WHAT DOES A HOUSEKEEPING DIRECTOR DO?

Published: Jul 8, 2025 - The Housekeeping Director oversees daily housekeeping operations, ensuring consistent communication, high cleanliness standards, and adherence to brand guidelines across all guest and staff areas. This position demonstrates financial accountability by managing budgets, forecasting, and controlling costs without compromising service quality. By leading inspections, performance evaluations, and interdepartmental collaboration, the director also drives continuous improvement and maintains exceptional service excellence through strategic leadership and staff development.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Housekeeping Director

1. Housekeeping Director Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • Cleaning Coordination: Evaluate and coordinate cleaning processes and procedures.
  • Customer Service: Promptly respond to any tenant inquiries and complaints.
  • Inventory Management: Maintain the supply ordering/purchasing/inventory system.
  • OSHA Compliance: Understand OSHA requirements, including SDS sheets.
  • Staff Supervision: Accountable for hiring, training, and oversight of housekeeping staff.
  • Team Collaboration: Coordinate with Field Operations Manager, Building Staff, and Company Management.
  • Operations Management: Be in charge of planning, organization, and supervision of the cleaning and maintenance of the hotel.
  • Budget Management: Effectively manage the department, control, and order stock, and plan expenditures to achieve optimum financial efficiency in line with the budget.

2. Housekeeping Director Roles and Details

  • Housekeeping Management: Plan, organize, implement, evaluate and direct housekeeping services as well as its programs and activities, following all current rules and regulations.
  • Policy Development: Participate in the development, maintenance and updating of policies and procedures, job descriptions, in-services and housekeeping forms for the community.
  • Reporting: Provide written and oral reports.
  • Administrative Tasks: Perform administrative duties such as completing budget tracking or spend down sheets, reports and evaluations.
  • Housekeeping Operations: Perform housekeeper/laundry functions.
  • Quality Assurance: Do periodic checks on apartments to ensure proper procedures are followed.
  • Move-Out Inspection: Final check on move-outs and prepare the apartment for the next occupant.
  • Apartment Setup: Set up and maintain model apartments.
  • Interdepartmental Communication: Communicate with other department managers to plan for housekeeping services.
  • Repair Coordination: Coordinate repairs needed within the physical plant.

3. Housekeeping Director Key Accountabilities

  • Scheduling: Plan work schedules to ensure adequate service and coverage
  • Staff Management: Responsible for all employee hiring decisions and staff scheduling for the Housekeeping Department
  • Facility Inspection: Inspect and evaluate the physical condition of all areas of the building, and coordinate with the Maintenance Department for any needed repairs
  • Work Oversight: Inspect all work in progress completed by staff or outside contractors, and maintain cleanliness checklists
  • Staff Training: Train staff and conduct monthly in-services for staff
  • Inventory Control: Maintain strict inventory and order supplies
  • Record Keeping: Maintain all files and records consistent with the adequate functioning of the departments
  • Sanitation Inspection: Perform regular inspections of Resident areas and rooms for sanitation, safety, and proper performance of assigned duties
  • Rug Maintenance: Oversee the shampooing of rugs for both Resident and common areas
  • Resident Safety: Ensure proper safety and security regarding residents' belongings and items used in carrying out housekeeping and laundry functions

4. Housekeeping Director General Responsibilities

  • Operations Oversight: Direct and oversee the daily operation of the Housekeeping, ensure effective communication for operational issues
  • Quality Control: Constantly perform inspections to ensure the overall standards of cleanliness and maintenance of guestrooms, public areas, and back-of-the-house areas, in adhering to hotel guidelines and brand service standards
  • Budget Management: Demonstrate financial acumen and prepare forecasts, monitor daily reports, and control the expenses per the department budget without sacrificing the quality of services
  • Service Improvement: Strive for service excellence by incorporating guest satisfaction as a component of departmental meetings, with a focus on continuous improvement
  • Interdepartmental Collaboration: Foster and maintain strong, positive, and supportive relationships with the Front Office through effective communication and collaboration
  • Workforce Planning: Evaluate staffing levels following business demand, and provide recommendations for adjustments
  • Performance Management: Monitor and manage team performance by providing supervision and professional development, counseling, and coaching
  • Daily Operations: Ensure smooth operation of daily
  • Team Leadership: Lead the team and maintain a high standard of service

5. Housekeeping Director Essential Functions

  • Strategic Management: Own the housekeeping strategy and department performance, to maximize revenue opportunities
  • Financial Performance: Meet profitability budgets and company key performance indicators (KPI’s)
  • Operations Oversight: Oversee and facilitate housekeeping as it relates to guest service standards, short- and long-term planning and execution, and daily operations
  • Inventory and Guest Services: Properly execute inventory management and VIP guest stays to meet or exceed all revenue, expense, and service goals
  • Labor Optimization: Achieve optimal labor initiatives and team member relations
  • Staffing Administration: Manage department payroll, staffing, coaching, and employment status
  • Talent Management: Perform and guide quality hiring, succession planning, and employee retention that also encompasses the company’s diversity commitment
  • Policy Implementation: Establish and uphold department policies and procedures to create and maintain a work environment that promotes client service, teamwork, performance feedback, individual recognition, mutual respect and employee satisfaction
  • Leadership Development: Promote leadership development, while offering effective training programs and mentorships in line with the company values and market standards
  • Data Analysis: Monitor, document, and analyze statistics
  • Executive Reporting: Notify executive leadership of any challenges or opportunities that may impact the achievement of current and future departmental objectives
  • Process Improvement: Efficiently use technology and effectively execute initiatives for improvement
  • Internal Communication: Actively communicate with housekeeping and across the company of departmental actuals to goals
  • Brand Knowledge: Obtain and maintain extensive knowledge of Hilton, Conrad, and LXR brand standards and company values
  • Workplace Safety: Strive to maintain a safe work environment through the prevention of accidents, the preservation of equipment, and the achievement of safe working practices
  • Guest Satisfaction: Provide unmatched service, proactively seek opportunities to enhance guest satisfaction, and take ownership of guest requests
  • Compliance: Obtain and maintain position-specific licensing
  • Mobile Operations: Use personal device/cellular phone for job-related operational tasks, job duties, review of company documents, etc.
Relevant Information
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