Steward ess - Head Of Housekeeping

Following Seas Recruiting -Bremen, xx, Germany

Tagged: Head of Housekeeping

Head of Housekeeping — 110m+ Luxury Yacht (4:2 Rotation) — Start April 10th -11th

Overview
We are seeking a highly experienced, professional Head of Housekeeping to lead the interior service team aboard a 110m+ luxury yacht. The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining exemplary standards of cleanliness, presentation and hospitality throughout the vessel, ensuring guest areas and crew accommodation are immaculate and operated to the highest luxury standards. This is a 4:2 rotation role starting in one month.

• Vessel: 110+ meters, luxury private/charter yacht
• Position: Head of Housekeeping (Interior Lead)
• Rotation: 4 weeks on / 2 weeks off (4:2)
• Start date: In one month
• Location: Flexible (based on yacht schedule) — must be available for international cruising
• Reporting to: Chief Steward/ess and Captain
• Accommodation: Onboard
• Compensation and benefits: Competitive yacht salary, travel, medical insurance, and other standard crew benefits (details to be discussed)

Required Qualifications & Licenses

• Minimum 5 years’ experience working in yachting at senior interior/housekeeping roles (Head of Housekeeping, Chief Steward/ess, Senior Steward/ess).
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in high-end hotels, luxury villas or comparable hospitality environments.
• Proven longevity in previous positions (minimum 2+ years in most recent role preferred).
• Relevant yachting certifications and licenses, including but not limited to:
  • STCW basic safety training (mandatory)
  • ENG1 or equivalent medical certificate (valid)
  • Proficiency in interior safety and service procedures (preferred training certificates)
  • Yacht Interior Rating/Stewardess certification or other professional interior service qualifications (preferred)
  • Food handling / hygiene certification (where applicable)
• Valid passport and right to travel internationally without restriction.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills: ability to lead, train and motivate a larger interior team to deliver consistently excellent service on a spacious vessel.
• Exceptional attention to detail: flawless presentation of numerous guest cabins, public areas, dining and entertainment spaces.
• Advanced housekeeping skills: bedding and linen management at scale, fine fabric care, silver and china polishing, stain removal, delicate textile handling, wardrobe and closet management.
• Service excellence: polished table service, tray service, turndown, butler-style guest interaction where required.
• Inventory and purchasing: stock control for larger quantities of housekeeping consumables, linen and amenities; vendor liaison and procurement experience including coordination for international provisioning.
• Scheduling and rostering: create and manage cleaning schedules, deep-clean programs, and rotation plans for an expanded team across a larger vessel footprint.
• Maintenance and quality control: ability to supervise extensive deep-clean cycles, seasonal maintenance and liaise with technical teams for interior maintenance and refit work.
• IT literacy: competency with crew management or housekeeping software, inventory systems and spreadsheets.
• Discretion and professionalism: confidentiality, tasteful guest interaction and polished demeanor at all times.
• Flexibility and resilience: comfortable working long hours during guest periods, large event turnarounds and adapting to changing itineraries.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the interior/housekeeping department for a 110m yacht; recruit, onboard and develop interior staff as required.
• Establish, implement and enforce the highest standards of cleanliness and presentation across all guest and crew areas.
• Oversee daily cabin service, turn-down, laundry coordination and wardrobe care to five-star standards for an expanded guest complement.
• Manage inventory, ordering and cost control for all interior supplies, linens, amenities and cleaning products; build and maintain supplier relationships for international provisioning.
• Plan and execute periodic deep-cleans, seasonal maintenance, refit preparations and post-charter turnovers for larger-scale spaces.
• Implement and maintain comprehensive housekeeping routines, checklists and rigorous quality-control inspections.
• Coordinate closely with Chief Steward/ess, Chef, Bosun and technical department on guest operations, provisioning, maintenance and event support.
• Maintain accurate records: inventories, maintenance logs, service reports and notices; provide regular reports to senior management.
• Ensure compliance with safety, hygiene and maritime regulations onboard.
• Deliver discreet, anticipatory guest service when required, and represent the interior department professionally.
• Foster a positive crew culture with emphasis on retention, training and long-term development.

Personal Attributes

• Impeccable grooming, professional presentation and a calm, confident bedside manner.
• High level of integrity, discretion and respect for guest privacy.
• Proactive, highly organized and able to manage multiple projects and team rotas for a large vessel.
• Commitment to longevity: candidate should demonstrate a track record of multi-year tenures in prior roles.

Application Requirements
Please provide:

• CV highlighting yachting and luxury hotel experience with dates and roles.
• Copies of all relevant certifications (STCW, ENG1, interior qualifications, food hygiene).
• References from at least two recent employers (one must be from most recent yachting position).
• Confirmation of availability to start in one month and willingness to work 4:2 rotation.