What Does A Housekeeping Supervisor Do? Skills And Salary

Updated 6 March 2023

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Housekeeping supervisors play an essential role in supervising commercial and private facilities' cleaning and sanitisation process. If you have an interest in working in the housekeeping department and want to supervise the work of other professionals, it might be the right career choice for you. Understanding more about this role can help you determine if the job role aligns with your professional needs and interests. In this article, we answer “What does a housekeeping supervisor do?”, explore their salaries, understand how to become a supervisor and read about the job description of the housekeeping supervisor.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.

What does a housekeeping supervisor do?

The answer to the question “What does a housekeeping supervisor do?” depends upon the work these professionals perform. A housekeeping supervisor is responsible for supervising the work activities of the housekeeping department in hotels, restaurants, clubs, offices and commercial buildings. A part of their workday involves assigning duties to all the housekeeping professionals. Some other duties of a housekeeping supervisor are:

ensure that the housecleaning meets the prescribed standards of cleanliness
organise a replacement of housing keeping staff when someone is absent
provide training to housekeeping staff members
plan and schedule cleaning programs
ensure timely ordering of inventory, supplies and equipment
screen housekeeping applicants and recommend dismissals, promotions and transfers
motivate team members to resolve issues as they occur in the workplace
ensure compliance with sanitisation and safety policies in all areas
assist with housekeeping duties like cleaning floors, restrooms, resident rooms and kitchens of various facilities
make recommendations to improve their service and ensure efficient operations of the housing keeping department
select and purchase new furniture and fittings
issues supplies and equipment to employees
record data regarding personnel action and work assignment and prepare periodic reports

Benefits of becoming a housekeeping supervisor

Some benefits of becoming a housekeeping supervisor are:

The job allows you to work part time.
The job allows you to work with large organisations, hotels and facilities.
The job ensures the availability of various job roles across different sectors.
The role does not require any higher qualification or post-graduation.
The role allows you to progress in your career progressively.

How to become a housekeeping supervisor

To become a housekeeping supervisor, follow these steps:

1. Complete your education

While you do not require formal education to become a housekeeping supervisor, most employers prefer candidates who have completed a diploma or bachelor's degree in hospitality management and related areas. Some common courses include a Bachelor of Science in hospitality in hotel administration. Completing your education helps you become a supervisor who can work in facilities, hotels, restaurants and other commercial buildings. With this background, you can start working as a housekeeping supervisor, then earn promotions to different management roles.

2. Gain entry-level experience

Before you work as a supervisor in the housekeeping department, you might get hired for entry-level positions in the housekeeping department. Gaining some entry-level experience can help you understand more about this job role. Reviewing the job posting can help you identify the skills and qualifications an employer is seeking.

3. Develop on-the-job training

Most employers provide on-the-job training skills. As the cleanliness and maintenance of every facility or commercial building are different, it is essential to develop skills during the training program. A comprehensive on-the-job training program ensures that a housekeeping supervisor follows the checklist and standard protocols for maintaining cleanliness. Often, employers may offer formal training as an onboarding lesson. Companies provide formal training as an onboarding lesson to learn more about the job duties.

Average salary of a housekeeping supervisor

The national average salary of a housekeeping supervisor is ₹18,095 per month. Their salaries may depend on several factors, such as employers, level of expertise and location. For instance, the average salary of a housekeeping supervisor in Gurgaon is ₹18,750 per month, whereas the average salary in Noida is ₹18,500 per month. These supervisors can accept overtime hours during busy seasons by supervising additional facilities. Apart from earning their salary and perks, a housekeeping supervisor often earns tips.

Work environment of a housekeeping supervisor

The work environment of a housekeeping supervisor depends on their area of employment. These supervisors can work part-time or full-time schedules. Supervisors who work in offices and commercial facilities usually work only during weekdays. A housekeeping supervisor job can also be physically demanding because they inspect the complete area and help housekeeping employees to complete their work-related duties.

Often, these professionals stand for long hours to complete their duties. These professionals wear gloves and other protective clothing to protect themselves from chemical cleaners. These professionals may spend a part of their workday moving across different areas of the hotel or commercial buildings.

Skills of a housekeeping supervisor

A housekeeping supervisor requires many skills to excel in their job role. Some skills of a housekeeping supervisor are:

Physical stamina

Housekeepers require physical stamina and strength because they supervise the other housekeeping staff. To become a housekeeping supervisor, start performing regular physical exercises appropriate for you. Exercising trains your muscles and blood flow in your body. As their typical day involves walking from one place to another or standing for long hours, employers prefer candidates with a base level of fitness.

Attention to details

A housekeeping supervisor pays attention to the smallest details to complete their job duties. You can develop your attention to detail by taking time throughout your day to ensure personal tasks complete without errors. Doing this consistently can help you form a natural habit and ensure the workplace remains clean.

Flexibility

Often, employers expect a housekeeper to work different hours based on the client's requirement. A housekeeping supervisor may work in different shifts based on the requirement. Some housekeeping supervisors may work early in the morning or overnight. Being flexible helps a supervisor be available for more jobs and earn a higher salary.

Communication skills

A housekeeping supervisor regularly communicates with clients, colleagues and other housekeeping staff to ensure a facility follows an accurate level of cleanliness and sanitisation standards. Employers expect a supervisor to have excellent communication skills without overlooking the required components of maintaining hygiene and cleanliness. Lack of communication skills can cause partial or wrong information delivery to the housekeeping staff.

Time management

To ensure timely completion of work, supervisors delegate roles and prioritise tasks. In a housekeeping supervisory role, these professionals manage many housekeeping duties to get everything done on schedule. Working efficiently and analysing how much time a housekeeping job takes can help these supervisors complete their job-specific duties. Also, employers prefer conscientious candidates about coming to work on time and staying up to date until the completion of work.

Conflict resolution

When managing a team of housekeeping employees, conflicts may occur. In such a situation, it is the responsibility of a housekeeping supervisor to find solutions to disagreements. The ability to ensure both conflicting parties compromise with each other is desirable for this role. Also, during tense situations, it is essential for a housekeeping supervisor to remain calm and help them understand the other person's perspective.

Willingness to learn

Regardless of the years of experience, there is an opportunity to learn in a housekeeping supervisor role. An effective supervisor is someone willing to learn and develop their skills. When you learn something new about housekeeping, you can pass your newfound knowledge to other housekeeping staff members. By sharing your willingness to learn, you encourage your team members to look for learning opportunities.

Tips for becoming a successful housekeeping supervisor

Follow these tips to become a successful housekeeping supervisor:

Undergo training: Many programs offer housekeeping coaching and training classes. Getting enrolled in such a programme can help you become a supervisor.
Familiarise yourself with cleaning equipment: Having a working knowledge of vacuum cleaners, mops, laundry supplies and other machinery can help you excel in your job role. Also, when you know how to use different equipment, you can train the housekeeping team.
Communicate with clients: Knowing what a client expects of your housekeeping services can result in a rewarding career. Communicating with your clients regularly ensures that clients are happy with the cleanliness.
Apply for the right job: After creating your resume, focus on finding the right job that suits your requirement. Applying to entry-level or senior-level jobs helps you advance in your career.