A head housekeeper runs a team of housekeeping staff in a private home or estate.
Where a housekeeper does the cleaning themselves, a head housekeeper is responsible for the standard the team works to. They train, schedule, and quality-check, and still do the most sensitive cleaning themselves.
The role is for households with two housekeepers or more on the team. Families don’t always use the title that way, though. Only 49% of the head housekeeper jobs we’ve advertised since 2022 mentioned running or training other staff.
If you’re hiring for a single-housekeeper household, you want a housekeeper, not a head housekeeper. You can find out more about what to look for when you hire a housekeeper on our main housekeeper recruitment page.
Head housekeeper job description template
Copy this and fill in the parts in [brackets]. We built it from the lines that come up most often in the head housekeeper job ads we’ve written since 2022, most common first.
Job title
- Head housekeeper [or executive housekeeper, the usual title in the US]
About the household
A private family is looking for a head housekeeper for their [size] [home / estate] in [city].
The head housekeeper will [run a team of (number) housekeepers / work on their own as the senior housekeeper] and report to [the family / the house manager].
Duties and responsibilities
- Keeping every room to a very high standard, with daily, weekly and deep-cleaning schedules
- Laundry, ironing and wardrobe care, including fine fabrics
- Keeping stock of cleaning supplies, linens and household goods
- Spotting maintenance and repair needs and reporting them to [the family / the house manager]
- Running errands and household shopping
- Booking and overseeing suppliers and contractors [window cleaners, maintenance, specialist cleaners]
- [Cooking simple meals / helping with meal service]
- [Training, scheduling and supervising (number) housekeepers]
- Preparing the house for guests, events and the family’s arrivals
- Care of [art, antiques, delicate surfaces and fabrics]
- [Pet care: number and type of pets]
What the household is looking for
- Complete discretion and confidentiality
- At least [3 to 5] years as a head or senior housekeeper in a private home [or a five-star hotel]
- [Experience leading a team of (number)]
- [A valid driver’s license]
- Knowledge of fabric care and the right products for fine materials
- References from previous private employers
- [Languages]
Work conditions
- [Full-time / part-time], [permanent / seasonal]
- [Live-in, with details of the accommodation / live-out]
- [Days and hours], [travel between homes, if any]
- Salary: [yearly range]. Not sure what to offer? See what head housekeepers earn.
- [Benefits: health insurance, paid time off]
Source: Morgan & Mallet head housekeeper job ads, June 2022 to May 2026 (US, UK, Europe, Middle East). How we count
Example of a head housekeeper job description
These are two real job descriptions we wrote and advertised for families we recruit for. We’ve taken out anything that could identify them and tidied a few words.
Example 1: an executive housekeeper running a team of two in Dallas, Texas (October 2025).
The family called the role executive housekeeper. That’s common in the US, 53% of our job ads in the US for this role used that title.
About the household
We are seeking an experienced and discreet executive housekeeper to join our client’s household team in Dallas.
The executive housekeeper will be in charge of training and supervising two full-time housekeepers to ensure the proper maintenance and organization of the 10,000 sq ft estate.
The successful candidate will have a sharp eye for detail, with plenty of experience working in UHNW homes or luxury hotels.
Duties and responsibilities
- Oversee daily cleanliness and presentation of all areas within the residence
- Lead, train, and supervise a team of two housekeepers, setting cleaning schedules and quality standards
- Manage laundry and wardrobe care, including handling of fine linens, couture garments, and delicate fabrics
- Develop and implement deep-cleaning and maintenance schedules for all rooms and furnishings
- Maintain a comprehensive housekeeping manual and inventory log
- Ensure pet care standards are met for two friendly dogs, including cleaning related areas and coordinating vet or grooming appointments when necessary
- Support meal service and light table settings during family dinners or small gatherings
- Conduct regular inspections to ensure every detail aligns with the principal’s preferences
- Supervise property operations during the family’s travel periods, coordinating with security and other staff
- Uphold complete confidentiality, discretion, and professionalism at all times
What the household is looking for
- Minimum 5 years of experience in an executive housekeeper or head housekeeper role within a private residence or luxury hotel
- Proven ability to lead and train a small team
- Excellent knowledge of cleaning techniques, fabric care, and household organization
- Professional presentation, excellent communication, and a service-minded attitude
- High attention to detail, time management, and discretion
- Must be eligible to work in the United States and based near Dallas, Texas
- Strong references from previous private employers
- Pet-friendly and adaptable to the household’s rhythm
Work conditions
- Full-time, permanent, live-out
- Monday to Friday, approximately 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with flexibility during events or family travel periods
- Competitive salary based on experience and background, with a comprehensive benefits package
Example 2: a live-in head housekeeper for a second home in Provence, France (December 2024).
Here the head housekeeper works alone for most of the year and leads a small team only when the family is staying.
About the household
Our UHNW clients are looking for a versatile and experienced live-in head housekeeper to keep the interior of their second home in Provence to very high standards, whether the owners are there or not.
Extra staff join during the owners’ longer stays, and a caretaker is on site all year. The family’s dogs come with them when they stay.
Duties and responsibilities
- Keep all interior spaces clean, including the furniture and artwork
- Make sure the house is always ready for the family’s visits
- Work alone, or lead a very small team during the owners’ holidays and stays
- Care for the household and family linen to the highest standards
- Prepare bedrooms, reception rooms and service areas before, during and after visits
- Keep inventories of household linen and accurate records of expenses
- Do deep cleaning in the quieter winter months
- Write and keep up a housekeeping manual and a maintenance schedule
- Send the owners a written report every month and keep in touch with their office
- Work with the caretaker on maintenance, repairs, security and access, and with the head gardener on flowers
- Oversee contractors working inside the house, together with the caretaker
- Prepare and serve family meals when needed
What the household is looking for
- At least 3 to 5 years of experience in a similar role
- High standards and real attention to detail
- Very autonomous, with strong organizational skills
- Honest and reliable, with complete discretion
- Knowledge of cooking
- Fluent French and English (German is a plus)
- A valid driver’s license
Work conditions
- Permanent, full-time, 35 hours a week
- Flexible hours when the owners are staying
- Live-in: a two-bedroom apartment on the property, suitable for a single person or a couple
- Salary depending on experience
How is a head housekeeper different from other roles?
Morgan Richez, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet, says, “The head housekeeper gets initiative. If she needs a product, she’ll buy two, so when she finishes one she’s got one ready to go.
“She doesn’t wait for the order. It’s all about rotation, organisation, and anticipating. That’s what makes a head housekeeper.”
The cleaning skills obviously come with the normal housekeeper role, but the initiative, the anticipation, and the ability to run a team of two or three other housekeepers are where the head housekeeper is important.
When you’re writing the brief, mention those skills as much as the cleaning skills. Head housekeeper placements that fail usually do because of that, not because of the technical side of things.
Looking for a head housekeeper?
If you’re hiring for this role, two things are more important than anything else in the brief, how many staff the head housekeeper will manage, and who they report to.
Those two details are more important for this role than property size, salary, or location.
Morgan & Mallet places head housekeepers in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Paris, Geneva, and Dubai.
To talk through a brief or start a search, get in touch with one of our offices or call us on +1 (646) 965-2308 to talk to a recruitment consultant.
You can also hire a housekeeper in the UK with us.
Looking for a position as a head housekeeper? Browse current jobs available on the Morgan & Mallet job board.