Head Housekeeper in London

Chateau Denmark is a collection of 40 guesthouses across 16 buildings on a one-hundred yard street. We are searching for a diversely skilled Head Housekeeper to join and lead our Chateau Housekeeping team at Chateau Denmark. Our Head Housekeeper will lead, facilitate and orchestrate a new chapter for the hospitality experience in London.

Your profile:

• Excellent leadership abilities.
• Housekeeping Management experience desired.
• Ability to lead & facilitate a dynamic and free flowing environment.
• Relevant experience in a luxury hospitality environment.
• Passionate for creating exceptional guest experience.
• Being an excellent team player and having outstanding communication skills.
• Being exceptionally organised and proactive.
• Having exceptional attention to detail.
• The ability and drive to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent IT skills and numeracy.
• Display a passionate, fun and enthusiastic approach to work.
• Obtain broad knowledge of the premises and the nearby venues and businesses to make the most suitable recommendations.

Your role:

• Assume overall responsibility for the preparation of all of our guest rooms and suites, public areas relating to Chateau Denmark ensuring all facilities and services are exceptionally maintained, special requests are accommodated, and amenities placed.
• Control, monitor and analyse quality standards in guest accommodation and public areas relating to Chateau Denmark within the following areas:
• Cleaning and preparation of guest accommodation
• Presentation, cleanliness and quality of linen, outfits and all items related to housekeeping function
• Stock control
• Revenue and cost control
• Condition and cleanliness of facilities and equipment
• Guest satisfaction and feedback
• Carry out regular quality and presentation spot checks on number of rooms and suites, rejecting those that fall below standard to achieve consistency and implementing corrective training to ensure standards are maintained.
• Play an active role in the development of Chateau Denmark room concepts, amenities, linen and housekeeping supplies through the sharing of ideas and suggestions with the management team to enhance the guest experience.

Leadership:

• Leading by example – actively promote a positive attitude throughout the property and wider district, be visible, approachable and with the team at the right times.
• Ensure a management and supervisory presence is maintained at all times to support the team.
• Display a passionate, fun and enthusiastic approach to work in order to inspire and motivate members of the team, creating an enjoyable, cohesive and supportive working environment for everyone to work within.
• Share your vision – have a communication plan that sets out the objectives, goals, progress being made and the achievements.
• Foster good working relationships across all departments in order to encourage inter-department support, creative thinking and ensure production and service standards are maintained across the housekeeping team.
• Guide and direct the Housekeeping team to ensure they become familiar with the sequence of service in a prompt, efficient and systematic manner, paying attention to our specific brand standards.
• Undertake any recruitment in a timely, cost-effective and legally compliant manner following our recruitment procedures.
• Training Culture – promote team development to drive engagement and efficiency within the team and personally ensure that all team members receive mandatory and statutory training.
• Ensure that all team members across Chateau Denmark have regular one-to-one reviews and structured performance updates, ensuring there is a structured training and development programme for all senior managers and high potentials with recognition as an integral part.
• Compliance – ensure all legal and company HR regulations and policies are followed to safeguard the team, our business and the wider company.
• Continue developing as a leader – have a personal development plan that reflects your ambitions and goals to grow as a person and a leader. Also attend and complete all required mandatory legal training.
• Catch the team doing things right – share the behaviour you expect and the required performance level, then actively set out to recognise great guest interactions, teamwork and activity.
• Set boundaries – fairly and consistently use the company’s disciplinary/grievance procedure as laid out in the handbook to let the team know what is expected.
• Champion engagement – ensuring that all team members have a voice and that you foster an environment of growth, fun and learning.

Efficiency:

• Take an active role in the formation of the annual housekeeping operational budget, and monitor it throughout the year.
• Determine in conjunction with the management team minimum par stock levels of materials, supplies and equipment; guide the housekeeping team in maintaining these levels, applying effective rotation and minimising wastage.
• Control weekly payroll in line with the budget and business levels through effective scheduling, taking appropriate action to obtain best results and ensure that appropriate department holiday plans are maintained.
• Manage and coordinate all aspects of health and safety within the housekeeping and maintenance departments, ensuring that all guidelines, risk assessments, COSHH, safe systems of work and chemical safety are implemented and that all team members are fully trained in all aspects of health and safety.
• Ensure the deep-cleaning schedules across Chateau Denmark are implemented effectively to maintain a high level of hygiene throughout all areas, ensuring daily checklists are completed.
• Effectively manage the Knowcross system, ensuring the team is trained appropriately and uses it efficiently.
• Work closely with our maintenance teams to ensure that all work is completed in a timely manner and to Chateau Denmark standards.