Senior Housekeeping Supervisor

About the role

As Housekeeping Supervisor at Southwark Hotel & Apartments, you will play an important part in the day-to-day running of the housekeeping department. You'll work closely with management to ensure rooms are presented to an excellent standard while maintaining a positive, productive and supportive working environment. This is a key leadership position within the hotel requiring someone who can balance high housekeeping standards with effective people management, support the team during busy periods and ensure guests consistently enjoy clean, comfortable and beautifully presented accommodation. You will be hands-on, rolling up your sleeves to clean rooms when required and leading from the front.

Key responsibilities

• Supervising, motivating and supporting the housekeeping team throughout their shifts
• Allocating daily workloads and coordinating room cleaning to meet operational requirements and guest check-in times
• Conducting thorough room inspections and ensuring consistently high standards of cleanliness and presentation
• Working alongside the team and cleaning rooms yourself whenever required
• Training, mentoring and developing both new and existing housekeeping staff
• Monitoring staff performance, providing constructive feedback and addressing issues professionally
• Managing daily housekeeping operations, including stock levels, linen, maintenance reporting and communication with reception
• Using housekeeping apps and hotel systems to monitor room status, allocate tasks and maintain accurate records
• Managing unexpected challenges, staff shortages and busy periods while maintaining a calm and positive approach
• Identifying opportunities to improve housekeeping procedures, productivity and efficiency

About you

Essential requirements

We're looking for someone who brings both strong operational skills and genuine leadership qualities to the role.

• Previous hotel housekeeping experience is essential, ideally in a supervisory or management position.
• Proven people management experience, with the ability to lead, motivate and develop a diverse team.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high standards.
• A supportive, empathetic and approachable leadership style. You understand that looking after your team is just as important as looking after our guests.
• A strong work ethic, honesty, reliability and a willingness to lead by example.
• Competence and confidence using housekeeping apps, computers and hotel technology.
• Excellent written and spoken English, with strong communication skills.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands.
• The ability to remain calm, professional and solution-focused under pressure.
• Good physical fitness and the ability to undertake the physical demands of housekeeping, including cleaning rooms when required.
• Flexibility to work weekends and public holidays as part of the roster.

The kind of person we're looking for

This is a busy department, and no two days are the same. Some days you'll be coordinating the team, inspecting rooms and training staff. Other days you'll be helping clean rooms, resolving unexpected issues and ensuring everything is ready for arriving guests.

We want someone who takes ownership of their department, notices the little things that others might miss and takes pride in a job well done.

Just as importantly, we want someone who treats their colleagues with kindness and respect. You'll need to be confident having difficult conversations when necessary, but also patient, understanding and willing to help your team succeed.

There is no room for a "that's not my job" attitude here. We work together, support each other and do whatever is needed to deliver an excellent guest experience.

What we offer

• An important leadership role within an independently owned Christchurch hotel.
• A varied and hands-on position where you can make a genuine difference.
• A supportive management team that values initiative, teamwork and open communication.
• The opportunity to help develop our housekeeping team and continually improve our standards and procedures.
• A busy, dynamic working environment where your contribution will be recognised and appreciated.

How to apply

If you're an experienced hotel housekeeping professional who enjoys leading people, thrives in a busy environment and isn't afraid of hard work, we'd love to hear from you.

Please apply with your CV and a cover letter outlining your hotel housekeeping and people management experience.

Previous hotel experience and people management experience are essential.

Southwark Hotel & Apartments Christchurch, New Zealand