Cleaning Business Project Manager- WAF Angels

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Job description

WAF Angels is a new Social Enterprise cleaning business being launched as an 18-month pilot project by Alternatives Trust East London. Its aim is to provide a high-quality cleaning service for homes and businesses in the London Borough of Newham and provide decent part-time employment for women who have barriers to employment. Most of these women will be clients of the charity's family support services with No Recourse to Public Funds. It will employ 6-12 women initially. Most will have childcare responsibilities and little or no experience of working in the UK, so the role of Project Manager is key.

WAF Angels will be a Co-operative and will be an ethical employer, providing basic training, regular hours, and paying the London Living Wage - including travel time.

This is a full-time job (35 hours/week) with a salary of £26,000 a year (plus 3% pension contribution). The initial contract will be for 20 months. It will start two months before business launch in order to recruit and train staff and secure customers, and then cover the first 18 months of the business which should take it into profitability.

Role summary

To lead this new project, we are looking for either a cleaning specialist with an entrepreneurial mind, or an entrepreneur with cleaning experience. The ideal candidate will:

have worked in cleaning/facilities management.
either have already managed cleaning teams, or be someone who feels they are ready to move into a management role, with cleaning responsibilities.
have the skills and confidence to work with the Director of the charity in launching a new enterprise from scratch, implementing systems, growing the new business and evaluating its success.
be the linchpin in the project, organising individual cleaner's rotas; managing performance; ensuring high standard of working from all cleaning staff; liaising with clients and recruiting new staff and clients.
be passionate about the ethical employment aims of this project as well as cleaning.
understand the needs of our clients, staff and prospective customers.

This role is responsible to the Director of Alternatives Trust East London and the role holder will be expected to undertake training if a relevant cleaning qualification is not already held.

Responsibilities

Marketing the project to potential clients, through networking, direct contact and media.
Staff recruitment, working with Alternatives HR support.
Staff management, including performance management and appraisals, time management, creating effective rotas to maximise client coverage and staff time. Training will be provided if necessary.
Organise initial training for all cleaning staff and any further training as necessary.
Undertake all risk assessments and safeguarding duties with the support of Alternatives Safeguarding Officer.
Keep accurate records according to GDPR guidelines and provide written reports as requested by the Director of Alternatives using relevant indicators and report formats.
Lead a fortnightly WAF Angels team meeting attended by an Alternatives trustee, the Director, finance officer and cleaning staff representative(s) to deliver the business action plan and monitor progress towards business targets.
Some cleaning duties may be required.

Management

The postholder will be line managed by the Director of Alternatives.

Skills and Experience

Necessary skills

Some experience of cleaning

Project planning skills

Team leadership experience

Some understanding of business development

Necessary personal qualities

Entrepreneurial attitude

Awareness of the support needs of our client group

Desirable Skills and experience

Able to create social media campaigns

Managed cleaning teams in the past

Understanding of health and safety issues around cleaning

Cleaning qualification

Driving licence/access to a car