Account Director – Soft Services Location: University College London (UCL), LondonSalary: Competitive + Executive Benefits Lead One of Sodexo’s Flagship University Contracts This is not a role to maintain standards, it is a role to redefine them! As Account Director for UCL, you will lead one of Sodexo’s most significant and high-profile UK contracts, overseeing soft services across a complex, multi-site, world-renowned institution. With responsibility for a £13m+ contract and a workforce of 600+ colleagues, you will shape the future of service delivery, elevate performance, and position the account as a benchmark for excellence across the sector. This is a rare 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 £13m+ 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 600+ colleagues through senior leadership teams 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr