Domestic Services Supervisor

Salary:
MRC - 5 £30,512 - £33,845 per annum

Hours:
Full-Time

Contract Type:
Open Ended

Location:
Cambridge

Closing Date:
4th January 2026

As Domestic Services Supervisor, you will provide day-to-day supervision, direction, guidance and support for the large team (20+ staff) of Domestic Services Assistants, including Hazardous Waste Technicians, within the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) to ensure they carry out their roles effectively and provide an excellent cleaning and waste disposal service.

Main duties/ Key responsibilities:

• Assist the Domestic Services Manager in ensuring a high quality of service output from the team.
• Carry out quality-control monitoring of all areas on a rolling basis, providing feedback, suggesting improvements and re-training staff where necessary.
• Plan rotas and allocate work so that all cleaning requirements are covered, especially when unexpected absences occur.
• Work hands-on when required, e.g. during holiday, sickness or unexpected absence or during periods of increased cleaning requirements.
• Ensure adequate stocks of cleaning consumables are maintained in the central store and within localised cleaning cupboards, placing and tracking orders as required.
• Assist in the resolution of enquiries and problems from building users, as and when they occur.
• Plan, organise and carry-out training for new staff members and existing employees. This includes providing a full induction as well as giving practical demonstrations of methods, standards required and use of cleaning equipment.
• Ensure staff adherence to policy, procedures and safe working practices.
• Assist the Domestic Services Manager with staff communication, welfare and support, mentoring and development, escalating any concerns or issues to the Domestic Services Manager in a timely manner.
• Organise and supervise the rolling programme of floor scrubbing, buffing and cleaning of carpets.
• Supervise any rolling programme of deep cleans organised by the Domestic Services Manager.
• Supervise the weekly in-house laundering of lab coats.
• Deputise for the Domestic Services Manager in their absence.

Education / qualifications / training required:

• NVQ Level 2 in Cleaning and Support Services, or equivalent qualification or experience.

Previous work experience required:

• Experience in a supervisory cleaning role.

• Proven experience of all major cleaning processes.

• Proven knowledge of safe use of various types of cleaning machinery.

Knowledge and experience:

• Experience in supervising and managing a large team.
• A good knowledge of Health & Safety regulations and legislation, including COSHH, within the domestic services environment.
• Experience of implementing and adhering to standards and procedures.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and previous use of electronic ordering systems.
• Good office/administrative skills.
• Experience of delivering training.

Personal skills / behaviours / qualities:

• Ability to motivate and encourage staff to work efficiently and achieve a high standard of work.
• Ability to plan and prioritise the work of a team and individuals.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback to team members.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively on your own with minimal supervision, as well as being adaptable to adjust priorities and cover the work that is required.
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems independently whilst also recognising when to escalate to a manager.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Good leadership skills.
• Ability to work under pressure but constructively, collaboratively and productively with others.
• A high level of discretion and confidentially.
• Desire to attend in-house training and advance in learning and abilities.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.