Abbey Housekeeper

  • Full time
  • £9,350
  • On site: Isle of Iona
  • Closing 27th November 2026


  • Advertised from 3rd November 2026
  • Residential Team allowance of £779.17 per month (£9350 p.a.); all rent, bills and food included. 3 year Fixed Term post

Role

The Iona Community is seeking an Abbey Housekeeper to lead our housekeeping team and help make Iona Abbey a clean, well-organised and welcoming home for guests, staff and volunteers.

Working as part of the Resident Team is more than a job; it is a way of life. You will live and work alongside colleagues and guests, sharing in daily tasks, worship and recreation.

Working with a Deputy Housekeeper and up to four volunteers, you will take part in all cleaning duties and ensure that the Abbey accommodation, Welcome Centre toilets and other Community properties on Iona are kept to a high standard. You will also ensure the smooth running of the Refectory and Scullery, working with the Kitchen Team.

This is also an important guest-facing role. For many guests, the housekeeping team is the most visible team at the Abbey, and you will often be the first person they turn to with a question between programme activities. The post involves early and late shifts in line with the flow of Abbey life.

We are looking for someone with:

  • A strong commitment to the ministry of hospitality and the common life, and a pastoral nature that welcomes people whoever they are
  • Experience of cleaning, ideally in a hospitality setting
  • Proven ability to supervise and support people and to lead by example
  • Well-developed organisational skills and attention to detail
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, ideally from a customer-facing environment
  • A good understanding of Health & Safety and environmental regulations
  • The ability to work well under pressure, adapt to change and take independent initiative
  • The ability to undertake a hands-on role involving some physical work and manual handling
  • A willingness to live in a residential community and cover for colleagues when necessary
  • Awareness of, and sympathy with, the Iona Community’s Christian commitment, purpose and values

Experience of managing volunteers and good computer skills, including Microsoft 365, would be welcome but are not essential.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. The post-holder must be, or become, a member of Scotland’s Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme.

Due to the nature of this post, it will not be possible to consider applicants who do not already have the right to work in the United Kingdom.

Application notes

An application pack is available below.


Downloads