Cleaning Supervisor

Role overview

The Education Authority (Northern Ireland) is hiring a Cleaning Supervisor for a site in Londonderry. The post reports to a designated line manager and involves leading cleaning staff at a specific location while also carrying out cleaning work personally. The main purpose of the job is to deliver cleaning services inside a building or building complex to the required standard.

What you will do

• Organise, schedule and oversee cleaning staff so that EA cleaning standards are consistently met.
• Personally perform cleaning duties as part of the role.
• Deliver induction sessions and refresher training for staff in line with EA procedures.
• Work with the building manager or another authorised person on day-to-day cleaning matters.
• Look into complaints about cleaning services, take corrective steps, and escalate issues to the designated line manager when needed.
• Make sure sufficient cleaning materials and light equipment are ordered, stocked and maintained within budget.
• Check that equipment remains in good condition, is used correctly and stored safely.
• Review the suitability and performance of materials and light equipment and advise the line manager if they are not fit for purpose.
• Suggest and carry out changes to work methods, in consultation with the line manager, to improve efficiency, standards or ease of working.
• Maintain the required standard of cleanliness across the premises.
• Allocate keys to cleaning staff and ensure they are returned at the end of each day.
• Plan periodic work with service users and share plans with the Area Co-ordinator in advance of school closures.
• Keep accurate records of attendance, holidays and absences, and return them to EA on time.
• Track consumable stock and maintain equipment inventories.

General conditions

• All work must comply with the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978, relevant Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments, regulations, other legal obligations and the COSHH Regulations, as well as applicable Codes of Practice.
• Work will be carried out under the usual conditions associated with this type of post.
• Colleagues may need to be covered during sick leave in line with EA procedures.
• Any absence must be reported using EA’s procedure and the required forms must be completed and signed by the Building Supervisor.
• Protective clothing or workwear issued for the job must be worn while cleaning.
• Flat-soled, enclosed-toe footwear must be worn during cleaning duties.
• Any cleaning equipment issued must be used safely and cared for properly, and defects must be reported immediately.
• All required paperwork must be completed.
• Duties may include work at and below the employee’s grade, provided the tasks are within the employee’s competence.

Training

• Employees must accept training for duties graded above their current level when required by the authority; pay will only apply where the higher-level duties are required by EA.
• Employees must also accept training needed to carry out duties up to and including their own grade.
• Training includes induction training and refresher training.

Equality and safeguarding

The post-holder is expected to support good relations, equality of opportunity and compliance with equality law in line with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Because the role involves work in educational settings, it is subject to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007. The successful candidate will need an enhanced disclosure check, which currently costs £33, with payment arrangements to be provided in the employment contract.

Application guidance

Applicants must clearly show on the application form how they meet each required criterion, both essential and desirable where relevant. This evidence must be provided by the closing date unless stated otherwise. Shortlisting will be based on the essential criteria in Section 1, and the panel may also apply desirable criteria from Section 3 if there are too many applicants. The panel may shortlist only those candidates it considers strongest for the role.

Essential criteria

To be considered, candidates need demonstrable experience of two years cleaning outside the home environment. They may also be required to complete Health and Safety training provided by the EA cleaning service to meet statutory obligations.

Interview selection criteria

At interview, candidates will be assessed on the EA’s Game Changing People Model, including their ability to use initiative, work under pressure and meet deadlines, communicate clearly in English, organise and plan effectively, work well in a team, and remain flexible while being able to give instruction. They should also show knowledge of the Cleaning Supervisor role, Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978, and cleaning methods and machinery, as well as evidence that their values align with EA’s ethos.

Desirable criteria

Experience supervising staff is desirable and may be used during shortlisting if needed.

Values and background checks

The Education Authority looks for candidates whose values reflect commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery, with a focus on removing barriers to learning and ensuring equal access to quality education services. For roles involving regulated activity, an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background is required, and the candidate must cover the cost of the certificate. Guidance and payment details are provided at the pre-employment stage.

Additional information

The organisation states that the generic job description is not subject to appeal. The Education Authority is an equal opportunities employer.