Area Manager – Cleaning and Property Services
Melbourne, VIC | Full-time
An established cleaning and property services business is seeking an experienced and highly organised Area Manager to oversee a portfolio of client sites across Melbourne.
This operational leadership role is responsible for service delivery, workforce coordination, client communication, quality, safety, compliance, rostering and cost control. You will lead cleaners and site supervisors while ensuring every client site is appropriately staffed, compliant and maintained to a consistently high standard.
About the role
Reporting to the Operations Manager, you will take ownership of the day-to-day operational performance of your allocated portfolio.
You will work closely with clients, employees and internal management to resolve service issues, maintain strong working relationships and support the retention and growth of client contracts.
Regular travel between client sites across metropolitan Melbourne is required.
Key responsibilities
- Manage daily cleaning and property service delivery across multiple client sites.
- Ensure contractual scopes, service frequencies and quality standards are consistently achieved.
- Recruit, induct, train, roster and support cleaners, Leading Hands and supervisors.
- Coordinate relief coverage for planned and unplanned absences.
- Maintain accurate rosters, shift allocations and employee attendance records.
- Review time and attendance exceptions and provide accurate information for payroll processing.
- Train and support employees in the correct use of time and attendance systems.
- Conduct regular site inspections, quality audits and compliance reviews.
- Document findings and ensure corrective actions are completed within the required timeframes.
- Manage labour, consumables, equipment and subcontractor costs within approved budgets.
- Coordinate approved periodic works and subcontractor activities.
- Maintain current site scopes, access instructions, client contacts and operational records.
- Develop positive relationships with site-level client representatives.
- Respond promptly and professionally to client concerns and service requests.
- Investigate service issues and implement practical recovery and improvement plans.
- Support the reporting and investigation of incidents, hazards and near misses.
- Maintain required safety, training, inspection and compliance records.
- Address attendance, conduct and performance matters fairly and consistently, with support from HR and Operations where required.
- Identify operational improvements and potential opportunities for additional services.
About you
You will be an accountable and proactive operations leader who can calmly manage multiple sites, employees and competing priorities. You will be comfortable working independently while maintaining clear communication with clients, frontline employees and senior management.
The successful candidate will ideally have:
- Previous experience as an Area Manager, Operations Manager, Contract Manager or similar.
- Experience in commercial cleaning, facilities management, property services or another multi-site service environment.
- Demonstrated experience leading, training and supporting frontline employees and supervisors.
- Strong rostering, workforce planning and relief-coverage capabilities.
- Experience using and administering electronic time and attendance systems.
- The ability to train employees in workplace systems, procedures and site requirements.
- Experience conducting quality inspections and managing corrective actions.
- An understanding of workplace safety, quality and employment-compliance requirements.
- Experience managing labour and operational costs against approved budgets.
- Strong client service, communication and problem-solving skills.
- Confidence handling service complaints and operational challenges.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Sound computer literacy and experience using rostering, reporting and workforce-management systems.
- The ability to manage employee performance and workplace matters respectfully and consistently.
- A current Australian driver licence.
- The ability to travel regularly between sites across metropolitan Melbourne.
- Full Australian working rights.
A First Aid qualification and a relevant tertiary or TAFE qualification would be advantageous.
What we offer
- A varied and responsible operational leadership position.
- An established portfolio of commercial client sites.
- Support from Operations, Client Services, Human Resources and Head Office.
- A professional and collaborative working environment.
- Opportunities to further develop your leadership, compliance and commercial capabilities.
- Competitive remuneration based on experience.
Important information
This position requires regular travel between client sites across Melbourne. Occasional additional hours may be required to respond to genuine operational needs.
The role may occasionally assist with urgent frontline coverage; however, routine cleaning is not a standard requirement of the position.
How to apply
Please submit your current résumé and a brief cover letter outlining:
- Your experience in commercial cleaning, facilities management or property services.
- The approximate number of sites and employees you have previously managed.
- Your experience with rostering, time and attendance systems, employee training, quality audits, compliance and client relationships.
- Your availability to commence.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
The employer is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace. Applications are welcomed from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds.
Pay: $90,000.00 – $100,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
