Chief Housekeeper

Overall responsibility of delivering high quality, efficient, individualized and technically excellent butler and cleaning services in guest suites, public areas and back of house in accordance with Company Policies, strictly upholding any Public Health standards and towards a goal of achieving total guest satisfaction.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides guests and crew with the highest quality butler and cleaning services by managing and overseeing the entire Housekeeping operation.
• Visits and constantly walks all areas of the vessel to verify their smooth running, acting on and following up any issues found to ensure that standards are not affected.
• Proactively interacts with all guests in order to identify their expectations and needs fulfilling them promptly.
• Ensures in collaboration and practices good people management, maintaining proper conduct with all departments around the ship.
• Ensures that all guest requests, enquiries and complaints are responded to immediately and are followed up on efficiently and to the guests satisfaction.
• Regularly monitors customer satisfaction and ensures personal responsibility and accountability. Reviews all mid cruise and end of cruise comment cards and acts accordingly.
• Checks all VIP status and big suites on embarkation and ensures that all in-suite procedures are executed. Carries out random checks on all other suites on embarkation.
• Supervises and ensures that an equitable In Port Manning schedule for the Housekeeping team is maintained and displayed in an area accessible to all team members.
• Ensures confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
• Practices good administrative housekeeping for all employee records (i.e. training attendance sheets, test results, verbal counsels, resting hours). Inducts, trains, coaches and leads crew to consistently deliver superior levels of performance.
• Prepares cruise reports, identifying and suggesting ways to improve guest service and satisfaction and ensures the maintenance of the complaint log and operational costs.
• Follows Public Health requirements, maintains logs, company product and service standards and procedures, ensuring the Silversea product and service standards and procedures are in place and maintained.
• Liaises with the HR Manager with regards to personnel issues, so they can be effectively dealt with, aiming to continuously improve the service offered.
• Maintains a consistent and fair corrective action system and demonstrates a high and consistent level of organization and management.
• Carries out turnaround crew meetings to ensure that all necessary information is properly communicated to all concerned.
• Carries out regular inspections on the conditions of equipment, checking the maintenance log on a regular basis, following up on items still pending until closed.
• Full cooperation to assign crew for loading duties, luggage embarkation and disembarkation.
• Adheres to Public Health and Company cleaning and maintenance standards and ensures that the entire Housekeeping team is properly trained on Public Health standards, retaining training records as standard.
• Ensures the readiness for any announced or unannounced Public Health inspection, whether it’s completed internally or by external authorities.
• Demonstrates a high and consistent level of organization and management.
• Ensures that the Integrated Pest Management plan is in place and followed in all Housekeeping areas as per Silversea policy and procedures.
• Responsible to ensure that the highest level of food and beverage services is provided in the suites by the butlers.
• Oversees and ensures an efficient and outstanding laundry service.
• Supervises the flower decoration in the guest suites and public areas of the ship.
• Strictly follows the Outbreak Response regulations and ensures that the entire Housekeeping team follow your instructions.
• Ensures that new employees are properly inducted to the team and the new work environment and receives all necessary training in a timely manner.
• Communicates standards of performance to employees and trains employees effectively on them.
• Oversees all administrative aspects of the department.
• Fully implements the performance review, cross and promotional training system and complies with the process.
• Strives to create and maintain a positive work environment. Successfully leading subordinates into productive working methods by setting an example and utilizing all available tools.
• Mentors the Butler Manager, utilizing effective delegation and preparing him/her for taking over the Chief Housekeeper responsibilities if necessary.
• Keeps self and team members aware of costs, budgets and monitoring procedures. Maintains an accurate inventory of consumable and durable items in all Housekeeping areas.
• Supervises and ensures that regular inventory spot checks are carried out in all Housekeeping areas.
• Controls the cost of China, silver, glass and consumable items by training and supervising the Housekeeping team to minimize breakage, loss and damage of equipment.
• Takes the necessary steps in order to maintain maximum cost control.
• Maximises revenue and minimises operating expenses without negatively affecting the product delivered to the guests and crew.
• Participates in budget preparation as required by the Hotel Director.
• Supervises and approves requisitions for consumables according to activity projections, accurately maintains PAR stocks onboard the vessels and adhering to Periodic replacement of durables.
• Prepares cost productive orders for consumable and non-consumable items according to order schedule.
• Controls and approves Housekeeping and Butler overtime and working hours.
• Proactively responds to issues or potential problems quickly and efficiently involving relevant people as required.
• Communicates any challenges, complaints or service difficulties to immediate supervisor.
• Keeps the Hotel Director promptly and fully informed of all problems and matters of significance.
• Displays a thorough knowledge of the ships daily activities to be able to advise the guests.
• Practices preventative maintenance.
• Incorporates Company service standards, personalized service and sincere hospitality by creating positive experiences for guests, efficiently engaging with guests and anticipating guest needs.
• Leads, trains and develops subordinates ensuring effective reviews, feedback, coaching and performance management.
• Observes and enforces uniform and grooming standards according to Company policies.
• All other duties as assigned.

Safety Duties:

• Participates in crew and passenger safety drills according to instructions.
• Always complies with the Company’s safety and pollution prevention regulations and operating procedures.
• Participates in all mandatory training.
• Leads by example by taking care of Health and Safety of self and others.
• Ensures that all work equipment, personal protective equipment, chemicals and safety devices are being used correctly.
• Delivers training, guidance and supervision on how to use and maintain them.
• Implements and supports all Silversea initiatives and programs as requested by the corporate office.
• Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Valid STCW95 certification.
• Previous Housekeeper Managerial or Butler Manager experience in a 5-star establishment, hotel or cruise ship for a minimum of 2 years.
• Proven experience of budget and financial management within a hospitality environment.
• Excellent knowledge of cleaning standards.
• Knowledge and experience of Public Health policies and procedures.