Janitorial SME & Vendor Relations Manager

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way.

Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong.

US Residence Requirement: The selected candidate must reside in the United States and be within the Central, Mountain, or Pacific Time Zone.

Travel Requirement: Travel is required (30-50%) for site visits, inspections, and vendor support across portfolio locations.

The Janitorial / Custodial SME & Vendor Relations Manager combines deep cleaning operations expertise with strategic sourcing and vendor management capabilities. The role serves as the technical authority and category specialist for janitorial and custodial services supporting a dedicated client account or portfolio.

• Serve as the primary subject matter expert for janitorial and custodial operations, developing comprehensive scopes of work including frequency schedules, task specifications, quality standards, and performance expectations aligned with industry best practices and client needs.
• Own and manage janitorial quality assurance platforms and inspection tools, ensuring JLL Facility Managers are properly trained through development of training materials, user guides, and standard operating procedures while monitoring platform utilization.
• Develop and lead RFP/RFQ processes for janitorial services, including bid specifications, pricing structures, evaluation criteria, and appropriate pricing models aligned with service scope and facility characteristics.
• Conduct regular site inspections and vendor performance audits to assess cleaning quality, compliance with specifications, evaluate performance against KPIs and service level agreements, and drive corrective actions for underperforming vendors.
• Establish performance‑based janitorial standards and quality benchmarks using industry frameworks, create site tiering models based on facility characteristics, and standardize service delivery models across regions and vendors.
• Analyze janitorial service data to identify trends, optimize resource allocation, benchmark pricing and service delivery across portfolio locations, and identify cost savings opportunities including labor productivity and service frequency adjustments.
• Support drafting and execution of janitorial service contracts, review existing contracts to identify scope deficiencies or misalignments, and monitor contract lifecycle milestones including service adjustments, renewals, and amendments.
• Provide expert recommendations on cleaning methods, chemicals, equipment, technologies, and green cleaning programs while staying current on industry trends, innovations, and regulations including OSHA, EPA, and CDC guidelines.
• Partner with Facilities Management, Operations, Procurement, Finance, and Environmental Health & Safety teams to translate operational needs into technical procurement requirements and drive program success.
• Conduct site walks, assessments, and inspections across portfolio locations to validate vendor performance through field observations, support issue resolution at site level, and provide insights to improve program design and execution.

• 5+ years of professional experience in commercial janitorial operations, facilities management, or related services.
• Strong technical knowledge of cleaning methods, chemicals, equipment, floor care, infection control, and sanitation practices.
• Experience with vendor performance management and quality assurance processes.
• Ability to develop scopes of work, service specifications, and quality standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel for data analysis.
• Willingness to travel 20-40% for site visits, inspections, and vendor support.

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) from a four‑year college or university.
• Experience in facilities management, property management, or Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) environment.
• Knowledge of contract…