Sarah Read
Leeds,West Yorkshire
Summary
Facilities Services Manager with extensive experience leading multidisciplinary soft services operations. Recognised for building high-performing, engaged teams through clear direction, accountability, and strong people leadership. Translates strategic business objectives into measurable operational goals, driving service excellence, reliability, and continuous improvement.
Skilled in fostering collaborative working cultures and developing strong client partnerships, ensuring alignment between stakeholder expectations and service delivery. Broad expertise across cleaning, security, front and back of house, grounds and building maintenance, supply chain, and waste management, delivering integrated FM solutions through empowered and motivated teams.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certificate
Work History
Soft Services & Environmental Ops Manager
Mitie Facilities Management
Leeds, West Yorkshire
03.2023 - Current
- Trusted operational lead within a high-footfall shopping centre, supporting delivery of critical cleaning and waste services.
- Proactive planner, co-creating winter and BCP strategies to safeguard service continuity.
- Detail-driven and compliance-focused, consistently achieving inspection-ready standards.
- Commercially aware, aligning labour and resources to protect budgets without compromising quality.
- Calm and decisive under pressure, playing a key role in crisis response and operational resilience.
- People-focused leader of 40 staff, fostering accountability, engagement, and a strong team culture.
Soft Services Estate Manager
Compass FM
York
07.2019 - 03.2023
- Promoted within Compass Group from Building Facilities Manager (Hepworth House) to Soft Services Estates Manager for an 84-acre nationally strategic scientific campus, recognising sustained high performance and leadership impact.
- Held full accountability for a £1.2m integrated soft services contract covering cleaning, waste, security, grounds maintenance, and porterage.
- Led multidisciplinary teams within a highly regulated environment, embedding Lean 5S principles to drive efficiency, standardisation, and continuous improvement.
- Implemented BICSc methodologies to enhance quality assurance, structured training, and provide a robust framework for costing variations and contract changes.
- Partnered with suppliers to trial and introduce innovative technologies, machinery, and chemical solutions to improve productivity and service delivery.
- Directed operations during the COVID-19 pandemic at a nationally significant site supporting Public Health England and key testing facilities, ensuring resilience, compliance, and readiness for high-profile government visits.
- Designed and delivered monthly engagement initiatives aligned to Diversity & Inclusion objectives, strengthening stakeholder relationships, frontline engagement, and team morale.
- Achieved FM Certificate of Practice and BICSc Assessor qualification, reinforcing governance, professional standards, and operational leadership.
Building Facilities Services Manager
Compass Group UK
Leeds, LDS
07.2016 - 07.2019
- Progressed internally to Soft Services Manager at Hepworth House, a high-traffic Leeds city centre building, following strong performance in retail operations.
- Gained end-to-end FM experience managing cleaning, porterage, security, and hospitality functions, ensuring a safe, clean, and fully operational environment.
- Coached and led a 40-person team, fostering high-performing, collaborative, and positive workplace culture.
- Directed contractors, vendors, and service providers to deliver efficient, non-disruptive operations while maintaining compliance and service standards.
- Planned and executed tenant improvements and building upgrades in line with contractual requirements.
- Produced management reports and established routine inspections to monitor cleanliness, safety, and operational standards, implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
- Led risk mitigation strategies to protect personnel, infrastructure, and critical information.
Building Manager Retail Cleaning
Mitie Group
Leeds, LDS
01.2008 - 01.2016
- Working within retail sector, maintaining high standards of cleanliness in a Tesco superstore.
- I quickly built a highly regarded reputation within Servest. I retained my position through multiple service provider contract changes finalizing with Mitie.
- I was known for my attention to the cleaning detail across every area of my site.
- That I was recruited to assist other cleaning managers across multiple sites to produce the same level of standards I kept that led to my promotion to the next step in my career.
- Responsibilities across these posts include Providing service delivery to large complex organisation that's provides services to public, private and government sectors.
- Looking after areas of Tesco portfolio that are operationally critical.
- P&L accountability for accounts that range from £300K to £1.2m.
- Lead client responsibilities in line with locations that I was responsible for.
- Accountable for staffing headcount from 10 to 45 team members.
- Implementing business development for key locations.
- Creating paths for succession ensure cleaning team have potential to absorb and grow for up to 3 supervisors.
- Involved in cost modelling and implementation Audit/quality control development and implementation.
- Compliance coherence from HSE, Employment law and waste control and more.
- Retention lead management style.
- Strategic partnership with contractors.
- Creating sustainable supply chain. Ensuring compliance with local law and legislation.
- Implementing company policies and procedures.
- Developing customer journey and experience.
- Restructuring to account for movement in client's requirements and structure rationalization.
- Project management.
- Competent in HR processes and procedures.
- Implementing Mental Health initiatives.
- Waste reduction program.
Skills
- Strong leadership driving high-performing, accountable, and motivated teams
- Skilled in operational planning, efficiency optimisation, and resource management
- Expert in risk assessment, crisis management, and regulatory compliance
- Hands-on, flexible management style, delivering results independently or within integrated teams
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement across all organisational levels
- Proficient in budgeting, contract oversight, and cost control for multi-service operations
- Experienced in implementing compliance monitoring, audit readiness, and quality assurance
- Knowledgeable in CRM systems, reporting, and performance tracking to inform decision-making
- Organised and time-efficient, consistently achieving operational goals under pressure
- Adept at team building, coaching, and fostering a positive workplace culture
Certification
- ISO14001
- IOSH
- Nebosh
- PBICs
- Facilities Management Level 2
- Chartered institute for waste management
- red 3 ( kaatsu crisis management )
Accomplishments
- Developed inventory tracking systems using Microsoft Excel to improve asset control and reporting.
- Led and managed a 30-person multidisciplinary FM team covering cleaning, security, and logistics services.
- Partnered with hard services on laboratory, washroom, and kitchen refurbishments, coordinating high-spec cleaning and complex equipment moves to client standards, delivering significant cost efficiencies.
- Modernized hazardous (clinical and chemical) waste management processes in collaboration with service partners, improving compliance and operational efficiency.
- Enhanced site-wide health & safety by reducing manual handling and human contact risks.
- Drove campus-wide equipment innovation, procuring and implementing advanced cleaning machinery to improve service quality and productivity.
Timeline
Soft Services & Environmental Ops Manager
Mitie Facilities Management
03.2023 - Current
Soft Services Estate Manager
Compass FM
07.2019 - 03.2023
Building Facilities Services Manager
Compass Group UK
07.2016 - 07.2019
Building Manager Retail Cleaning
Mitie Group
01.2008 - 01.2016
Websites, Portfolios and Profiles
https://bold.pro/my/sarah-read/120