Director of Housekeeping

Let’s Go LisbonOpening in 2026, The Standard, Lisbon marks our long-anticipated arrival in one of Europe’s most happening cities. Located at Palácio Santa Clara, the hotel rises above the colourful alleyways of Alfama—Lisbon’s most picturesque neighbourhood—offering front-row views of the river. Built atop the ancient College of St. Francis Xavier, which served as the Portuguese Royal Navy Hospital for over 200 years, the property is being reimagined by acclaimed architect Samuel Torres de Carvalho. His design respects the building’s heritage while looking ahead to a bold, unconventional Lisbon.Our signature blend of playful, sophisticated, and unexpected hospitality finds resonance in the cultural heart of Lisbon. Set in Fado’s holy land—a maze of staircases, patios, and hidden corners—The Standard offers a dynamic contrast that will surprise and delight.As we enter the pre-opening phase, we’re now looking for a Director of Housekeeping who will embody our ‘Anything but Standard’ ethos and help bring this remarkable property to life.Your roleThis is a pivotal senior leadership role during the pre-opening period. You will collaborate closely with our Design and Engineering teams to ensure the property is delivered on schedule, budgets are tightly managed, and the hotel launches successfully. With a large volume of guestrooms and residences, you will lead the coordination, ordering, placement, and installation of FF&E and OS&E across bedrooms and public areas ahead of opening.As a senior department head, you will be fully accountable for cost per occupied room, labour productivity, and departmental cost control, ensuring performance aligns with both pre-opening and operating budgets. You will lead the full budgeting process for rooms expenses, including linen, guest supplies, cleaning materials, and labour. Experience managing both in house and outsourced housekeeping contracts will be a strong advantage.Once open, your exceptional attention to detail and hands-on leadership presence will ensure the hotel is maintained to the highest standards at all times. You will be the guardian of our design ethos across all guest-facing areas, overseeing furniture layouts, room set-ups, and seasonal staging to ensure consistency with our brand DNA. You will ensure your teams are fully trained on design concepts and standards, with daily checks carried out across rooms, restaurants, bars, and public spaces to maintain presentation and support special activations and seasonal moments.As a natural leader, you will build, motivate, and develop a high-performing housekeeping team, remaining calm under pressure and setting the tone for excellence. This is not a ‘Standard’ Director of Housekeeping role—you’ll need energy, stamina, and personality, thriving in a fast-paced, high-volume environment while working confidently both independently and as part of the wider senior leadership team.Do you have what it takes to be our Director of Housekeeping at The Standard, Lisbon?A minimum of 3+ years’ experience as a Director of Housekeeping or Housekeeping Manager within a lifestyle hotel or large 4- or 5-star property is essential for this role.In addition, the ideal candidate will…Have pre-opening hotel experience with strong project management skills, particularly across FF&E and OS&E coordinationBring a solid understanding of the Lisbon hotel market, local regulations, and labour environmentAn eye for detail with experience of presenting and staging rooms for guest arrivalHave experience working in a large hotel environment with 150+ roomsHave successfully led and developed large housekeeping teams (both in house and contract)Be experienced in managing outsourced housekeeping contractsDemonstrate strong commercial acumen with full ownership of departmental budgeting and cost controlPossess exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneouslyBe fluent in Portuguese with strong working knowledge of EnglishHave a flexible approach to working hours during the pre-opening and opening period, including evenings and weekendsIf you think you have what it takes to be our Director of Housekeeping at The Standard, Lisbon, we’d love to hear from you.