Executive Housekeeper

Job title : Executive Housekeeper

Reports to: General Manager
Direct Reports: Assistant Executive Housekeeper, Housekeeping Supervisor(s), Laundry Supervisor, Florist

Main Function

• The Executive Housekeeper is responsible for the strategic leadership, planning, organization, and overall management of the Housekeeping Department to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene, maintenance, comfort, aesthetics, and guest satisfaction throughout the hotel.
• The role oversees guest rooms, suites, public areas, back-of-house areas, laundry operations, linen and uniform management, floral arrangements, housekeeping stores, and housekeeping administration, ensuring that all facilities consistently meet the standards of a superior luxury hotel.
• The Executive Housekeeper develops departmental strategies, policies, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), manages budgets and resources, leads and develops the housekeeping team, and ensures operational efficiency, cost control, inventory management, quality assurance, health and safety compliance, and sustainability initiatives.
• The role collaborates closely with Front Office, Engineering, Food & Beverage, Security, Procurement, Human Resources, and other departments to deliver exceptional guest experiences while maximizing operational performance and profitability.

Role Responsibilities
Departmental Leadership & Housekeeping Operations:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for all housekeeping operations across the hotel.
• Plan, organize, supervise, and evaluate the daily activities of the Housekeeping Department.
• Ensure guest rooms, suites, corridors, public areas, offices, restaurants, banquet facilities, spa, gym, meeting rooms, staff areas, and back-of-house facilities are maintained to impeccable luxury standards.
• Develop daily operational plans and allocate manpower effectively.
• Conduct regular inspections of all housekeeping areas to ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Ensure rooms are cleaned, inspected, and released for occupancy within established timelines.
• Oversee deep cleaning programmes, spring cleaning schedules, and preventive housekeeping initiatives.

Guest Room & Public Area Management:

• Ensure all guest rooms and public areas consistently meet the hotel's cleanliness, presentation, and luxury standards.
• Monitor room readiness in collaboration with the Front Office Department.
• Conduct random inspections of occupied, vacant, VIP, and newly cleaned rooms.
• Ensure public areas remain clean, welcoming, and aesthetically appealing throughout the day.
• Coordinate room preparation for VIPs, dignitaries, long-stay guests, and special occasions.
• Ensure guest amenities are properly stocked and presented. Laundry, Linen & Uniform Management
• Oversee all hotel laundry operations, including guest laundry, staff uniforms, hotel linen, towels, banquet linen, spa linen, and specialty fabrics.
• Ensure timely processing and distribution of clean linen and uniforms.
• Maintain appropriate par stock levels for all linen categories.
• Monitor linen circulation and minimize losses through effective inventory management.
• Approve linen replacement schedules and procurement requirements.
• Ensure laundry operations comply with quality, hygiene, and fabric care standards.
• Monitor dry-cleaning services and outsourced laundry vendors where applicable. Inventory & Asset Management
• Maintain accurate inventories of linen, uniforms, housekeeping equipment, cleaning chemicals, guest supplies, and consumables.
• Conduct regular inventory counts and stock audits.
• Monitor usage patterns and implement measures to reduce wastage and losses.
• Ensure housekeeping stores are properly organized and secured.
• Verify inventory records and stock movements.
• Coordinate procurement requests for housekeeping supplies and equipment.
• Safeguard all housekeeping assets and equipment.

Budgeting & Cost Control:

• Prepare and manage the annual housekeeping operating and capital budgets.
• Monitor departmental expenditure against approved budgets.
• Control labour costs through effective manpower planning and scheduling.
• Monitor consumption of cleaning chemicals, guest amenities, linen, uniforms, and operational supplies.
• Implement cost-saving initiatives without compromising service quality.
• Review supplier pricing and recommend cost-effective purchasing solutions.
• Analyze departmental financial performance and recommend corrective actions where necessary.

Quality Assurance & Service Excellence:

• Develop and maintain housekeeping quality standards and inspection programmes.
• Conduct routine quality audits and room inspections.
• Ensure all housekeeping activities comply with luxury hospitality standards.
• Monitor guest feedback relating to cleanliness and housekeeping services.
• Investigate service failures and implement corrective actions.
• Promote continuous improvement in housekeeping service delivery.
• Benchmark housekeeping performance against international best practices.

Team Leadership & Human Resource Management:

• Recruit, train, coach, mentor, and supervise housekeeping employees.
• Prepare departmental duty rosters and manpower schedules.
• Conduct performance appraisals and identify training needs.
• Ensure employees comply with grooming, attendance, and behavioural standards.
• Promote teamwork, discipline, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Identify and develop future housekeeping leaders through succession planning.
• Conduct regular departmental meetings and performance reviews.

Health, Safety & Hygiene:

• Ensure strict compliance with hotel hygiene, sanitation, and infection prevention standards.
• Monitor proper handling, storage, and use of cleaning chemicals.
• Ensure housekeeping staff use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) appropriately.
• Maintain safe working environments throughout housekeeping operations.
• Coordinate pest control programmes with approved contractors.
• Ensure compliance with fire safety, occupational health, and environmental regulations.
• Investigate workplace accidents and implement preventive measures. Coordination with Other Departments
• Collaborate with Front Office to ensure room availability and occupancy targets are achieved.
• Coordinate with Engineering regarding preventive maintenance, repairs, and refurbishment projects.
• Liaise with Food & Beverage for banquet linen requirements and event support.
• Work with Procurement to ensure timely availability of housekeeping supplies.
• Coordinate with Human Resources on recruitment, training, and employee welfare matters.
• Support Security in managing lost-and-found procedures and guest property protection.

Environmental Sustainability:

• Promote environmentally responsible housekeeping practices.
• Implement programmes to reduce water, electricity, and chemical consumption.
• Encourage waste reduction, recycling, and responsible disposal of cleaning materials.
• Promote environmentally friendly cleaning products where appropriate.
• Support the hotel's sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Reporting & Administration:

• Prepare daily, weekly, monthly, and annual housekeeping operational reports.
• Monitor departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Maintain accurate housekeeping records, inspection reports, inventory reports, maintenance logs, and staffing records.
• Prepare housekeeping budgets, forecasts, and business plans.
• Submit departmental performance reports to Executive Management.
• Maintain proper documentation for audits and compliance reviews. Compliance & Continuous Improvement
• Ensure compliance with hotel policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), statutory regulations, and luxury hospitality standards.
• Support internal and external audits.
• Review and update housekeeping SOPs regularly.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and operational efficiency.
• Promote innovation, quality improvement, and service excellence throughout the department.

Qualifications and Requirements
Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or HND in Hospitality Management or related field.
• Professional housekeeping certification is an advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years' housekeeping experience, with at least 2 years in a managerial role in a luxury or upscale hotel.

Skills:
Technical Skills:

• Housekeeping SOPs and standards.
• Inventory and budget management.
• PMS room status coordination.
• Chemical and equipment safety.

Soft Skills:

• Attention to detail.
• Leadership and staff development.
• Organization.
• Discipline and consistency.