Account Director
| Posting date: | 30 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | Competitive |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 28 April 2026 |
| Location: | London, WC1E 6HX |
| Company: | Sodexo Ltd |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | SDX/TP/1114672/155746 |
Summary
Account Director – Soft Services
Location: University College London (UCL), London
Salary: 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.