What Does a Director of Housekeeping Do?
A director of housekeeping oversees all housekeeping operations in a facility, ensuring high standards of cleanliness, organization, and safety. This leadership role is responsible for supervising housekeeping staff, developing cleaning schedules and protocols, managing budgets, and maintaining an adequate inventory of cleaning supplies. They make sure that rooms and common areas meet quality standards and that guests or residents experience a consistently clean and welcoming environment.
The director works closely with other department heads to ensure smooth day-to-day operations, whether in a hotel, resort, hospital, or commercial facility. They also play a key role in hiring, training, and evaluating team members, resolving guest or patient concerns, and maintaining regulatory compliance with health and safety standards.
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Director of Housekeeping Core Responsibilities
- Oversee all housekeeping functions across guest rooms, public spaces, and service areas
- Hire, train, and manage housekeeping team members
- Develop staffing schedules and manage timekeeping systems
- Monitor and uphold cleanliness and safety standards in compliance with OSHA and facility protocols
- Conduct inspections and implement quality control measures
- Manage inventory and procurement of cleaning supplies and equipment
- Coordinate with maintenance, front desk, and other departments to resolve service issues
- Track housekeeping budgets and control labor and supply costs
- Prepare reports and lead department meetings
- Handle guest or resident concerns related to cleanliness or housekeeping service
Required Skills and Qualifications
Hard skills
- Proficiency in housekeeping management software and timekeeping systems
- Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations and sanitation protocols
- Ability to manage budgets and control inventory
- Skilled in creating staff schedules and training materials
- Experience with vendor and laundry service coordination
Soft skills
- Leadership and team development
- Excellent problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills
- Strong attention to detail and organizational ability
- Effective verbal and written communication
- Ability to remain calm in high-pressure environments
Education
- High school diploma or equivalent required
- Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, business administration, or related field preferred
Certifications
- OSHA safety training certification
First aid/CPR certification and hospitality-specific management courses are also beneficial.
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of housekeeping management experience in hospitality, healthcare, or commercial settings
- Experience overseeing teams of 20+ staff members
- Familiarity with union environments and collective bargaining practices
- Knowledge of infection control procedures (especially in healthcare settings)
- Bilingual or multilingual fluency
National Average Salary
Director of housekeeping salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Director of Housekeeping is:
$67,500
Sample Job Description Templates for Directors of Housekeeping
Hotel Housekeeping Director
Position Overview
The hotel housekeeping director leads a team responsible for maintaining clean, well-presented guest rooms and public areas in a fast-paced hospitality environment. This role ensures all cleanliness and presentation standards are met while managing scheduling, training, and inventory to support daily hotel operations.
Responsibilities
- Oversee housekeeping operations for all guest rooms, corridors, and common areas
- Maintain high-quality standards aligned with brand expectations and guest satisfaction
- Develop cleaning checklists and inspect rooms post-cleaning
- Supervise room attendants, laundry teams, and public area cleaners
- Monitor room turnover timelines to support front desk and reservations
- Manage inventory of linens, amenities, and cleaning supplies
- Coordinate with front desk and maintenance to resolve room-related issues
Requirements
Hard skills
- Experience with hotel property management and housekeeping systems (e.g., Opera PMS, HotSOS)
- Knowledge of brand cleanliness standards and room turnover procedures
- Inventory management and budgeting
- Familiarity with safety and sanitation protocols
Soft skills
- Strong leadership and performance coaching
- Excellent organizational and delegation skills
- Guest-centric mindset with high attention to detail
- Ability to multitask under pressure
Education
- High school diploma required
- Degree in hospitality or hotel management preferred
Certifications
- OSHA safety certification
Additional hospitality or hotel-specific cleaning certifications are advantageous.
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of hotel housekeeping leadership experience
- Experience with luxury or branded hotel chains
- Bilingual communication skills
Healthcare Facilities Housekeeping Director
Position Overview
The healthcare facilities housekeeping director manages custodial operations across patient rooms, surgical areas, and administrative spaces. This role ensures strict adherence to infection control protocols and regulatory compliance while maintaining a sanitary environment for staff and patients.
