Job Description

Drifter is built for curious travellers, free spirits, and people who care about great spaces and great experiences. We run hostels and hybrid stays across Australia and New Zealand, alongside food and beverage venues that bring people together and give our properties their edge. The kind of places people remember, not just pass through.

We're opening our newest property in Wellington in December 2026, and we're building the entire leadership team from the ground up.

We're looking for a Housekeeping Manager to join that team and help bring the property to life. This is a rare chance to join before opening, shape how the property comes together, build your own team, and help create the culture, standards and ways of working from day one.

The opportunity

Housekeeping plays a huge role in how guests experience Drifter. Clean, welcoming spaces don't happen by accident, and neither does a great housekeeping team.

As our Housekeeping Manager, you'll lead the team responsible for guest rooms, public areas and laundry operations, making sure every space consistently meets the standards our guests expect.

You'll also be a key member of the leadership team, working closely with the General Manager and other Heads of Department to make sure the whole operation runs smoothly.

Starting in early November 2026, you'll have the opportunity to come in before opening, recruit and develop your team, and help set the standards that will shape the guest experience from day one.

What it looks like day to day:

• Leading, coaching and supporting the Housekeeping team
• Creating a positive, high-performing team culture built on pride, consistency and attention to detail
• Managing housekeeping operations across guest rooms, public areas and laundry
• Conducting room inspections and quality checks to ensure standards are consistently met
• Recruiting, onboarding and training new team members
• Building rosters that work for both the business and the team
• Managing linen, stock, amenities and departmental costs
• Monitoring productivity, room turnaround times and guest feedback
• Working closely with the Host and Maintenance teams to ensure rooms are guest-ready
• Looking for ways to improve efficiency, quality and operational performance
• Helping establish processes, standards and ways of working as part of the pre-opening journey

You'll be a good fit if...

You're a hospitality leader who takes pride in high standards and understands that great housekeeping can make or break a guest experience.

You know how to build strong teams, create accountability without micromanaging, and keep standards consistent even when things get busy.

You'll likely bring:

• Experience leading a housekeeping team within a hotel, hostel, lifestyle accommodation, tourism or experience-led hospitality environment
• Strong people leadership skills, including coaching, recruitment and performance management
• Experience managing rosters, labour and day-to-day operations
• A sharp eye for detail and a commitment to quality standards
• Confidence managing inventory, stock control and departmental budgets
• A practical, hands-on approach to problem solving
• Experience working closely with other operational teams to deliver a seamless guest experience
• The ability to build team culture while maintaining high standards and accountability

What you can expect at Drifter

You'll be part of a team that cares about doing good work without overcomplicating things. We back our people, give you space to lead, and make sure there's support where it counts.

Alongside that, you’ll have:

• Discounted stays across Drifter properties for you, your family and your travel crew
• Discounts on brands you actually use, including JB Hi-Fi, Uber Eats and more
• Access to online learning and development opportunities
• Paid birthday leave for permanent team members
• A paid volunteering day each year to support a cause that matters to you
• Enhanced parental leave
• Free counselling and wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Program
• Annual flu vaccinations covered
• Visa support available for exceptional people looking to build a long-term career with Drifter
• Opportunities to grow with the business as we continue to expand across Australia and New Zealand

Drifter is collaborative, practical and values-led. Professional but not stuffy, we're a welcoming and inclusive workplace and proudly welcome team members from all races, places, gender expressions and beliefs.

If the idea of opening a brand new property, building your own team and helping create exceptional spaces and experiences from day one sounds like your kind of challenge, we'd love to hear from you.

One last thing...

When you apply, include a cover letter and tell us a bit about yourself. What excites you about Drifter? What drew you to this role? What kind of leader are you?

We're not looking for a summary of your work history. We'll get that from your CV. Skills and experience matter, but we're also building a team of people who genuinely connect with our brand, our guests and each other. What we'd really love to understand is who you are as a person, what you value, and what you'd bring to the team.

Any questions? Email us directly at careers@thedrifter.com