Head Housekeeper

We are excited to be preparing to open the doors to The Willowbury Retirement Village, our brand-new retirement community in West Malling, and we are looking for an experienced and passionate Head Housekeeper to join us on this exciting journey.

This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in shaping the housekeeping service from the very beginning. As a new site, this will initially be a hands-on role, where you will lead by example while helping to build, develop and grow your team as new residents move into the village and services scale up.

Hours

• 37.5 hours per week
• 5 days over 7
• Flexibility required to work shifts between 8am and 8pm

About the Role

As Head Housekeeper, you will play a vital role in ensuring our residents feel proud, comfortable and happy in their homes and throughout the village. You will be a strong people manager who motivates and supports the team while maintaining exceptionally high housekeeping standards.

You will oversee daily housekeeping operations, manage rotas and staffing, and ensure your team consistently delivers a high-quality service with warmth, professionalism and care.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys building teams, creating positive working cultures and making a genuine difference within a community-focused environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and support the housekeeping team, setting high standards and leading by example
• Manage staffing levels and rotas to ensure effective daily operations
• Clean and sanitise residents’ apartments, including bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas
• Maintain the cleanliness and presentation of all communal areas, including lounges, dining areas and recreational spaces
• Support laundry services, including washing, drying and folding residents’ clothing and linen
• Ensure waste and recycling are disposed of correctly
• Monitor stock levels of cleaning supplies and arrange replenishment where required
• Respond professionally and compassionately to resident and family requests
• Foster a warm, friendly and supportive atmosphere throughout the village

About You

• Previous housekeeping supervisory or management experience is essential
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and develop a team
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to high cleanliness standards
• Compassionate, respectful and resident-focused approach
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Able to work independently as well as collaboratively within a wider team
• Flexible and adaptable approach to working in a growing environment

What We Offer

In return, we offer a fantastic range of benefits including:

• Pension scheme
• Enhanced annual leave
• Birthday leave
• Employee reward schemes
• Volunteering days
• Career development opportunities
• Plus much more!