Laundry Manager

Location: Ozubulu, Anambra

Department: Housekeeping / Laundry Operations

Reports To: Executive Housekeeper / General Manager

Job Summary

• The Laundry Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the hotel's laundry department, ensuring the efficient washing, drying, ironing, pressing, folding, and delivery of guest laundry, hotel linen, uniforms, towels, and other fabric items.
• The role involves supervising laundry staff, maintaining quality standards, controlling operating costs, managing laundry supplies, ensuring proper equipment maintenance, and enforcing hygiene and safety procedures.

Key Responsibilities

Laundry Operations Management:

• Supervise all daily laundry activities, including sorting, washing, drying, ironing, pressing, folding, and distribution.
• Ensure the timely processing of guest laundry, hotel linen, towels, uniforms, and other fabric items.
• Establish work schedules and procedures to ensure efficient workflow.
• Ensure that laundry items are handled according to their fabric types, colors, care instructions, and washing requirements.
• Monitor the quality of finished laundry to ensure cleanliness, freshness, proper pressing, and presentation.
• Coordinate laundry services with the Housekeeping, Front Office, Food and Beverage, and other hotel departments.

Staff Management and Supervision:

• Supervise laundry attendants, washers, ironers, pressers, and other assigned staff.
• Prepare duty rosters and allocate responsibilities according to operational needs.
• Train employees on proper washing techniques, stain removal, equipment use, hygiene, and safety.
• Monitor staff attendance, punctuality, productivity, and professional conduct.
• Ensure that employees comply with hotel policies and departmental procedures.
• Identify training needs and recommend staff development initiatives.

Quality Control and Fabric Care:

• Ensure that all laundry items meet the hotel's cleanliness and presentation standards.
• Inspect items for stains, damage, missing buttons, tears, and other defects before and after processing.
• Apply appropriate stain-removal techniques without damaging fabrics.
• Ensure correct washing temperatures, chemical dosages, and machine settings.
• Separate heavily soiled items and handle contaminated linen in accordance with approved infection-control procedures.
• Report damaged or unserviceable linen and garments to management.
• Ensure guest laundry is properly identified, tracked, and returned to the correct guest within the agreed timeframe.

Linen and Inventory Management:

• Monitor the movement of bed sheets, pillowcases, towels, tablecloths, uniforms, and other hotel linen.
• Maintain accurate records of linen received, processed, issued, damaged, and discarded.
• Conduct regular linen counts and report shortages or discrepancies.
• Monitor laundry detergents, disinfectants, fabric softeners, stain removers, and other consumables.
• Prepare requisitions for supplies and coordinate with the Storekeeper and Procurement Department.
• Minimize linen losses, chemical wastage, and unnecessary replacement costs.
• Ensure that clean linen is stored separately from dirty or contaminated items.

Equipment and Maintenance:

• Ensure the proper operation of washing machines, dryers, steam irons, pressing machines, and other laundry equipment.
• Conduct routine equipment inspections and report faults promptly.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance and authorized repairs with the Maintenance Department.
• Ensure that equipment is operated according to manufacturer instructions and safety procedures.
• Monitor water and electricity consumption and recommend measures to improve efficiency.
• Ensure that faulty or unsafe equipment is not used until it has been inspected and repaired.

Health, Safety, and Hygiene:

• Enforce proper hygiene and sanitation standards throughout the laundry department.
• Ensure that staff use appropriate personal protective equipment when handling laundry chemicals and contaminated items.
• Ensure that detergents and other chemicals are properly labelled, stored, and handled.
• Maintain adequate ventilation and safe working conditions.
• Ensure that dirty and clean laundry follow separate handling and storage procedures.
• Prevent slips, falls, chemical exposure, and other workplace hazards.
• Ensure compliance with the hotel's health, safety, and environmental procedures.

Cost Control and Budget Management:

• Monitor expenditure on laundry chemicals, water, electricity, equipment maintenance, and linen replacement.
• Implement measures to reduce unnecessary washing cycles, chemical wastage, and energy consumption.
• Ensure efficient use of laundry equipment and staff working hours.
• Monitor laundry productivity and identify opportunities for operational improvement.
• Recommend cost-effective laundry procedures without compromising quality.
• Report unusual expenses, equipment failures, and operational challenges to management.

Guest Service and Interdepartmental Coordination:

• Ensure prompt and professional handling of guest laundry requests.
• Resolve complaints relating to delayed delivery, damaged clothing, stains, or missing items.
• Maintain accurate records of guest laundry received and returned.
• Coordinate with Housekeeping to ensure adequate clean linen is available for guest rooms.
• Support banquet, restaurant, and other departments with timely processing of table linen and uniforms.
• Escalate serious complaints and service failures to the appropriate manager.

Reporting and Administration:

• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly laundry operation reports.
• Maintain records of laundry volumes, linen movements, chemical consumption, equipment downtime, and staff productivity.
• Report damaged, missing, or condemned linen for management review.
• Maintain proper documentation of guest laundry transactions and departmental requests.
• Recommend improvements in service delivery, workflow, equipment utilization, and cost control.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The Laundry Manager's performance will be assessed based on:

• Timely processing and delivery of guest laundry and hotel linen.
• Quality and cleanliness of processed laundry.
• Reduction in lost, damaged, and unserviceable linen.
• Effective control of laundry chemicals and operating expenses.
• Staff productivity and adherence to work schedules.
• Equipment availability and preventive maintenance.
• Compliance with hygiene, health, and safety standards.
• Accuracy of linen inventory and operational records.
• Guest satisfaction and complaint resolution.
• Efficient use of water, electricity, and other resources.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A minimum of an OND or HND in Hospitality Management, Hotel Management, Textile Care, or a related field with 3 - 5 years of relevant experience in laundry operations, preferably in a hotel or large hospitality establishment.
• Professional training or certification in laundry operations, housekeeping, or hospitality management will be an added advantage.
• Previous experience supervising laundry attendants and other operational staff.
• Good knowledge of fabric care, stain removal, washing techniques, ironing, and garment handling.
• Knowledge of laundry chemicals, equipment operation, and workplace safety procedures.
• Strong organizational, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage inventory, control costs, and maintain accurate records.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Laundry operations and fabric care management.
• Staff supervision and team leadership.
• Quality control and attention to detail.
• Linen inventory and stock management.
• Cost control and resource management.
• Knowledge of laundry chemicals and equipment.
• Health, safety, and hygiene management.
• Customer service and complaint resolution.
• Communication and organizational skills.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Basic computer literacy and report writing.

Working Conditions:

• The Laundry Manager will work primarily within the hotel's laundry department. The role may require standing for extended periods, supervising equipment operations, and working weekends, public holidays, or extended hours during periods of high occupancy and special events