Head of Cleaning Strategy & Operational Excellence

ISS Facility Services - North America; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 240,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

ISS Facility Services - North America seeks a Head of Cleaning Strategy & Operational Excellence to define North America cleaning strategy, elevate quality, and drive continuous improvement across diverse facilities portfolio.

You will lead strategic direction, workforce planning, and operations transformation, partnering with cross-functional teams to deliver measurable value and sustainable performance across corporate workplaces, airports, healthcare, manufacturing, and education sectors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Facilities Management, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related discipline is required.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience within cleaning services, facilities management, environmental services, workplace operations, or a related field.
• 5+ years leading multi-site, regional, or national operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading large frontline workforces and managing major client relationships and contract governance.
• Proven ability to lead transformation, standardization, and continuous improvement across complex operations.

Responsibilities

• Define the strategic direction for cleaning services across North America.
• Lead operational performance, quality, innovation, productivity, and continuous improvement.
• Develop workforce strategies and staffing models aligned with service excellence and profitability.
• Partner with Sales, Solutions, Operations, and Commercial teams on growth, pricing, and staffing solutions.
• Drive modernization through cleaning technology, automation, data analytics, and workforce management.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership experience

Financial acumen

Change management

Operational excellence

Executive presence

Client management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Facilities Management, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related discipline

Job description

HEAD OF CLEANING Strategy & Operational Excellence– NORTH AMERICA

Lead the Future of Cleaning Excellence at ISS

ISS is seeking a transformational Head of Cleaning Strategy & Operational Excellence – North America to define the strategy, elevate operational excellence, and shape the future of cleaning and janitorial services across our diverse North American portfolio. This is more than an operational leadership role. It is an opportunity to influence how cleaning services are designed, delivered, measured, and continuously improved across some of the most complex workplace environments in North America. From corporate workplaces and manufacturing facilities to airports, healthcare environments, distribution centers, educational facilities, and other critical client locations, you will establish the standards, innovation roadmap, workforce strategies, and operational framework that drive exceptional performance. At ISS, People Make Places — and this role will help ensure those places are safer, cleaner, smarter, more sustainable, and better for everyone who experiences them.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As Head of Cleaning Strategy & Operational Excellence – North America, you will serve as the senior subject matter leader and champion for cleaning excellence across the organization. You will lead the strategic direction, operational performance, quality, innovation, productivity, and continuous improvement of our cleaning services portfolio while partnering closely with Operations, Commercial, Sales, Solutions, Procurement, HSEQ, Technology, and client leadership. You will also play a critical role in business growth—developing innovative cleaning solutions for new opportunities, supporting major bids and expansions, designing workforce strategies, and bringing compelling operational solutions to our clients. Your mission: build a scalable, innovative, data-driven cleaning platform that delivers outstanding experiences for our clients, customers, and frontline teams.

Cleaning Strategy & Operational Excellence

• Develop and execute the North America cleaning strategy aligned with ISS business and growth objectives.
• Establish standardized operating procedures, quality frameworks, productivity benchmarks, performance metrics, and best practices across the cleaning portfolio.
• Drive consistency and operational discipline while maintaining the flexibility required to meet unique client and industry needs.
• Lead operational transformation and continuous improvement initiatives designed to enhance quality, productivity, safety, sustainability, and customer experience.
• Provide strategic oversight and expertise for complex mobilizations, transitions, new account launches, and high-profile operational challenges.

Financial & Commercial Performance

• Take ownership of cleaning service financial performance, productivity initiatives, and margin improvement strategies.
• Develop sophisticated labor models and workforce strategies that balance service excellence, employee experience, productivity, and profitability.
• Analyze labor utilization, consumables, equipment investments, operating costs, and performance trends to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Partner with Commercial, Sales, and Solutions teams on pricing strategies, financial modeling, staffing solutions, and new business opportunities.

Innovation, Technology & the Future of Cleaning

Help Redefine What Cleaning Services Can Be.

• Smart cleaning platforms
• Robotics and automation
• IoT and connected equipment
• Sensor-based and demand-driven cleaning
• Workforce management technology
• Data analytics and performance dashboards
• Sustainable products, equipment, and methodologies

Develop compelling business cases for modernization investments and use data to drive smarter operational decisions.

