Assistant Housekeeping Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Assistant Housekeeping Manager

Naperville, IL

Compensation: $52,000–$65,000 annually

Schedule: Full-time; flexible availability required, including days, evenings, weekends, holidays, and varying shifts

Language Requirement: English/Spanish bilingual

Position Overview

The Assistant Housekeeping Manager is a hands-on operational leader responsible for supporting the Executive Housekeeper in the successful management of all housekeeping operations. This position plays a critical role in ensuring guest rooms, public areas, back-of-house spaces, and laundry operations consistently meet the highest standards of cleanliness, presentation, safety, and service.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, approachable, and comfortable leading from the floor. This individual will actively supervise housekeeping associates, conduct inspections, manage daily assignments, monitor productivity, resolve guest concerns, and ensure the department operates efficiently while delivering an exceptional guest experience.

Key Responsibilities

Housekeeping Operations & Leadership

• Assist in managing the daily operations of the Housekeeping Department across all shifts.
• Supervise, coach, motivate, and develop housekeeping associates, housepersons, laundry personnel, and other departmental team members.
• Prepare and distribute daily assignments based on occupancy, arrivals, departures, staffing levels, VIP requirements, and operational priorities.
• Adjust staffing and assignments throughout the day as business needs change.
• Maintain a visible presence throughout the operation and lead by example.
• Assist with opening and closing procedures and ensure appropriate coverage on all shifts.
• Support the Executive Housekeeper with staffing, scheduling, attendance, performance management, and departmental administration.
• Participate in interviews, hiring, onboarding, orientation, and training of new associates.
• Cross-train associates to create greater flexibility and operational coverage.
• Ensure associates consistently follow established policies, procedures, grooming standards, and service expectations.

Guest Room & Public Area Quality

• Conduct daily inspections of guest rooms, suites, corridors, public areas, employee areas, linen rooms, and other assigned spaces.
• Ensure rooms meet established cleanliness, presentation, maintenance, and brand standards prior to release to the Front Office.
• Monitor vacant, occupied, stayover, checkout, out-of-order, and out-of-service rooms.
• Coordinate with Front Office regarding room priorities, early arrivals, VIPs, special occasions, repeat guests, and special requests.
• Identify maintenance deficiencies and communicate issues promptly to Engineering.
• Follow up on maintenance requests to ensure timely resolution.
• Ensure public areas are consistently clean, orderly, well-presented, and guest-ready.
• Monitor deep-cleaning schedules and ensure preventative cleaning projects are completed according to established standards.

VIP & Guest Experience

• Assist with the preparation and inspection of VIP, executive, repeat guest, group, and special-request rooms.
• Respond promptly and professionally to guest complaints and housekeeping-related service recovery opportunities.
• Take ownership of guest concerns and ensure appropriate follow-up.
• Maintain strong communication with Front Office and other departments regarding guest requests and room status.
• Monitor guest feedback and identify recurring opportunities to improve housekeeping service.
• Ensure special amenities, welcome items, extra beds, cribs, pillows, linens, and other guest requests are delivered accurately and promptly.
• Support evening service, turndown service, and other enhanced guest-service programs as required.

Labor Management & Productivity

• Assist in developing daily staffing plans based on occupancy, forecasted business levels, arrivals, departures, and room demand.
• Monitor associate productivity and room attendant performance.
• Track rooms cleaned, credits, assignments, overtime, call-offs, and staffing variances.
• Reallocate labor throughout the day to maximize productivity and maintain service standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve labor efficiency without compromising cleanliness or guest satisfaction.
• Assist with scheduling and forecasting departmental labor requirements.
• Monitor attendance and punctuality and communicate performance concerns to the Executive Housekeeper.
• Support payroll administration by reviewing timekeeping, attendance, and overtime for accuracy.

Training & Development

• Conduct ongoing training and coaching related to cleaning standards, inspection procedures, safety, guest service, equipment operation, and departmental policies.
• Provide new associates with hands-on training and ensure they understand performance expectations.
• Conduct regular quality coaching with room attendants and housekeeping associates.
• Identify performance gaps and create appropriate action plans in partnership with the Executive Housekeeper.
• Recognize and reinforce exceptional performance.
• Develop associates for increased responsibility and future leadership opportunities.

