Chief Housekeeper

Crew Life at Sea Ltd.; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Crew Life at Sea Ltd. seeks an experienced Chief Housekeeper to oversee all housekeeping operations aboard our cruise ships. The role requires leading a team, maintaining high cleanliness standards, and coordinating with other departments to ensure guest satisfaction.

The ideal candidate will have cruise-ship senior housekeeping experience, STCW certification, and strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills, with the ability to work under pressure in a multicultural environment.

Qualifications

• Senior housekeeping experience on cruise ships is required.
• STCW certificates must be available.
• Fluent English; German language is an advantage but not essential.
• Passport for international travel is required.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage all housekeeping operations onboard the cruise ship.
• Supervise, train, and motivate housekeeping staff to ensure excellent performance.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and presentation in guest cabins and public areas.
• Conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance with company standards and procedures.
• Manage housekeeping inventories, linen, cleaning supplies, and equipment.
• Prepare duty rosters, work schedules, and housekeeping reports.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, sanitation, and environmental regulations.
• Handle guest requests and resolve housekeeping-related complaints professionally.
• Coordinate with other departments to ensure smooth daily operations.
• Monitor staff performance and provide guidance and training where necessary.

Skills

Team management

Communication

Organisational abilities

Attention to detail

Fluent English

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

We are seeking an experienced, professional, and highly organised Chief Housekeeper to oversee all housekeeping operations aboard a cruise ship. The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene, presentation, and guest satisfaction while managing and supervising the housekeeping team.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage all housekeeping operations onboard the cruise ship.
• Supervise, train, and motivate housekeeping staff to ensure excellent performance.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and presentation in guest cabins and public areas.
• Conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance with company standards and procedures.
• Manage housekeeping inventories, linen, cleaning supplies, and equipment.
• Prepare duty rosters, work schedules, and housekeeping reports.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, sanitation, and environmental regulations.
• Handle guest requests and resolve housekeeping-related complaints professionally.
• Coordinate with other departments to ensure smooth daily operations.
• Monitor staff performance and provide guidance and training where necessary.

Job Requirements

• Age: Preferably 25-35 years old.
• Gender: Male or female candidates may apply.
• Nationality: Eastern European candidates will also be considered.
• Language Skills: Fluent in spoken and written English.
• German Language: An advantage but not essential.
• Experience: Previous cruise ship experience in a senior housekeeping or Chief Housekeeper position is required.
• Computer Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Certificates: Valid STCW certificates must be available.
• Travel Documents: Valid passport for international travel.
• Leadership Skills: Strong team management, communication, and organisational abilities.
• Personal Attributes: Professional, reliable, flexible, detail-oriented, and able to work under pressure in a multicultural environment.