Housekeeping, Cleaning and General Services Manager

Accommodation & Commercial Services

Grade 7: - £35,333 - £42,155 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 15-Nov-2022, 7:59:00 AM

Job Title: Housekeeping, Cleaning and General Services Manager
Department Estates and Facilities Directorate
Accommodation and Commercial Services
Grade: Grade 7
Salary range: £35,333 - £42,155 per annum
Working arrangements: Permanent
Full time (nominal 35 hours)
Hybrid working (minimum of two days per week onsite, depending on business needs)
Closing date:  14th November 2022
Start date: 1st February 2023

The University 

At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.  We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.  We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University.

Further information about the University can be found here .

The Role and Department

As Housekeeping, Cleaning and General Services Manager, you will be the business lead for the housekeeping, cleaning, postal and delivery, and general services, delivered by the Accommodation and Commercial Services (ACS) team; implementing the department’s strategy and ensuring exceptional services are delivered to all public and staff spaces, resulting in a clean and healthy working environment.

You will ensure the department’s operations meets University stakeholder needs; results in staff satisfaction; and focuses on driving cost efficiencies and maximising operational effectiveness.

The Estates and Facilities Directorate provides a range of essential services to Durham University and is responsible for managing, maintaining and developing the infrastructure and building fabric of the various campuses.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University, you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:

• 30 Days annual leave, in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year.
• The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• We offer a generous pension scheme.  As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into this University Superannuation Scheme (USS) which the University will add contributions of 21.4%.
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• On site nursery is available and children’s clubs in the summer holidays.
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
• Discounts are available via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, we can help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools.  If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.

As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct.   At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive.  It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.  If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.  If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.  We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

How to apply

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.

Submitting your application

We prefer to receive applications online.  We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

What you need to submit

• A CV
• A supporting statement which outlines how you meet the essential criteria marked with an asterisk within the Person Specification. 
• All other essential criteria will be assessed during the formal assessment and interview process, should you be shortlisted.

Contact details

For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Lisa Blundell, Senior Housekeeping, Cleaning and General Services Manager, [email protected] .

Further information about the role

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery

• Provide management for the delivery of high-quality estates and infrastructure support services across the University. 
• Provide input to the design and development of service processes, techniques and deliverables for one or more service areas or projects.  
• Make decisions about the nature and level of problem solving, physical and analytical tools, techniques and protocols to deliver project and service objectives. 
• Schedule and monitor maintenance and installation works, projects and work streams across the University. 
• Take responsibility for monitoring and updating risk assessments and safety procedures, providing guidance to others where necessary. 
• Responsible for managing budgets for consumables and some capital items, keeping records and processing invoices. 
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.

Planning and Organising

• Contribute to the analysis of stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements, inputting to the design and planning of services. 
• Provide regular status reports and identify risk management and contingency planning to other service staff, specialists, users and managers. 
• Develop, modify and optimise protocols and methodologies.
• Contribute to the design,, implementation and monitoring of policy and quality standards, procedures and systems to ensure effective working and continuous improvement.

Teamwork and Team Development

• Recruit, induct, train and develop new team members.
• Promote and foster positive and highly collaborative approaches to problem solving and project implementation, helping to motivate, mentor and coach other team members. 
• Supervise team members, ensuring work streams and activities are allocated correctly and performance expectations are met. 
• Devolve responsibilities to team members to ensure continuity of service provision and encourage skills development. 
• Provide feedback on team and individual performance and identify development needs, conducting regular staff Check-ins and performance reviews. 
• Handle the vast majority of welfare issues within a team, referring more complex welfare issues to appropriate support services/senior management. 
• Deliver ongoing coaching, mentoring and training to team members, helping to shapre the skills and expertise of team members. 

Communication/Networking/Stakeholders

• Collaborate with other specialists within  the service and across the University, regarding the use of modelling and analytical tools, methods and standards to deliver integrity and consistency with service delivery. 
• Manage operational service activities to ensure excellence in the stakeholder experience. 
• Develop internal and external relationships and partnership working, networking and participating to engage and influence future services and the University reputation. 
• Contribute to business meetings, working groups and sub committees at departmental and operational service levels.
• Liaise with internal and external agencies, local authorities, industries and visitors, where appropriate. 

Knowledge and Experience

• Recognised professional housekeeping and general services practitioner and management and/or service specialist with responsibility for the management of team members. 
• Maintain an awareness of current policy for University business goals such as widening participation and access.
• May be required to work evenings and weekends, as business demands.
• Attend all training and development, as required.
• Working in this team may require an element of physical manual handling, which can include lifting and transporting tools, equipment and deliveries.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Useful links

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement , which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification

When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role.  Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description.

Your application should cover the following criteria:

Essential Criteria 

Desirable Criteria

DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.