Client Leadership

• Serve as an executive sponsor and trusted advisor for key cleaning and integrated facilities management clients.
• Participate in executive business reviews, governance meetings, solution workshops, and strategic client discussions.
• Bring industry expertise, innovation, and thought leadership to client partnerships while ensuring service expectations and customer satisfaction targets are consistently achieved.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Establish and maintain world-class cleaning quality standards across the North American portfolio.
• Lead quality assurance programs, operational audits, inspections, corrective action initiatives, and continuous improvement programs.
• Ensure compliance with applicable OSHA, EPA, CDC, client, regulatory, and ISS requirements.
• Provide governance and leadership around chemical programs, infection prevention, environmental standards, sustainability initiatives, and industry best practices.

People & Capability Development

• Build, inspire, and develop a high-performing network of Cleaning Excellence Managers, Program Managers, Regional Leaders, and operational professionals.
• Create talent pipelines and succession strategies that strengthen cleaning expertise throughout the organization.
• Develop training, certification, coaching, and capability-building programs for operational leaders and frontline teams.
• Champion a culture centered on safety, accountability, inclusion, engagement, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Growth & Strategic Solutioning

• Partner with Sales, Solutions, Operations, and Commercial teams on strategic pursuits and major growth opportunities.
• Support RFP development, staffing models, operational solutioning, bid presentations, client workshops, and site visits.
• Design innovative cleaning solutions that differentiate ISS in the marketplace while delivering measurable value for clients.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means creating a cleaning organization that is:

• Safer.
• Smarter.
• More consistent.
• More innovative.
• More sustainable.
• More productive.

You will help create an environment where operational excellence becomes repeatable, innovation becomes scalable, frontline teams have the tools and training to succeed, and clients recognize ISS as a trusted leader in cleaning solutions.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Facilities Management, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related discipline
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience within cleaning services, facilities management, environmental services, workplace operations, or a related field
• 5+ years leading multi-site, regional, or national operations
• Demonstrated experience leading large frontline workforces
• Strong financial, operational, strategic, and commercial acumen
• Experience managing major client relationships and contract governance
• Proven ability to lead transformation, standardization, and continuous improvement across complex operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or MBA
• IFMA, ISSA, CFM, FMP, LEED, or related professional certifications
• Experience within integrated facilities management
• Experience supporting complex environments such as airports, healthcare, manufacturing, education, corporate workplaces, distribution centers, or large-scale commercial portfolios
• Experience implementing cleaning technology, automation, robotics, workforce management, or data-driven service models

THE LEADER WE’R

• You are a strategic thinker who can move seamlessly between the boardroom and the operation.
• You understand the realities of frontline service delivery while also seeing the larger opportunity to transform how cleaning services are designed and delivered.

You Bring

Strategic Mindset

• Customer Focus
• Business Acumen
• Change Leadership
• Innovation
• Operational Excellence
• Executive Presence
• Financial Stewardship
• Collaboration
• Influencing Skills
• Accountability
• Continuous Improvement

WHY ISS?

At ISS, we believe that People Make Places.

Every day, our people create workplaces and environments that make life easier, more productive, safer, and more enjoyable for millions of people.

As Head of Cleaning – North America, you will have the opportunity to influence one of our most important service lines at scale—building capabilities, developing people, introducing new technologies, strengthening client partnerships, and creating the next generation of cleaning excellence.

Ready to Lead What’s Next?

If you are passionate about operational excellence, people leadership, innovation, technology, and transforming cleaning services at scale, we want to hear from you.

Join ISS and help shape the future of cleaning across North America.

• ISS — People Make Places

HSEQ Compliance:

All employees must adhere to Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality (HSEQ) policies and procedures to ensure a safe and compliant work environment. This includes following safety protocols, maintaining environmental responsibility, and upholding quality standards in all tasks. Employees are expected to actively participate in HSEQ training and report any potential hazards or compliance concerns.

ISS offers full time employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program based on employment status. The annual salary range for this position is $240000.00 per year - $250000.00 per year. Final compensation will be determined based on experience and skills and may vary from the range listed above.

To Executive Search Firms and Staffing Agencies: ISS Facility Services / Guckenheimer does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered ISS Facility Services / Guckenheimer property, and ISS Facility Services / Guckenheimer will not be obligated to pay a referral fee. This includes resumes submitted directly to Hiring Managers without contacting the ISS Facility Services / Guckenheimer Human Resources Talent Acquisition Department.

As a global organization, ISS Group is committed to making the international community more resilient and just for all people. We encourage diversity and inclusion in their broadest terms, including ethnicity, race, age, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, culture, and educational background. We look to lead our industry by example and to positively influence the market wherever we operate.

Employment with ISS/Guckenheimer may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check and, where appliable, a drug and/or alcohol screening, in accordance with applicable laws and Company requirements.