Area Cleaning Supervisor (within the Leeds area)

Wellspring Academy Trust - Estates, Operations, Cleaning and Catering - Yorkshire region; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local government pension

Career development

Job summary

Wellspring Academy Trust in the Leeds area seeks an Area Cleaning Supervisor to lead day-to-day cleaning across a cluster of academies, upholding high standards of hygiene, site presentation and safe, welcoming environments for pupils and staff.

You will manage staff rotas, arrange short-notice cover, conduct Return-to-Work meetings, monitor SOPs, check equipment and stock, and recruit new operatives. A full UK driving licence and flexibility for early mornings or late shifts are required.

Qualifications

• Experience supervising cleaning operations across multiple sites.
• Ability to organise rotas, cover shifts and manage staffing needs.
• Strong knowledge of COSHH, health & safety, and cleaning equipment.
• Excellent communication with Headteachers and central management.
• Flexible availability, full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Staffing & rota management: manage daily shift rosters across your site cluster and deploy relief cleaners.
• Absence support: conduct Return-to-Work meetings and support wellbeing.
• Specification & quality adherence: ensure cleaning SOPs are followed at all sites.
• Equipment & stock oversight: check machinery, arrange servicing, and manage stock orders.
• Team recruitment: assist in recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding new operatives.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Multi-site leadership

COSHH knowledge

Health & Safety

Driving licence

Communication skills

Job description

Join Our Team

At Wellspring Academy Trust, we believe every child deserves to learn in a safe, clean, and welcoming environment. Following our recent team restructure, we are looking for an Area Cleaning Supervisor to join our Cleaning management team.

If you are an organised, practical, and supportive leader who takes pride in high standards and keeping school operations running smoothly across multiple sites, we would love to hear from you.

About the Role

As an Area Cleaning Supervisor, you will oversee day-to-day cleaning operations and staffing cover across a cluster of Trust academies in the Leeds Area. You will make sure our school cleaning specifications are followed, manage short-notice staff cover, and carry out Return-to-Work meetings after absences. You will lead by example and champion 'botheredness', ensuring our cleaning teams take real pride in site presentation and hygiene every day.

Key Responsibilities

• Staffing & Rota Management: Manage daily shift rosters across your site cluster, deploying relief cleaners to cover sudden staff absences so no site is left short.

• Absence Support: Carry out prompt Return-to-Work (RTW) meetings with staff returning from illness, following Trust HR policies and supporting employee well-being.

• Specification & Quality Adherence: Visit schools regularly to ensure cleaning rotas and Trust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are being met.

• Equipment & Stock Oversight: Check cleaning machinery across sites, arrange servicing or quick repairs, and manage consumable stock orders through approved channels.

• Team Recruitment: Help recruit, interview, and onboard new site cleaning operatives and casual relief staff.

Health & Safety

• Safety & Compliance: Enforce COSHH rules, risk assessments, and safe working practices across all cleaning activities in your cluster.

• Equipment & PPE Checks: Make sure all machinery is safe to use and that staff are supplied with and using the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

• Site Security & Hazards: Audit site keyholding procedures and immediately report any building security issues, hazards, risks, or broken equipment.

About You

We are looking for an approachable, proactive leader with strong organisational skills who can handle day-to-day challenges calmly and fairly. You should be comfortable managing staff rotas, traveling between sites, and supporting teams to work at their best.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience supervising cleaning operations or leading teams across multi-site environments.

• Has experience managing shift rotas, organising short-notice cover, and carrying out sickness absence meetings.

• Holds strong knowledge of COSHH, Health & Safety, and commercial cleaning equipment.

• Possesses brilliant communication skills to support cleaners, speak with Headteachers, and collaborate with the Central management team.

• Is flexible, holds a full UK Driving Licence, and is ready to support early morning or late afternoon shifts when needed.

Why Join Wellspring Academy Trust?

• Career Steps: We help you grow into higher roles through training and apprenticeships.

• Good Team Support: You will have regular support from your managers.

• Good Pay & Pension: Includes a local government pension scheme.

• Make a Difference: Your work directly helps children have a clean, safe school to learn in.

Wellspring Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils. All posts are offered subject to enhanced DBS checks. As this role involves working with children in regulated activity, please note that it is an offence to apply for the role if barred from engaging in regulated activity with children.

References will be requested and an online search carried out for shortlisted candidates, prior to attendance at interview. Further pre-employment checks, including prohibition from teaching, childcare disqualification and section 128 checks, if deemed relevant for the role, will be completed for the successful candidate upon acceptance of the post.

We are committed to equal opportunities and to promoting diversity. We want our people to reflect the diversity of our communities, and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds, especially from under-represented groups, including those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

If you are currently living overseas or have lived / worked overseas in the last five years please be aware that you will be required to provide an overseas criminal records check from the country/countries you have resided in, if you are the preferred candidate for the post.