Careers at Virginia Tech

The Grove is the residence of the university President and serves as an event venue where the President hosts VIPs and special guests. The Executive Housekeeper for The Grove serves a critical role in the guest experience, general oversight of daily operations, and ensuring the upkeep of the facility. In addition to meticulously maintaining the cleanliness and day to day upkeep of The Grove, the Executive Housekeeper plays a critical role in the preparation for events to provide guests with a positive, memorable experience and performs necessary post event clean-up activities. In carrying out these responsibilities, the Executive Housekeeper serves as a visible representative of the university. As such, the incumbent must always demonstrate an exceedingly professional demeanor with the utmost decorum and maintain the highest degree of confidentiality to ensure all guests have a positive impression of the university.

The current housekeeper at The Grove is retiring in February 2025. The qualified candidate will have an opportunity to shadow and work with the current housekeeper for several months before their retirement.

If you would like assistance with the application process, please contact Brandon Epperley at epperley@vt.edu.

Responsibilities:
- Maintain the highest quality of cleanliness and orderliness for the interior and exterior of The Grove while performing numerous housekeeping and laundry tasks, and by maintaining detailed, accurate inventories and checklists. This includes a basement work space, common work areas, three guest bedrooms, and related interior spaces, as well as exterior porches and sidewalks.
- Provide a welcoming and hospitable environment at The Grove for all residents and guests of The Grove to ensure their experience there leaves a positive impression of the university as a whole.
- Supervise the work of housekeepers who are assigned by Facilities to perform specific tasks at The Grove.
- Report potential and required repairs and maintenance issues to the Senior Director for resolution.
- Schedule appropriate and needed maintenance work and repairs when requested by the Senior Director.
- Ensure that appropriate pest control maintenance is conducted regularly.
- Care for and maintain appearance of dinnerware via regular polishing and provide guidance to student workers to assist with related tasks.
-Provide assistance with and guidance, including training when appropriate, to the GA/student workers on event preparation and clean-up activities for events held at The Grove. This includes but is not limited to the following: cleaning outside spaces, furniture preparation, preparing table settings, vacuuming, window cleaning, polishing of silverware, prepping floral arrangements, post cleaning of all linens and towels, dusting, breaking down and putting back items used during the events.
- May occasionally supervise students for event-based tasks and seasonal tasks as needed.
- Monitor supplies for The Grove related to house maintenance and cleaning following university procedures and procure as needed.
-Maintain positive relationships with external vendors necessary for upkeep of The Grove as well as for event decorating when needed.
-Assist and interact with guests at The Grove in a courteous and helpful manner including answering the front door as needed, and on extremely rare occasions, assisting with refreshment service or back-of-house event tasks when necessary.
- If applicable, with preference to do so, independently manage the cutting garden at The Grove and perform all necessary upkeep including, but not limited to, planting, maintenance, spraying, and pruning flowers.

- Demonstrated ability to interact professionally and graciously with visitors including, but not limited to: governmental officials, legislators, foreign dignitaries, major donors and other VIPs, as well as parents, students, faculty, staff, and the general public.
- Experience keeping strict confidentiality in all matters.
- Must be 100% trustworthy and dependable.
- Excellent communication skills, including proper grammar and word usage.
- Demonstrated experience performing general housekeeping/laundry tasks.
- Working knowledge of cleaning methods and equipment necessary to perform those methods.
- Ability to interpret instructions and complete assignments independently or as part of a team.
- Ability to function as a member of a team.
- Experience of safely and efficiently operating electrically powered and manual cleaning equipment.
- Experience working at a higher education institution or comparable environment in a housekeeping or cleaning operations environment.

- Extensive experience working at Virginia Tech in a housekeeper or related role.
- Experience working in a team environment and effectively directing the work of others.
- Familiarity with working with flowers and floral arrangements in a home garden or other setting.

2

Regular

October 4, 2024

Please note: Cover letter and resume not required, but preferred. If cover letter and resume are not submitted, please provide full detail of work experience within application.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance.  These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.