(Temporary) Housekeeping Manager

Channing House•Palo Alto, CA

24d•Onsite

About The Position

Channing House, a not-for-profit Life Plan Community in Palo Alto, is seeking a dependable, detail-oriented Housekeeping Manager for a temporary assignment of approximately 1–3 months. The manager plans, organizes, and oversees housekeeping, room set-up, and laundry functions, ensuring consistent service quality across current operations and helping plan services for renovated, expanded, and future buildings. The position contributes to a healthy and vibrant home for residents while exemplifying the organization’s values: do the right thing, be a team player, focus on quality, and adapt to change. The Housekeeping Manager establishes operating standards, oversees cleaning and laundry services, inspects work, responds to resident feedback, and identifies ways to improve service, safety, and efficiency. The manager participates in planning and transition work for construction and renovations; oversees supplies, equipment, vendors, budgets, and resident service charges; and participates in quality, safety, infection-control, and emergency-preparedness activities. The role supervises and develops staff, including recruitment, onboarding, training, work direction, performance evaluation, coaching, and corrective action. It forecasts staffing needs, adjusts schedules, and completes required administrative work. The position requires an active presence on the floor to supervise deep cleaning and specialized projects, mobility across multiple floors, and the ability to work nights, weekends, and some holidays based on operational needs. The work is generally indoors, with some outdoor supervision and occasional exposure to wet or humid conditions, mechanical parts, heights, fumes or airborne particles, and cleaning chemicals.

Requirements

Five years of related work experience.
Three years of supervisory experience.
An equivalent combination of education and experience is accepted.
High school diploma, GED, or equivalent experience.
Ability to use a computer and Microsoft Suite.
Ability to speak and comprehend English, the primary language used in the workplace.
Willingness to obtain specialized infection-control training within 90 days of employment, unless existing training or expertise can be demonstrated.
Ability to work nights, weekends, and some holidays based on Channing House and housekeeping needs.
Ability to sit at a desk and use computers and phones; stand throughout the work period; walk or otherwise move extensively; coordinate multiple limbs and hand-eye movements; reach, bend, stoop, push, and pull; and frequently lift or move up to 25 pounds.
Ability to use vision for viewing work-related processes and handling materials.
Less than 10% travel required.

Nice To Haves

Associate, bachelor's, or BS degree; a specialty in Hospitality is preferred.
Fluency in Spanish is preferred.
Ability to speak and/or comprehend other languages used by clients is a plus.

Responsibilities

Establish and implement operating standards and procedures for housekeeping, laundry, room set-up, and related services.
Ensure resident apartments are thoroughly cleaned according to schedule and common spaces and event areas are properly set up, maintained, cleaned, and restored.
Develop quality measures and inspect work to ensure established standards are met across areas and buildings.
Select suitable cleaning materials and methods for different linens, furnishings, flooring, and surfaces.
Coordinate activities with other departments to provide timely and efficient service.
Respond tactfully and promptly to resident commendations, concerns, and complaints; investigate service or equipment issues and take corrective action.
Evaluate operations, staffing, equipment, supplies, workflows, and service levels, and implement improvements to quality, resident satisfaction, consistency, safety, and efficiency.
Evaluate and implement computer tools and software for managing housekeeping and laundry services.
Participate in planning renovations, expansions, and future buildings, including service plans, staffing models, equipment needs, schedules, budgets, finishes, furnishings, storage, and laundry facilities.
Establish consistent housekeeping and laundry standards for existing and future spaces.
Oversee housekeeping aspects of renovations, expansions, and temporary arrangements, ensuring health, safety, environmental, regulatory, and infection-control compliance.
Plan and coordinate final cleaning, operational readiness, and transition of new or renovated spaces into regular service.
Oversee distribution and inventory of supplies and equipment and maintain organized, stocked storage areas.
Ensure housekeeping and laundry equipment is maintained and coordinate repairs or replacements.
Manage vendor relationships and contracts; select and order equipment, supplies, and furnishings.
Estimate costs, prepare and manage operating and capital budgets, and monitor expenditures.
Manage monthly resident charges for laundry and housekeeping services.
Participate in applicable QAPI, safety, infection-control, and emergency-preparedness committees.
Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, train, develop, retain, assign, and direct employees; evaluate performance, recognize achievement, coach staff, address concerns, and take corrective or disciplinary action as appropriate.
Train staff on cleaning standards, procedures, infection control, safety, inventory management, and proper equipment use.
Forecast staffing needs and adjust schedules for routine operations, special events, emergencies, renovations, and building openings.
Complete required forms, reports, evaluations, and studies and perform other assigned duties.
Maintain effective team relationships and communicate and listen effectively; act professionally with residents, colleagues, clients, vendors, and the public.
Provide a supportive and caring environment responsive to residents as individuals and community members; follow company policies, procedures, safety and compliance practices, and business ethics codes.