Linen, Laundry & Inventory Control

• Assist in overseeing daily laundry operations and ensure appropriate workflow and productivity.
• Monitor linen levels and ensure adequate par stock is maintained.
• Inspect linens, towels, terry, uniforms, and other textiles for cleanliness, condition, and presentation.
• Remove damaged or substandard items from circulation and communicate replacement needs.
• Maintain accurate inventories of linens, amenities, cleaning supplies, chemicals, uniforms, guest supplies, and operating equipment.
• Assist with monthly and periodic inventory counts.
• Monitor consumption and identify unusual variances or potential waste.
• Ensure housekeeping closets, storage rooms, linen rooms, and supply areas are clean, organized, secure, and properly stocked.
• Assist with purchasing and receiving departmental supplies as needed.

Safety, Security & Compliance

• Ensure all housekeeping associates follow hotel safety policies and established operating procedures.
• Enforce proper handling, labeling, storage, and disposal of cleaning chemicals and hazardous materials.
• Ensure associates are properly trained on Safety Data Sheets, chemical usage, PPE, and equipment operation.
• Conduct routine safety inspections of housekeeping areas, guest rooms, storage areas, laundry facilities, and equipment.
• Immediately report accidents, injuries, hazardous conditions, security concerns, and maintenance issues.
• Support the hotel's emergency preparedness and response procedures.
• Ensure lost-and-found procedures are followed accurately and consistently.
• Protect guest privacy and confidentiality at all times.
• Maintain appropriate security of guest rooms, master keys, housekeeping keys, and departmental access areas.

Sustainability & Environmental Stewardship

• Promote environmentally responsible housekeeping practices.
• Monitor appropriate use of water, energy, chemicals, linens, towels, and operating supplies.
• Support linen and towel reuse programs and other sustainability initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve departmental efficiency.
• Ensure associates understand and consistently follow sustainability procedures.

Communication & Interdepartmental Coordination

• Maintain open and professional communication with Front Office, Engineering, Security, Laundry, Food & Beverage, and other hotel departments.
• Participate in daily operations meetings and communicate relevant housekeeping updates.
• Provide accurate room status information to Front Office.
• Communicate room discrepancies, maintenance concerns, guest requests, and operational challenges promptly.
• Assist with coordination of large groups, VIP arrivals, special events, and high-occupancy periods.
• Maintain clear shift-to-shift communication through logs, meetings, and departmental updates.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Assist the Executive Housekeeper with departmental reports, productivity tracking, scheduling, payroll, inventories, and expense management.
• Monitor departmental operating expenses and help identify opportunities for cost savings.
• Assist with preparation of departmental budgets, forecasts, and staffing plans as requested.
• Maintain accurate records relating to inspections, training, attendance, productivity, inventory, and performance.
• Assist with departmental audits and quality assurance inspections.
• Ensure housekeeping records and documentation are accurate and completed on time.
• Participate in departmental meetings and contribute ideas for improving operational performance.

Leadership Expectations

The Assistant Housekeeping Manager is expected to be a visible, hands-on leader who sets the standard for professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and guest service.

The successful candidate will:

• Lead by example and maintain a professional presence at all times.
• Demonstrate strong judgment and decision-making skills.
• Remain calm and composed in a fast-paced environment.
• Hold associates accountable while maintaining a positive workplace culture.
• Communicate expectations clearly and respectfully.
• Build trust and strong working relationships with team members and other departments.
• Demonstrate genuine care for both guests and associates.
• Consistently look for ways to improve efficiency, quality, and service.
• Maintain a strong sense of urgency without sacrificing attention to detail.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2–4 years of progressive housekeeping experience in an upscale, luxury, resort, or full-service hotel environment.
• Previous supervisory or management experience in hotel housekeeping required.
• Strong knowledge of guest room cleaning, inspections, public areas, laundry, linen management, and housekeeping operations.
• Experience supervising and developing hourly associates.
• Strong understanding of labor management, scheduling, productivity, inventory control, and cost management.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to cleanliness and presentation.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively prioritize multiple tasks in a high-volume hotel environment.
• English/Spanish bilingual required.
• Proficiency with hotel property-management and/or housekeeping systems preferred.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, evenings, and varying shifts.

Success in This Role

Success in this position will be measured by the ability to consistently maintain exceptional cleanliness standards, strong guest satisfaction, efficient labor utilization, associate engagement, accurate room status, effective inventory control, and seamless daily housekeeping operations.

The Assistant Housekeeping Manager should ultimately serve as a trusted extension of the Executive Housekeeper—providing strong floor leadership, developing the team, protecting quality standards, and ensuring every guest room and public space reflects the property's commitment to exceptional hospitality.

If interested in this role, please send a copy of your resume to View email address on ziprecruiter.com