Multi-Site Soft Services Manager – Cleaning & Grounds

Busy Bees Nurseries; Chasetown; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sector leading Family Leave

Hive employee benefits platform

Retail, cinema & travel discounts

35% Childcare discount

33 days holiday including birthday

Further Training and development

Job summary

Busy Bees is seeking a Facilities Manager - Soft Services to lead cleaning, grounds maintenance, pest control and waste across our childcare estate. The role ensures high standards, compliance and a safe, welcoming environment for children, parents and staff.

The position is hybrid with 3–4 days in the office at Burntwood’s head office. Reporting to the Maintenance Manager, you’ll drive continuous improvement, manage contracts, monitor KPIs and ensure providers meet Busy Bees health and safety

Qualifications

• Experience managing soft services in a multi-site, regulated, or high-traffic environment.
• Strong understanding of cleaning standards, pest control practices, grounds maintenance, and waste protocols.
• Contractor management experience with the ability to challenge performance and drive improvements.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to manage high volumes of operational queries in a calm, structured manner.
• Competent with digital systems, including auditing tools and sign-in/compliance platforms.
• High attention to detail and commitment to maintaining safe, clean environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and continuous improvement of soft services across all Busy Bees settings.
• Oversee cleaning standards, schedules, materials, audit processes, and ensure hygiene compliance in childcare environments.
• Manage grounds maintenance contracts to keep outdoor spaces safe and child-friendly.
• Coordinate pest control programmes with preventative measures and rapid response.
• Oversee waste management contracts for safe disposal and recycling compliance.
• Act as first-line escalation point for cleaning concerns, pests, or landscape issues.
• Manage and triage incoming queries from centres and provide solutions or contractor instructions.
• Monitor and analyse recurring issues and implement root-cause improvements.
• Manage relationships with soft-service providers and monitor KPI/SLA performance.
• Ensure providers adhere to Busy Bees standards, safeguarding and health & safety rules.
• Assist with minor facilities duties and ensure deliveries are handled and distributed.
• Support the National Support Centre operations and ensure staff facilities/run smoothly.
• 3-4 days in the office would be expected.
• Arrange ad hoc meetings/events for NSC teams.
• Ensure soft services comply with industry regulations and safeguarding expectations.

Skills

Soft services management

Contractor management

Cleaning standards

Pest control

Grounds maintenance

Waste management

Communication

Organisational skills

Digital systems

Tools

Auditing platforms

Job description

Busy Bees is seeking a Facilities Manager - Soft Services to lead cleaning, grounds maintenance, pest control and waste across our childcare estate. The role ensures high standards, compliance and a safe, welcoming environment for children, parents and staff.

The position is hybrid with 3–4 days in the office at Burntwood’s head office. Reporting to the Maintenance Manager, you’ll drive continuous improvement, manage contracts, monitor KPIs and ensure providers meet Busy Bees health and safety