for all contractors working on school premises.
• Monitor service performance against KPIs and SLAs and report regularly to the Facilities Manager.
• Oversee inventory control of consumables, cleaning materials, and school support items, and coordinate procurement requests (PR/PO) as needed.
• Organize toolbox talks, safety briefings, and operational huddles for the soft services team to reinforce safety culture and compliance.
• Support recruitment, training, and onboarding of new soft service personnel in collaboration with HR and service providers.
• Ensure all subcontractors and service providers adhere to health and safety policies, child safety protocols, and school-specific operating procedures.
• Maintain documentation and reporting systems for audits, inspections, and quality control checks.
• Act as the primary contact for service provider management and liaise with stakeholders during events or special school activities.
• Participate in emergency drills and ensure staff are trained in first aid, fire safety, and evacuation protocols.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

Diploma or Bachelor's in Facilities Management / Industrial Engineering

Tools

MS Office

CAFM / FM tracking systems

Job description

Kunnected Living Facilities Management Services LLC is seeking a Soft Services Executive to oversee day-to-day operations of soft services at a large-scale Abu Dhabi school facility. You will lead a multicultural team, ensure safety standards, and maintain a clean, well-managed learning environment across academic buildings and grounds.

You will coordinate with HR and service providers, manage contractors, and drive performance against KPIs while upholding UAE regulations and school policies.