Director of Housekeeping

We’re Sonesta International Hotels.
The 8th largest hotel company in the U.S.—and growing fast.

An epic blend of full-service and focused hotels in major cities, Sonesta’s uniquely diverse portfolio of owned, managed, and franchised properties makes us everywhere you want to be. Driven by the human side of hospitality, we deliver service with passion, loyalty with purpose, and experiences that truly connect.

Together We Thrive—bringing quality, value, and amazing hospitality to every guest, every stay, across 1000+ properties in eight countries and counting.

Job Description Summary

The Clift Royal Sonesta San Francisco is seeking an experienced, hands-on, and service-driven Director of Housekeeping to lead all housekeeping operations for our iconic lifestyle hotel in the heart of Union Square. This leadership role is responsible for maintaining exceptional cleanliness standards, driving operational excellence, supporting labor and budget management, and fostering a positive, engaged team culture.

The ideal candidate is a strong people leader with union environment experience, excellent attention to detail, and a passion for creating exceptional guest experiences while maintaining compliance with brand standards, safety requirements, and California labor regulations.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all Housekeeping operations, including Room Attendants, Housepersons, Laundry operations (if applicable), Public Area Attendants, and Housekeeping leadership team.
• Maintain the highest standards of cleanliness, presentation, safety, and guest satisfaction throughout guestrooms and public spaces.
• Ensure compliance with Sonesta brand standards, Forbes/service expectations, OSHA requirements, and local/state labor regulations.
• Manage labor productivity, scheduling, payroll review, staffing levels, and departmental expenses in alignment with budget goals.
• Partner closely with Front Office, Engineering, Security, and Food & Beverage teams to ensure seamless hotel operations and guest satisfaction.
• Conduct regular room inspections and quality assurance audits.
• Lead hiring, onboarding, coaching, performance management, and employee engagement initiatives within the department.
• Support labor relations administration and maintain positive working relationships within a unionized environment.
• Monitor inventory levels and oversee purchasing of housekeeping supplies, linens, uniforms, and equipment.
• Ensure compliance with workplace safety, injury prevention, chemical handling, and workers’ compensation procedures.
• Respond promptly and professionally to guest concerns and operational challenges.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, recognition, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of progressive housekeeping leadership experience in a full-service or luxury hotel environment.
• Previous experience as Director of Housekeeping or Assistant Director of Housekeeping preferred.
• Union hotel experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of housekeeping operations, labor management, payroll practices, and hotel safety standards.
• Experience managing budgets, labor forecasting, and productivity metrics.
• Excellent leadership, communication, coaching, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to work flexible schedules including weekends and holidays as operationally needed.
• Proficiency with hotel systems and Microsoft Office preferred.
• Bi-lingual skills are a plus.

Additional Job Information/Anticipated

Pay Range

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and bonus opportunity, base salary from $110,000 to $115,000 annually.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holiday pay
• Sonesta hotel discounts
• Career growth opportunities within Sonesta International Hotels

Benefits

Sonesta recognizes that benefits play a vital role in helping ensure the health and financial security of employees and their families. We offer a variety of benefits to our employees including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account with Company Match
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Paid Vacation and Sick Days
• Sonesta Hotel Discounts
• Educational Assistance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Company Paid Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Various Employee Perks and Discounts
• Hospital Indemnity
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Accident Insurance

Sonesta is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Upon submitting your application, please ensure you complete a full application in addition to attaching a resume. Incomplete applications received will not be considered.