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New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
Applications close:
This is a hands-on leadership role, leading a team of approximately 12–16 Room Attendants and Housepersons/Public Area Cleaners.
The Head Housekeeper is a key member of the leadership team and reports directly to the General Manager, with a relief supervisor supporting the department on rostered days off.
You will be a visible and active leader on the floor, providing direction, support, and supervision, while also stepping in to assist with cleaning tasks when and where required.
- Early morning starts from 5:00am, 5 days per week
- Housekeeping room operations supervised primarily between 9:00am and 2:00pm
- Flexibility to work occasional weekends and public holidays in line with operational requirements
- Flexibility required to manage late departures (including airline crew rooms) through effective rostering and organisation
Overview
What This Role Is Really About:
This role is not just about maintaining high cleaning standards - it is about leading people effectively to consistently deliver those standards, in line with Accor and Novotel brand expectations.
You will take ownership of not only leading the team, but also building and strengthening it through effective recruitment and development.
You will play a key role in ensuring:
- Consistent delivery of high standards
- A structured, aligned, and accountable team
- A positive and professional team environment
- Protection of the guest experience and hotel reputation
Requirements
What We Are Looking For:
- Proven experience in a housekeeping leadership role within a hotel environment
- Strong people leadership skills with the ability to guide, support, and develop a team
- Confidence to have direct conversations and address issues early
- A proactive and accountable leadership style
- Experience in recruitment and onboarding
- Ability to build trust and foster a positive team culture
- Strong understanding of hotel brand standards
- High attention to detail and pride in maintaining quality
- Strong organisational and problem-solving skills
- Ability to lead by example in a fast-paced, hands-on environment
- Strong sense of accountability and ownership
- Physically capable of supporting operational requirements
Systems & Management Experience:
- Strong computer literacy, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook)
- Experience with SharePoint or similar document management systems
- Experience using a Property Management System (PMS) such as Opera
- Experience with rostering and labour management systems
- Experience with inventory management and supplier ordering
- Ability to interpret operational reports and use data to drive improvements
- Experience managing SOPs and maintaining documentation
- Understanding of health and safety systems, including incident reporting and risk management
What Success Looks Like:
- Clear and consistent communication across the team
- A well-structured, stable, and supported team environment
- Strong cross-department relationships
- High standards consistently achieved and maintained
- Full alignment with Accor and Novotel brand standards
- A positive and professional team culture
- Issues identified and addressed early and constructively
What we can offer you
Who we are
Novotel New Plymouth Taranaki is a 4.5-star hotel offering modern rooms, on-site dining, and convenient access to the city, airport, and Taranaki’s top attractions for both business and leisure travellers.
Applications will be reviewed as received - early applications are encouraged.
For any further information about the role, please contact Mariska Botha - bsm@novotelnewplymouth.com
Please note: Applicants must have legal working rights in New Zealand. We are not currently offering sponsorship under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme.
