About the Role: Responsibilities, Skills, and Requirements
Ever wonder what it takes to keep a commercial kitchen running safely and efficiently behind the scenes? As our Leadman for Full Degreasing & Specialty Cleaning, you’ll be right at the heart of the action—guiding a dedicated team and making sure every duct, fan, and filter gets the deep clean it deserves. If you’ve led crews through the distinct (and, let’s be honest, sometimes gritty) world of kitchen exhaust and facility cleaning, this role might just feel like home. Your expertise will help set safer standards and keep clients compliant and operational—never a dull moment here!
About the Company
We’re not your average cleaning outfit. Our team is tight-knit, hands-on, and proud of the crucial role we play in commercial safety. While our schedules can be demanding, there’s something uniquely satisfying about seeing the before-and-after of our work—especially when clients sing our praises. We invest in our people, offer ongoing training (and, yes, good coffee for those early starts), and approach every job with professionalism, teamwork, and a side of humor. Our most successful leads help foster camaraderie, share knowledge, and keep spirits high—even when the ducts get dusty.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Supervising and motivating on-site cleaning teams for kitchen exhaust, AC ducts, water tanks, and grease trap cleaning jobs
- Conducting and overseeing full degreasing operations for all types of exhaust systems, including hoods, ducts, exhaust fans, ecology units, and ESP filters
- Inspecting finished work to ensure it meets our standards—and our clients’ satisfaction
- Training new technicians, demonstrating safety protocols, and sharing your know-how on tools, chemicals, and best practices
- Communicating job details, timelines, and daily progress with managers and clients
- Troubleshooting equipment (when needed) and ensuring proper maintenance on-site
- Keeping clear records of service details and regulatory compliance
- Jumping in to lend a hand wherever the team needs you—nobody stands on the sidelines here
What You’ll Bring
Must-Haves:
- At least 2 years’ experience leading teams in commercial kitchen exhaust or industrial duct cleaning
- Hands-on expertise with degreasing kitchen hoods, ducts, exhaust fans, ESP filters, ecology units, etc.
- Solid ability to train and support new hires or less experienced teammates
- Comfort working with specialized chemicals and equipment
- Reliable communication skills—whether you’re mentoring or updating management
- Commitment to safe work, punctuality, and quality results
Nice-to-Haves:
- Familiarity with compliance requirements for kitchen exhaust systems
- Experience handling client relationships on-site
- Valid driver’s license (always a plus for mobile crews)
Not sure you tick every single box? We’d still love to hear from you.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
- Trust and autonomy—you’ll lead your own crew and help shape how we do things
- Ongoing training and opportunities to step up as a mentor or specialist
- Competitive pay, plus overtime and holiday incentives
- All the right equipment and PPE supplied (we take safety seriously)
- Supportive team energy—help is always a call away, and we celebrate wins together
- Real impact: your work keeps kitchens open, staff safe, and business flowing
- Friendly, straightforward management—you’ll always know where you stand
We know the work can be tough, but you’ll never be left flying solo. Here, strong teams, clear communication, and pride in a job well done are what get us through even the busiest weeks.
Common Interview Questions and Tips
To help you prepare and feel confident, here are some questions you might encounter during the interview process for this role.
- Can you walk me through your experience leading teams in commercial kitchen exhaust or industrial duct cleaning environments? What challenges did you face, and how did you handle them?
- Describe your hands-on approach when degreasing kitchen hoods, ducts, and exhaust fans. What steps do you take to ensure everything meets strict safety and cleanliness standards?
- When overseeing a full degreasing operation, how do you inspect finished work for quality and compliance? Can you give an example of a time when you had to address an unsatisfactory outcome?
- What protocols do you follow when working with specialized cleaning chemicals and equipment? How do you keep your team safe, especially with new or inexperienced members?
- If new technicians join your crew with little or no prior experience, how do you onboard and train them effectively? Share a strategy or method you’ve used to help someone learn quickly.
- Tell us about a time you had to troubleshoot or repair cleaning equipment on-site during a job. How did you resolve the issue, and what was the outcome?
- How do you balance the need to work quickly with maintaining high-quality results, particularly when facing tight deadlines or demanding schedules?
- In your previous roles, how did you handle communication between your team, management, and clients? Can you share an example where clear communication prevented a problem or improved the outcome of a project?
- Give us an example of how you’ve kept your team motivated and positive, even when the job got particularly tough or messy.
- Describe your experience with regulatory compliance for kitchen exhaust systems. How do you stay updated, and how do you ensure your crew’s work aligns with the necessary standards?
- Have you ever had to handle a disagreement or miscommunication among your team members on-site? What did you do to resolve the situation and keep the job moving forward?
- Our company values camaraderie and teamwork, especially in challenging environments. How do you contribute to a positive, supportive atmosphere on your team?
- Given the demanding nature of our work