Account Director
Be part of something greater.
- Job reference: SDX/TP/1114672/155746
- Location: London
- Job type: Full Time - 40 hours per week
- Salary: £Competitive per annum plus Sodexo Benefits
- Closing date: 21 April 2026
About the role
Account Director – Soft Services
Location: University College London (UCL), London
Salary: Competitive
Benefits: £1,300 Flexible Benefits, Car allowance and Performance Related Bonus
Lead One of Sodexo’s Flagship University Contracts
This is not a role to maintain standards — it is a role to redefine them.
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead one of Sodexo’s most prestigious and high-profile Soft FM contracts into its next era. As Account Director for University College London, a globally renowned institution with a vibrant and highly energised campus community, you will oversee campus support services (cleaning and ancillary services, waste management, portering and logistics services) across more than 180 buildings spanning Bloomsbury and beyond.
With responsibility for a £20m contract and a workforce of circa 500 colleagues, you will inherit a complex, flagship partnership underpinned by a stable, highly engaged and talented team. Working alongside aspirational, visionary clients who are committed to transformation, you will shape the future of service delivery, elevate performance, and position the account as a benchmark for excellence across the sector.
We are looking for a true change-maker: a leader who can build on strong colleague engagement, be visible to all staff, drive innovation and a bold strategic agenda, and create a future-focused service model that secures retention, delivers growth, and sets the standard for Soft FM in the university sector. This is a unique opportunity to take an already strong operation and transform it into a market-leading, innovation-driven model, while playing a critical role in preparing the contract for future renewal.
What You’ll Be Doing
Strategic Leadership & Transformation
- Define and deliver a clear 3-year strategic roadmap for the UCL account
- Lead continuous improvement and transformational change across all services
- Position the contract as a sector-leading model within Higher Education
- Drive readiness for contract renewal, ensuring Sodexo is the partner of choice
Client & Stakeholder Leadership
- Act as a trusted strategic partner to senior UCL stakeholders
- Build influential relationships at executive and board level
- Lead governance through monthly and quarterly reviews, driving transparency and value
- Anticipate client needs and shape services to align with future campus strategy
Commercial & Financial Performance
- Own full P&L accountability for a £20m contract
- Deliver strong financial performance, ensuring margin, growth and cash targets are exceeded
- Identify and unlock new commercial opportunities across the estate
- Drive data-led decision making and forward-looking financial planning
Operational Excellence
- Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality, compliant, and safe services
- Embed a zero-harm safety culture across all operations
- Drive performance through clear KPIs, governance, and accountability frameworks
- Maintain rigorous standards while continuously raising the bar
People Leadership & Culture
- Lead, inspire and develop a team of 500+ colleagues
- Build a high-performance, inclusive and values-led culture
- Strengthen leadership capability, succession planning and talent pipelines
- Drive employee engagement, wellbeing and retention
Innovation & Growth
- Champion innovation in service delivery, sustainability and customer experience
- Introduce new ideas that enhance quality, efficiency and commercial value
- Benchmark against best-in-class global contracts
- Support wider growth across Sodexo’s Universities segment
What Success Looks Like
- A high-performing, future-ready contract positioned for successful renewal
- Strong, trusted partnerships with senior UCL stakeholders
- Industry-leading standards in service delivery, safety and innovation
- A highly engaged, high-performing workforce
- Continuous growth, both commercially and operationally
About You
You are a proven senior leader who thrives in complex, high-profile environments.
You bring
- Significant experience in leading large, multi-service contracts
- A strong track record of strategic transformation and performance improvement
- Exceptional commercial and financial acumen
- Experience influencing and partnering at senior stakeholder / executive level
- A passion for people leadership, culture and engagement
- The ability to balance big-picture strategy with operational excellence
Desirable
- Experience within Higher Education, FM, or complex service environments
- NEBOSH or relevant Health & Safety qualification
Why Join Sodexo?
At Sodexo, you’ll be part of something bigger.
- Lead a flagship UK university contract with national visibility
- Be empowered to shape strategy, innovation and long-term success
- Work within a global organisation with strong values and purpose
- Access career-defining opportunities across Sodexo UK & worldwide
- Make a real impact on people, places and communities
Ready to Make Your Mark?
If you’re ready to take on a role where you can truly shape, influence and lead at scale, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply today and be part of building the future of service excellence at UCL.
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KEY BENEFITS
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Advice and guidance
Get help with legal, financial, personal or work issues whenever you need it. -
Pension Plan
Save effectively for your future when you join the Sodexo Pension Plan. -
Wellbeing support
Unlimited access to online support for your mental health, 24/7. -
Generous leave
For holidays, care needs or major life events, we’ll help you rest and recharge. -
Discounts and savings
Enjoy great deals from leading retailers and use our Bike to Work scheme -
Virtual GP
24-hour access to video or phone consultations for you and your family.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At our company, we believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Roles at Sodexo are designed to empower individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to creating an environment that values equity and supports the growth of all employees, ensuring that everyone can contribute to and benefit from our collective success.
Social Impact
Ever since we started, we’ve had a clear purpose – to do some good in our communities through helping people. Today, that purpose is still a huge part of who we are. And every one of our colleagues helps that happen.
We’re committed to volunteering our time, resources, skills and knowledge – more than 50% of colleagues contribute to thousands of volunteer hours every year. And our Charitable Foundation has now donated over £9 million to charities and good causes across the country.
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