General Services Manager

Sodexo; Southampton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee benefits package

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Sodexo Southampton is seeking a General Services Manager to lead integrated workplace and soft services on site. You will manage a multi‑service operation, ensuring delivery against contracts, KPIs and quality standards while developing a high‑performing team.

Strong experience in soft services or integrated facilities management, plus budget awareness and a proactive approach to service improvement, are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing Soft Services or Integrated Facilities Management operations.
• Strong financial and commercial awareness including budget management, cost control and forecasting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop and motivate operational teams.
• Excellent communication, influencing and problem-solving skills.
• Confident in managing client relationships and engaging with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the delivery of integrated workplace and soft services across the site.
• Lead day-to-day operations ensuring services meet contractual requirements, KPIs and service standards.
• Oversee cleaning, catering, workplace services and subcontracted activities and ensure high standards.
• Collaborate with technical services to support site performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, efficiency and customer experience.
• Ensure resource planning, staffing and operational continuity.

Skills

Soft Services management

Budget management

Forecasting

Operational leadership

Client relationships

Job description

• Full time
• Monday - Friday
• 40hr per week
• Competitive per annum plus our Sodexo employee benefits package
• Opportunities for professional development
• Plus our Sodexo employee benefits package

General Services Manager

Southampton - Full time

At Sodexo, we're passionate about our people.We know that our teams are the key to delivering exceptional service and creating meaningful experiences for our clients, customers, and employees.

We are currently seeking a dedicated and dynamic General Services Manager to join our team and play a key role in driving excellence and innovation.

As a General Services Manager you'll:

Operational Leadership & Service Delivery

• Take overall responsibility for the delivery of integrated workplace and soft services across the site.
• Lead the day-to-day operation, ensuring all services meet contractual requirements, KPIs and service standards.
• Oversee cleaning, catering, workplace services and subcontracted activities, ensuring consistently high standards.
• Work collaboratively with technical services management to support integrated site performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, operational efficiency and customer experience.
• Ensure effective resource planning, staffing and operational continuity.
• Act as the main escalation point for operational issues, providing practical and timely solutions.

Client Relationships & Commercial Performance

• Build and maintain strong relationships with the client, acting as a trusted partner and key point of contact.
• Lead regular client meetings and service reviews, providing clear updates on performance and improvement initiatives.
• Manage site budgets, financial performance, forecasting and cost control.
• Identify opportunities to deliver efficiencies, savings and added value without compromising service quality.
• Support business growth through innovation, service enhancements and continuous improvement.
• Monitor performance against agreed financial and operational targets.

People Leadership & Development

• Lead, motivate and develop a multi-skilled team, creating a positive and high-performing working environment.
• Take responsibility for recruitment, onboarding, training, coaching and performance management.
• Encourage employee engagement, collaboration and professional development.
• Build a culture of accountability, teamwork and excellent customer service.
• Support succession planning and the development of future talent.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Champion Sodexo's Zero Harm culture, promoting safe working practices across all operations.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety, Food Safety, environmental and statutory requirements.
• Maintain high standards of audit readiness, risk management and operational governance.
• Ensure all employees are appropriately trained and competent to carry out their duties.
• Lead improvements in safety, compliance and operational standards.

What we're looking for:

• Proven experience managing Soft Services or Integrated Facilities Management operations within a corporate or multi-service environment.
• A strong Soft Services management background - essential.
• Demonstrable experience leading, developing and motivating operational teams.
• Strong financial and commercial awareness, including budget management, cost control and forecasting.
• Experience managing client relationships and working with senior stakeholders.
• A proven track record of delivering against KPIs, SLAs, compliance and service standards.
• Excellent communication, influencing and problem-solving skills.
• The confidence to manage operational challenges and make effective decisions.
• A proactive and innovative approach to service improvement.
• A strong understanding of Health & Safety, statutory compliance and risk management.
• IOSH Managing Safely or an equivalent qualification.
• A customer-focused approach with a passion for delivering exceptional workplace experiences.

Experience managing catering, cleaning and wider workplace services within a corporate environment would be particularly valuable.

Why Sodexo?

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it's a chance to be part of something greater.

Belong in a company and team that values you for you.

Act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions.

Thrive in your own way.

We also offer a range of perks, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering wellbeing support
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or life's larger problems, including legal and financial advice, support with work or personal issues impacting your wellbeing
• Access to a 24hr virtual GP Service
• Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 across popular high street retailers (also open to friends and family)
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Pension Plan
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools
• Bike to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit
• Sodexo UK and Irelands enhanced benefits and leave policies

A little more about Sodexo:

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, SoTogether, Generations and Origins.

We're a Disability Confident Leader employer. We're committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.

Click here to read more about what we do to promote an inclusive culture.

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we are in receipt of a high number of applications