Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti is seeking a Director of Housekeeping to lead housekeeping, laundry, linen, uniforms, guest room readiness, quality assurance, team development, safety, sustainability, and financial performance at its luxury lodge in the Serengeti.
Responsibilities
- Oversee daily operations covering guest rooms, suites, villas, public areas, laundry, linen, and uniforms.
- Ensure all rooms are cleaned, inspected, and ready according to Four Seasons standards and guest arrival schedules.
- Maintain accurate room status updates and coordinate closely with Front Office.
- Conduct daily inspections focusing on cleanliness, room condition, presentation, and functionality.
- Ensure timely turndown service, particularly when guests are on game drives or attending other activities.
- Maintain inventory and availability of amenities, linen, cleaning materials, and guest supplies.
- Ensure housekeeping equipment is maintained in safe and effective working condition.
- Develop cleaning and preventive maintenance routines suited to the Serengeti environment.
- Coordinate with Engineering and approved pest-control providers on preventive measures.
- Ensure cleaning practices respect wildlife protection and environmental requirements.
- Ensure employee safety through training, protective equipment, and wildlife safety protocols.
- Lead the Housekeeping team through visible, hands-on, and supportive leadership.
- Conduct daily briefings covering guest priorities, operational challenges, and service expectations.
- Develop supervisors and managers through coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback.
- Ensure employees receive consistent training on Four Seasons standards and guest service excellence.
- Conduct performance evaluations and on-the-job training, including benchmark standard testing.
- Drive anticipatory, intuitive, and personalized service.
- Handle service recovery cases promptly and deliver appropriate resolutions in line with luxury service standards.
- Ensure efficient laundry operations supporting guest rooms, Food and Beverage, Spa, and employee uniforms.
- Maintain linen cleanliness, quality, presentation, par levels, replacement requirements, and inventory controls.
- Implement sustainable laundry practices to reduce water, energy, and chemical consumption.
- Attend corporate calls and implement new initiatives efficiently and effectively.
- Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and financial reports for the Housekeeping operation.
- Monitor revenue, expenses, operational performance, supplies, equipment, and departmental financial performance.
- Plan purchasing and stock levels considering the lodge’s remote location and supply lead times.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising guest experience or employee safety.
- Build strong relationships with Rooms Division and other departments to deliver curated guest experiences.
Requirements
- Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in luxury hotel housekeeping
- At least 3–5 years in a senior housekeeping leadership role
- Experience in luxury resorts, safari lodges, or remote hospitality operations is highly desirable
- Strong knowledge of housekeeping standards, hygiene practices, laundry operations, and quality assurance
- Proven ability to manage and develop multicultural teams
- Strong financial management, budgeting, and inventory control skills
- Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving abilities
- Ability to work effectively in a remote environment with demanding operational requirements
- Luxury housekeeping operations
- Laundry and linen management
- Team leadership
- Budgeting and inventory control
- Guest service recovery
