Director of Housekeeping

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Director of Housekeeping to lead all Housekeeping and Laundry operations in a high-volume, full-service hotel environment. The ideal candidate brings at least five (5) years of experience as a Director or Assistant Director of Housekeeping, a passion for guest service excellence, and a proven ability to develop and empower teams—including a union workforce.

This is an opportunity for a hands-on hospitality leader who thrives in a fast-paced setting and drives performance through people, operational mastery, and financial discipline.

Position Purpose

The Director of Housekeeping manages and coordinates all facets of the Housekeeping and Laundry Departments to ensure exceptional levels of cleanliness, comfort, safety, and guest satisfaction. This includes oversight of guest rooms, public areas, restrooms, offices, storage areas, and back-of-house workspaces.

As the guardian of the hotel’s first impression, this leader ensures operational excellence, financial performance, regulatory compliance, and team engagement across all housekeeping functions.

What You Will Do

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, direct, and administer all Housekeeping and Laundry operations.
• Recruit, interview, hire, train, discipline, and conduct performance evaluations for all team members.
• Provide ongoing supervision, professional development, scheduling, counseling, and recognition programs.
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and service excellence.
• Maintain strong cross-functional collaboration with Front Office, Engineering, and other departments.
• Facilitate department meetings and communicate operational priorities effectively.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure cleanliness, service, and product quality standards are consistently met or exceeded in guest rooms, public spaces, offices, and restrooms.
• Conduct daily and weekly inspections to verify compliance with hotel standards.
• Manage daily cleaning schedules and special projects.
• Monitor and report accurate room status to the Front Office using property management systems (Opera experience preferred).
• Oversee linen distribution and maintain appropriate inventory par levels.
• Enforce Lost and Found procedures to ensure security and proper documentation.
• Coordinate rehabilitation and capital improvement projects in partnership with Property Operations and Engineering.
• Respond immediately to negative guest comments and implement corrective actions to ensure satisfaction.

Financial Stewardship & Inventory Management

• Assist in the development and management of the department’s annual budget, including forecasting and labor controls.
• Monitor financial performance against plan and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Prepare schedules and review payroll daily to maintain labor costs within budget.
• Maintain cost control systems for linen inventories, cleaning supplies, and equipment.
• Conduct regular inventories and manage vendor partnerships to ensure quality, cost efficiency, and timely delivery.
• Approve purchases and manage inventory levels using established control systems and forecasting tools.

What You Bring

Experience

Minimum five (5) years of experience as a Director or Assistant Director of Housekeeping in a full-service hotel with leadership experience managing high-volume Housekeeping operations.

• Experience managing budgets, forecasting, inventories, and vendor relationships.
• Experience working with and leading a union workforce required.
• Opera PMS experience desired.
• Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

This role offers the opportunity to shape guest experiences, drive operational excellence, and lead a high-performing team within one of Chicago’s most iconic hospitality environments.

Requirements

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial statements, production reports, and statistical data.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional organizational and project management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective communicator with the ability to engage diverse teams and cultures.
• Ability to interpret and enforce established policies and procedures.
• Passion for developing and empowering team members at all levels.
• Lead-by-example mentality with uncompromising attention to detail.
• Regular attendance is essential to the successful performance of this role.
• Flexible schedule required, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, based on business needs.
• All employees must maintain a professional, neat, and well-groomed appearance.
• Full compliance with hotel policies and procedures is required; violations may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance