Head Housekeeper
Position: Full-time, seasonal (June 1 - October 15), non-exempt
Salary & Benefits: Starting at $24.00-26.00 per hour based on skills & experience, plus participation in the Staff Appreciation Fund bonus program. Includes free lodging & meals at Great Camp Sagamore if desired; paid sick leave; participation in Sagamore’s SIMPLE retirement plan after 1 season.
About Great Camp Sagamore
Great Camp Sagamore is a 17-acre National Historic Landmark and is one of the first of the nationally renowned Adirondack “Great Camps,” located in one of the most remote areas of the Adirondack Park. Today, Great Camp Sagamore is owned, preserved, and operated by Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks (SIA). We are an educational, private, non-profit institution dedicated to stewarding Great Camp Sagamore as a welcoming place for educational and recreational programs and fostering connections to history, nature, and community.
Sagamore welcomes guests from late May through late October and on two separate days during the winter. Guests come from around the world to take tours, participate in overnight and day experiences, attend conferences, get married, host family reunions, and enjoy concerts.
Working at Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks
SIA employs a core group of year-round staff members and additional seasonal staff to support our on-campus programs and activities. During the season, most staff members live on campus with meals provided. We maintain a collaborative work environment where all staff members are expected to lead by example, work closely together positively, and foster a safe, encouraging, and enjoyable workplace.
The Institute is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment that empowers all staff members to grow and be active within decision-making spaces. We are committed to ensuring an anti-racist culture and a work environment free from discrimination and harassment. SIA does not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender expression, sexual identity, sexual orientation, race, class, color, age, ethnicity, first language, religion or belief, family, marital, parental, military, or veteran status. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, discipline, termination, compensation, benefits, training, and professional development.
At Great Camp Sagamore, all employees help to facilitate camp offerings. In addition to one’s job-specific duties, other tasks may be assigned, as needed, to support camp operations for the employee’s department or other camp departments.
Position Description
People come to Great Camp Sagamore for overnight and day educational programs and for historic tours. Most of our guests are adults. Our Housekeeping team is responsible for ensuring the cleanliness and appearance of our camp for both our daily tour guests and overnight guests. On the team are the Head Housekeeper, Assistant to the Head, and two to three additional Housekeepers.
Great Camp Sagamore has 36 guest rooms across 6 buildings for a total of 72 beds, 19 guest bathrooms, and 7 public bathrooms used by overnight and tour guests. Guests stay for between 2 and 5 nights. The Housekeeping team is also responsible for 6 common spaces at camp.
Housekeepers do not clean guest rooms during their stay, but some guest bathrooms are shared by 2 or more parties, and these restrooms get touched up 1x per day.
Great Camp Sagamore is seeking a hardworking and organized person to lead our Housekeeping team as a hands-on leader by
- managing inventory of bedding, towels, and cleaning supplies;
- scheduling and supervising the Assistant to the Head Housekeeper and 2-3 additional Housekeepers;
- ensuring preparations for room turnovers;
- overseeing and helping with room turnovers;
- overseeing and helping with daily rounds of public restroom and common space cleaning; and by
- ensuring laundry is ready for pick-up and sorted after delivery. Great Camp Sagamore uses an outside laundry service but also has washers for periodic in-house laundering.
- While the housekeeping team is not responsible for cleaning staff housing areas, the Head Housekeeper will create cleaning schedules and assignments, and monitor the cleanliness of common areas of staff housing.
The standard work schedule is eight hours per day, five days per week. Employees will have two days off per week to pursue their own interests and enjoy the Adirondacks. Staff who choose to live on campus do so free of charge. All staff are welcome to eat all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) in the Dining Hall. All staff also have free use of all recreational activities including kayaks and canoes.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift and carry 20lbs
- Ability to walk up and down 2 flights of stairs
- Ability to traverse gravel roads/paths and uneven terrain at least ½ mile per day
Additional Perks
When off duty, staff have access to the camp’s facilities and amenities, including the Boat House canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, and access to the 12 miles of foot trails adjacent to the property. Staff receive a discount in the Gift Shop, and staff members’ friends and extended family members may enjoy tours, meals, and overnight accommodations at reduced costs.
How to apply
- Submit an application form via our website: www.sagamore.org/employment
- The hiring team will review your application and contact you to let you know whether you will be moving forward in the process.
- Advancing applicants will be invited to participate in the interview process, including phone and/or virtual interviews.
- Selected candidates will be sent an offer letter and new-hire information.
