First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Worker Career

Job Description: Directly supervise and coordinate work activities of cleaning personnel in hotels, hospitals, offices, and other establishments.


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First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Worker Career

What First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers do:

  • Inspect work performed to ensure that it meets specifications and established standards.
  • Perform or assist with cleaning duties as necessary.
  • Recommend changes that could improve service and increase operational efficiency.
  • Confer with staff to resolve performance and personnel problems, and to discuss company policies.
  • Recommend or arrange for additional services, such as painting, repair work, renovations, and the replacement of furnishings and equipment.
  • Coordinate activities with other departments to ensure that services are provided in an efficient and timely manner.
  • Issue supplies and equipment to workers.
  • Instruct staff in work policies and procedures, and the use and maintenance of equipment.
  • Check and maintain equipment to ensure that it is in working order.
  • Investigate complaints about service and equipment, and take corrective action.
  • Establish and implement operational standards and procedures for the departments supervised.
  • Select the most suitable cleaning materials for different types of linens, furniture, flooring, and surfaces.
  • Forecast necessary levels of staffing and stock at different times to facilitate effective scheduling and ordering.
  • Inventory stock to ensure that supplies and equipment are available in adequate amounts.
  • Prepare reports on activity, personnel, and information, such as occupancy, hours worked, facility usage, work performed, and departmental expenses.
  • Evaluate employee performance and recommend personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, and dismissals.
  • Inspect and evaluate the physical condition of facilities to determine the type of work required.
  • Advise managers, desk clerks, or admitting personnel of rooms ready for occupancy.
  • Direct activities for stopping the spread of infections in facilities, such as hospitals.
  • Plan and prepare employee work schedules.
  • Maintain required records of work hours, budgets, payrolls, and other information.
  • Select and order or purchase new equipment, supplies, or furnishings.
  • Supervise in-house services, such as laundries, maintenance and repair, dry cleaning, or valet services.
  • Screen job applicants, and hire new employees.
  • Perform financial tasks, such as estimating costs and preparing and managing budgets.
  • Perform grounds maintenance tasks, such as removing snow and mowing the lawn.

What work activities are most important?

Importance Activities

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment - Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment - Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Holland Code Chart for a First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Worker