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Housekeeper

Department: Housing and Residences Effective Date: April 2011
Grade:

USG 2

35 hr/wk		 Reports to: Coordinator, Cleaning Services

General Accountability

The Housekeeper is accountable to one of two Co-ordinators, Cleaning Services within the Department’s traditional-style residences and is responsible for the provision of outstanding cleaning services in the University of Waterloo’s Residences. The incumbent is responsible for providing cleaning services in accordance with the Department’s standards of cleanliness, applied consistently and with a goal to ensure a living and working environment which is safe and provides for students’ success.

Nature and Scope

Also reporting to the two Co-ordinators, Cleaning Services, Traditional-Style are 14 Residence Attendants and 24 Housekeepers. At peak times, contract cleaning staff are hired to assist in high-demand scenarios. As frontline staff, it is essential for Housekeepers to work collaboratively and to develop and maintain positive working relationships with departmental and contract cleaning staff.

The Department of Housing and Residences accommodates over 12,000 residence students annually in 7 residential communities. These communities occupy 28% of total building space on campus and offer a variety of accommodation and amenities in both traditional-style and suite-style.

Students living in residence vary greatly in terms of age, maturity and student type. The nature of this diverse clientele requires a variety of start and end dates to their occupancy. Furthermore, occupancy levels and building closures vary from term to term, as affected by demand and academic streaming. These factors necessitate a clear and thoughtful approach to cleaning schedules and practices in all residence facilities during the academic year, particularly at the end of each academic term.

The incumbent is required to work independently with routine duties and must also effectively work in a team to assist with common tasks and special assignments. The incumbent is expected to interact in a professional and courteous manner.

The Housekeeper is a frontline position requiring the incumbent to work in a student residential environment. As such, various accommodations are often required in order to provide excellent service. For example:

All tasks are to be performed as scheduled or prioritized in accordance with the Department’s standards of cleanliness and service.  Each residence offers many unique features and accountabilities.  Therefore, duties and assigned locations between residences may change depending on priorities.

Statistical Data

Number of beds cleaned over 3 academic terms:       7,291

Cleaning Services budget                                           $4.0 million

Cleaning Services staff                                               59 FTE

Contracted cleaning services                                      $300,000

Specific Accountabilities

Working Conditions