Director of Rooms

The Drake Oak Brook, Autograph Collection

What’s in it for you…

• Insurance enrollment available from DAY 1!

• Paid time off available from DAY 1!

• Holiday pay available from DAY 1!

• 401(k) enrollment after 30 days!

• Hotel and travel discounts at worldwide destinations!

• Professional development and promotion opportunities!

About this job…

The Director of Rooms is responsible for the leadership, operational performance, and financial management of the Rooms Division at The Drake Oak Brook, including Front Office, Housekeeping, and Bell/Valet. This hands-on leader ensures a seamless guest experience from arrival through departure while maintaining exceptional service, cleanliness, and brand standards.

Tasked with cultivating a best-in-class team, the Director of Rooms leads hiring, training, development, and retention efforts. A successful Director of Rooms develops strong departmental leaders, proactively addresses guest concerns, drives measurable improvements, and promotes a welcoming and inclusive environment for all guests and associates.

What you’ll be doing…

• Lead daily Front Office, Housekeeping, and Bell/Valet operations, ensuring consistent service and accountability across departments.

• Set departmental goals and monitor guest satisfaction, room cleanliness, productivity, and financial performance.

• Oversee the guest journey, including arrival preparation, room readiness, VIP experiences, Marriott Bonvoy recognition, and departure.

• Review guest feedback, identify opportunities for improvement, and lead effective service recovery.

• Recruit, train, coach, and develop departmental leaders and associates while supporting retention and succession planning.

• Manage departmental budgets, staffing plans, labor expenses, purchasing, and inventory controls.

• Conduct regular inspections of guest rooms, public areas, and arrival spaces to maintain hotel and brand standards.

• Partner with Engineering to prioritize maintenance needs, monitor out-of-order rooms, and maintain guest room quality.

• Collaborate with Sales, Events, and other departments to coordinate group arrivals, weddings, room blocks, and special requests.

• Ensure accurate room inventory, billing practices, cash handling, and communication between departments and shifts.

• Maintain the supplies, equipment, and tools teams need to perform their work effectively.

• Lead by example, maintaining professionalism and building a culture of teamwork, inclusion, and ownership.

• Ensure compliance with hotel policies, brand standards, and applicable safety requirements.

• Know, maintain, and communicate hotel emergency procedures; assist guests and associates during emergencies.

Requirements…

Experience & Education:

• 3+ years of progressive hotel operations management experience, including leadership of Front Office and/or Housekeeping.

• Previous Rooms Division leadership experience in an upscale or full-service hotel preferred.

• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, labor productivity, guest satisfaction, and associate performance.

• Experience with Opera PMS preferred.

• Marriott or Autograph Collection experience preferred.

• Valid driver’s license.

• Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Communication:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong diplomacy, service recovery, and problem-solving abilities.

• Ability to communicate clear expectations, coach leaders, and collaborate across departments.

• Strong organizational and administrative skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office systems.

• Ability to speak, read, and write in the primary language used in the workplace.

Physical:

• Ability to stand, sit, and walk frequently throughout an eight-hour or longer workday, with reasonable accommodation as needed.

• Ability to occasionally lift, lower, push, pull, and maneuver up to 30 pounds, with reasonable accommodation as needed.

About First Hospitality…

Founded in 1985 and based in Chicago, First Hospitality is a forward-thinking hotel development, investment, and management company. First Hospitality’s strategic vision is to create value for all through excellence and an openness to doing things differently.

First Hospitality seeks to attract and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce in which employees’ differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the customers we serve. FH fosters an inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility, and fairness. Equal Opportunity Employer.