Head of Housekeeping & Laundry Excellence

Sonesta International Hotels; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan with Company-Ma

Paid Vacation and Sick Days

Sonesta Hotel Discounts

Job summary

Sonesta International Hotels in Chicago seeks a Housekeeping Director to lead all housekeeping and laundry operations, elevate cleanliness standards, and collaborate with Front Office, Engineering, and hotel leadership to consistently exceed guest expectations.

This role requires strong leadership, budgeting, vendor management, and a proven track record in hotel operations, with flexibility for mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive housekeeping or hospitality leadership experience.
• Experience as Housekeeping Director or similar leadership role in a hotel.
• Knowledge of sanitation standards and OSHA regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead housekeeping and laundry operations across guest rooms, suites, public areas, back-of-house spaces, and hotel facilities.
• Recruit, train, coach, schedule, and develop housekeeping and laundry teams to support operational excellence and guest experiences.
• Ensure hotel cleanliness, presentation, sanitation, and brand standards across all areas of the property.
• Monitor guest satisfaction, cleanliness scores, online reviews, room inspections, and service recovery opportunities to drive improvement.
• Partner with Front Office, Engineering, Operations, and hotel leadership to support seamless operations.
• Oversee room inspection programs, productivity, labor management, inventory control, linen management, and departmental budgets.
• Manage supplies, equipment, vendor relationships, purchasing, and expenses to support efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with sanitation standards, OSHA regulations, chemical handling, and safety policies.
• Support VIP arrivals, group business, special projects, deep cleaning initiatives, and renovations as needed.
• Maintain cleanliness and readiness across closets, laundry areas, storage, and staff spaces.
• Analyze KPIs, productivity, labor metrics, and performance data to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Foster a collaborative, guest-focused culture aligned with Sonesta’s People People philosophy.
• Any other duties as assigned.

Skills

Housekeeping leadership

Operations management

Budget management

Vendor relationships

Team development

Guest satisfaction focus

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Tools

Housekeeping management systems

Operational reporting tools

Job description

Sonesta International Hotels in Chicago seeks a Housekeeping Director to lead all housekeeping and laundry operations, elevate cleanliness standards, and collaborate with Front Office, Engineering, and hotel leadership to consistently exceed guest expectations.

This role requires strong leadership, budgeting, vendor management, and a proven track record in hotel operations, with flexibility for mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.