Founding General Manager – Cleaning Services

Private Advertiser; Makati; On-site; PHP 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Private Advertiser in the Philippines is seeking an experienced Founding General Manager to build, launch, and lead a new Cleaning Services division from the ground up.

The role focuses on business setup, permits, supplier relationships, recruitment, operating systems, and sales development to secure customers and drive profitable growth with heavy startup expectations.

Qualifications

• Significant prior experience in professional cleaning, janitorial, or facility services.
• Experience as General Manager or equivalent leadership role.
• Proven track record launching or growing a new business.
• Strong manpower management, scheduling, and operations knowledge.
• Knowledge of permits, licenses, regulations, and industry standards.
• Existing industry relationships with potential customers and suppliers.
• Ability to secure corporate accounts and recurring contracts.
• Experience recruiting and building high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial and financial judgment.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with professional discipline.

Responsibilities

• Develop the initial business plan, operating model, pricing strategy, and go-to-market plan.
• Lead registrations, licenses, permits, accreditations, insurance, and other regulatory requirements.
• Identify required equipment, vehicles, facilities, cleaning supplies, inventory, manpower, and initial capital needs.
• Establish supplier, distributor, contractor, and service-provider relationships.
• Build operating procedures, quality standards, reporting systems, and internal controls.
• Build the initial sales pipeline and secure the division’s first customers.
• Lead client presentations, proposals, quotations, negotiations, and contract closing.
• Develop service packages, recurring cleaning agreements, and long-term maintenance contracts.
• Establish partnerships, referral channels, and new business opportunities.
• Build a professional sales organization as the company grows.
• Recruit and manage the initial operations team.
• Establish manpower deployment, scheduling, training, safety, quality-control, and performance standards.
• Ensure cleaning projects and service contracts are delivered professionally, efficiently, safely, and profitably.
• Develop systems for procurement, inventory, scheduling, customer service, collections, and after-sales support.
• Monitor operating expenses, margins, manpower productivity, service quality, and customer satisfaction.

Skills

Leadership

GM experience

Startup/build

Sales development

Manpower management

Permits/regulatory

Industry network

Job description

Division: Cleaning Services
Industry: Professional Cleaning / Janitorial / Facility Services
Employment: Full-Time
Reports To: Group Management / Board

About Our Group

We are part of a diversified investment group based in the Philippines with established interests in advertising, real estate, and services, while continuing to pursue new businesses aligned with the Group’s long-term objectives and strategic opportunities.

Our approach is focused on growth, sustainability, strategic investment, and building businesses with strong long-term potential. For this new division, the Group will provide the necessary capital, strategic support, and resources required to establish and grow the business.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Founding General Manager to build, launch, and lead our new Cleaning Services business.

This is not a conventional General Manager role where an established team, operation, and customer base are handed over.

The successful candidate will be responsible for building the division from the ground up — including business setup, permits, supplier relationships, recruitment, operating systems, sales development, customer acquisition, commercial launch, and expansion.

The company will provide the financial resources and strategic support. We are looking for a proven industry operator who brings the experience, commercial capability, industry network, and leadership required to build a successful and scalable business.

Key Responsibilities

Business Setup & Launch

• Develop the initial business plan, operating model, pricing strategy, and go-to-market plan.

• Lead registrations, licenses, permits, accreditations, insurance, and other regulatory requirements.

• Identify required equipment, vehicles, facilities, cleaning supplies, inventory, manpower, and initial capital needs.

• Establish supplier, distributor, contractor, and service-provider relationships.

• Build operating procedures, quality standards, customer-service standards, reporting systems, and internal controls.

Business Development & Sales

• Build the initial sales pipeline and secure the division’s first customers.

• Use existing industry relationships and networks to accelerate market entry.

• Develop B2B, B2C, institutional, property-management, commercial, and corporate accounts.

• Lead client presentations, proposals, quotations, negotiations, and contract closing.

• Develop service packages, recurring cleaning agreements, and long-term maintenance contracts.

• Establish partnerships, referral channels, and new business opportunities.

• Build a professional sales organization as the company grows.

Operations

• Recruit and manage the initial operations team.

• Establish manpower deployment, scheduling, training, safety, quality-control, and performance standards.

• Ensure cleaning projects and service contracts are delivered professionally, efficiently, safely, and profitably.

• Develop systems for procurement, inventory, scheduling, customer service, collections, and after-sales support.

• Monitor operating expenses, margins, manpower productivity, service quality, and customer satisfaction.

Financial & Strategic Management

• Prepare annual budgets, operating plans, and growth strategies.

• Take responsibility for the division’s revenue, profitability, cash flow, and growth.

• Establish KPIs and provide regular performance reports to Group Management.

• Recommend capital expenditures and expansion investments based on expected returns.

• Continuously improve pricing, margins, productivity, and customer acquisition.

• Build the division into a scalable and independently functioning business.

Who We Are Looking For

This role is intended for an experienced industry operator, not someone looking to learn the industry for the first time.

Applicants without relevant Cleaning Services, Janitorial, Facility Services, or closely related industry experience will not be considered.

The ideal candidate should have:

• Significant prior experience in professional cleaning, janitorial, facility management, housekeeping, sanitation, building maintenance, or related services.

• Previous experience as a General Manager, Business Unit Head, Operations Head, Commercial Head, Founder, Senior Manager, or similar leadership role.

• Experience launching, expanding, or substantially growing a business or business unit.

• Strong understanding of manpower management, scheduling, service operations, quality control, equipment, chemicals, and supplier management.

• Knowledge of relevant permits, licenses, regulations, certifications, and industry requirements.

• Existing industry relationships and a strong network of potential customers, property managers, developers, suppliers, contractors, or strategic partners.

• Demonstrated ability to generate sales, secure corporate accounts, and develop recurring service contracts.

• Experience recruiting, building, and managing teams.

• Strong commercial and financial judgment.

• Ability to work independently and make practical business decisions.

• Entrepreneurial mindset with the discipline of a professional manager.

What Success Looks Like

During the initial stage, the Founding General Manager should be able to:

1. Establish a clear business and operating plan.

2. Complete required registrations, permits, supplier arrangements, and operating requirements.

3. Recruit and organize the initial team.

4. Establish systems, procedures, controls, and service standards.

5. Launch commercial operations.

6. Acquire the first group of customers and recurring accounts.

7. Build a credible sales pipeline.

8. Demonstrate a clear path toward profitability.

9. Develop a management structure capable of supporting continued growth.

Long‑term success will be measured by revenue growth, profitability, customer retention, service quality, market reputation, and the ability to scale the business.

Compensation

We offer a competitive executive package for the right candidate, which may include:

• Competitive executive‑level base salary

• Salary adjustment based on performance and business milestones

• Performance‑based bonuses

• Business‑unit growth and profitability incentives

• Other executive benefits depending on experience

Exceptional candidates who successfully build and substantially grow the business will be rewarded accordingly.

Important

We are specifically looking for builders and operators.

The company will provide the capital and resources needed to establish and grow the business. The Founding General Manager is expected to bring the industry experience, execution capability, network, commercial ability, and leadership required to build it successfully.

Applicants should be prepared to discuss:

• Businesses or divisions they have previously managed or helped build

• Revenue or growth they were responsible for

• Teams they have managed

• Relevant licenses, certifications, and industry knowledge

• Existing supplier and industry relationships

• Types of customers or accounts they can realistically pursue

• Their proposed strategy for launching and growing the division