Team lead, cleaning.
Run a route, raise the standard. Lead a two-person crew, train new hires, and own quality across your day — with the checklist as the contract.
What you'd do
You would run one of our residential routes: a two-person crew, a day of 3-4 homes, and the checklist standard that every Otesse clean is measured against. You clean alongside your crewmate — this is a working lead, not a clipboard job.
You are also the first call when something needs judgment on site: a scope question, a customer concern, a new hire finding their feet. Most escalations end with you, not above you.
Leads are how we grow. Every new cleaner spends their first weeks paired with a lead. How you train is as important as how you clean.
The day-to-day
- Run the route own the day: arrival windows, job order, supplies, and the hand-off notes that keep recurring homes consistent.
- Hold the standard walk the punch list before you leave every home — the checklist is the contract with the customer.
- Train new hires pair with new cleaners during their first 60 days and sign off on their checklist quality.
- Handle on-site escalations scope questions, access problems, and customer concerns — resolve what you can, flag what you cannot.
- Coordinate with dispatch on timing changes, add-on requests, and anything that affects the day after yours.
- Document and report completed checklists, photos, and quality notes in the crew app.
Requirements
Required
- 2+ years of professional cleaning experience, residential preferred
- Experience training, mentoring, or leading at least one other person
- Valid driver license and reliable transportation
- Ability to pass a national background check
- Physical ability to lift 40 lbs, stand for 6+ hours, and climb stairs or step stools
- Working English; bilingual English-Spanish strongly preferred for training
Nice to have, not required
- Prior lead, supervisor, or trainer title in cleaning or hospitality
- Move-out and deep-clean expertise
- Conflict-resolution or customer-service background
The full package
- Pay: $28-34/hr to start, reviewed at 90 days, 1 year, then annually. Lead pay reflects lead responsibility.
- Health, dental, vision with Otesse paying 80% of premium after 60 days. Spouse and dependent coverage available.
- 401(k) with 4% match after 90 days. Vested immediately, with Roth or traditional options.
- 10 days PTO year one 15 days year two, 20 days year three, plus separate Oregon sick time.
- 7 paid holidays including the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
- Mileage reimbursed at the federal rate when using your own vehicle.
- Two paid weeks of onboarding so you get paid to learn the system before independent route work.
- Annual training budget for certifications like carpet care, hazmat, or restoration when you want to grow.
- No weekend requirement with optional Saturday shifts at premium pay and rare Sundays paid higher.
Common questions
Is this a working lead or a supervisor?
Working. You clean every day alongside your crewmate. The lead part is the standard you hold and the people you train.
Who do I escalate to?
Operations. But most days end without needing to — leads have real authority on site.
How is lead performance measured?
Checklist quality, customer ratings on your route, and how your trainees perform after sign-off.
Can I move up from here?
Yes — market and operations roles come from the lead bench as we open new areas.
What does the hiring process look like?
Application, phone screen, paid working interview, then offer. For leads, the working interview includes running a route with a senior crew.
15 minutes - we respond to every applicant within 5 business days
Fifteen minutes to apply.
No cover letter, no login. We respond to every applicant within five business days, then it is a phone screen and a paid working interview.
Apply for this role