Head Housekeeper

Peterhouse is the oldest College in Cambridge (founded in 1284) and is among the smallest (currently 291 undergraduates; 176 postgraduates; 43 Fellows).

The Head Housekeeper, reporting to the Domestic Services Manager (and Senior Bursar), will have day-to-day management responsibility for Peterhouse’s housekeeping function.  The post-holder will be expected to implement College policy in relation to all housekeeping matters, and operate relevant College systems and processes.

The post-holder will line manage the Assistant Housekeeper, the Domestic Supervisors, Senior Janitor and act as the ultimate departmental line manager for the Domestic Assistants and Janitors.  The post-holder will be responsible for ensuring that the College’s accommodation stock is presented to a high standard of cleanliness and decorative order.  The post-holder will be hands-on and pro-active in their approach by visiting key work areas around the College on a daily basis, and, where appropriate, will be prepared to provide practical support to individual Domestic Supervisors or Domestic Assistants, especially in situations where there is absence and/or a requirement to cover a role.  The post-holder will also support staff training to ensure knowledge, expertise, and high standards are maintained. The post-holder will have a commitment to supporting student welfare.

You will have extensive management/ supervisory experience in a front-line customer-service environment, and possess well-developed and effective management skills to support, develop and lead the team to deliver high standards. You will have excellent interpersonal relations and experience of recruiting, appraising and carrying out day-to-day line management of staff, together with a working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, database and email applications. You will have a “hands-on” style, be able to build and motivate a team, with a willingness to lead by example and assist the team with day-to-day practical tasks where appropriate. You will possess good communication skills, both orally and via email, and an ability to deal confidently with a diverse range of people

You will enjoy:

• The holiday entitlement is 25 days plus 8 bank and public holidays (pro-rata for the period of the fixed term contract).
• A car parking space may be available, subject to capacity.
• The College offers an auto-enrolled pension scheme to eligible employees, after 3 months’ completed service. The scheme is the Cambridge Colleges Group Personal Pension Scheme (CCGPPS) with Aviva.
• Lunch is provided free of charge when on duty over lunchtime and when the College kitchens are open.
• The College offers a medical cashback scheme to staff.

The closing date for applications is 8.00am 24^th April 2023.

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