Responsibilities
- Supervise environmental services staff and daily cleaning schedules
- Ensure compliance with hospital infection control standards and procedures
- Conduct audits and maintain logs for sanitation and safety compliance
- Coordinate biohazard waste disposal and specialized cleanings
- Collaborate with nursing and facilities teams on high-priority room cleaning
- Manage vendor relationships for laundry and supply delivery
Requirements
Hard skills
- Knowledge of infection prevention and control procedures (e.g., terminal cleaning)
- Familiarity with hospital regulatory bodies (e.g., Joint Commission, CDC, OSHA)
- Experience using healthcare operations platforms or EVS systems
- Biohazard handling and chemical safety knowledge
Soft skills
- Exceptional attention to health and safety detail
- Calm and empathetic communication in sensitive environments
- Skilled in staff scheduling and emergency cleaning coordination
- Strong leadership and accountability
Education
- High school diploma required
- Degree in healthcare administration or related field preferred
Certifications
- OSHA safety certification
- Bloodborne Pathogens training
Infection control and environmental services certifications are also recommended.
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years in healthcare housekeeping or environmental services leadership
- Experience with EVS staff training and audit procedures
- Familiarity with unionized healthcare settings
Commercial Property Housekeeping Director
Position Overview
The commercial property housekeeping director manages janitorial operations across office buildings, retail spaces, or mixed-use developments. This role focuses on maintaining high standards of cleanliness, managing contracted vendors, and ensuring tenant satisfaction.
Responsibilities
- Oversee cleaning of lobbies, restrooms, offices, elevators, and break rooms
- Schedule daily and nightly cleaning crews for minimal disruption
- Monitor vendor performance and conduct routine inspections
- Ensure compliance with safety and facility cleanliness regulations
- Coordinate with property managers on tenant feedback and special requests
- Order and track cleaning supplies and equipment
Requirements
Hard skills
- Knowledge of janitorial operations, commercial cleaning methods, and FM systems
- Experience managing contracted vendors or third-party janitorial services
- Familiarity with OSHA workplace safety standards
- Budgeting and supply chain coordination
Soft skills
- Strong organizational and inspection skills
- Excellent communication with vendors and property management teams
- Problem-solving mindset and ability to manage complaints
- Efficient task prioritization
Education
- High school diploma required
- Degree in facilities or business management preferred
Certifications
- OSHA General Industry Safety certification
Facilities management or custodial operations training is beneficial.
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years managing janitorial staff or commercial cleaning contracts
- Experience coordinating cleaning across multiple buildings or locations
- Familiarity with CMMS or building automation tools
Resort Housekeeping Director
Position Overview
The resort housekeeping director oversees the cleanliness and appearance of villas, guest rooms, amenities, and recreational facilities in a resort environment. They manage teams across a larger footprint and work to deliver exceptional guest experiences through attention to detail and service efficiency.
Responsibilities
- Manage housekeeping teams for guest accommodations, pools, spas, gyms, and public spaces
- Oversee daily cleaning schedules and room turnovers
- Coordinate with front office and guest services on special requests
- Conduct quality assurance checks and staff evaluations
- Manage inventory for linens, guest amenities, and cleaning supplies
- Support seasonal staffing needs and training programs
Requirements
Hard skills
- Familiarity with resort-scale cleaning operations and guest service systems
- Knowledge of outdoor and amenity-specific cleaning protocols
- Inventory and linen control
- Scheduling and team supervision
Soft skills
- Energetic, service-oriented mindset
- High attention to detail in both indoor and outdoor areas
- Excellent time management and multitasking
- Strong leadership and guest communication skills
Education
- High school diploma required
- Degree in hospitality or resort management preferred
Certifications
- OSHA safety certification
Pool sanitation or eco-cleaning certifications may be relevant depending on resort amenities.
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of resort or large-scale property housekeeping experience
- Experience supervising large, multi-location teams
- Knowledge of guest-facing service recovery procedures
Hospitality Services Housekeeping Director
Position Overview
The hospitality services operations director provides strategic leadership over housekeeping, laundry, and support operations across one or more properties or service lines. This role focuses on cross-functional performance, staffing efficiency, and service consistency.
Responsibilities
- Oversee multiple housekeeping departments or facilities
- Set operational SOPs and cleanliness standards across properties
- Develop staffing models and oversee workforce planning
- Ensure regulatory and brand compliance across service areas
- Build and manage vendor relationships
- Analyze KPIs and report to senior leadership on service performance
Requirements
Hard skills
- Multi-site or enterprise housekeeping oversight
- Experience with facilities operations, budgeting, and performance analysis
- Knowledge of hospitality industry standards and technology platforms
- Staff management and cross-training program development
Soft skills
- High-level leadership and operational strategy
- Strong data analysis and reporting ability
- Collaborative cross-departmental communication
- Change management and staff development
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, operations management, or related field
Certifications
- OSHA safety certification
Executive hospitality operations courses or certifications are a plus.
Preferred Qualifications
- 7+ years of hospitality operations leadership
- Experience managing across hotel brands, resort chains, or healthcare hospitality
- Background in cost control and workforce optimization