Live-in Grounds Person/Caretaker, East Devon
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Grounds Person/Caretaker for our clients in East Devon. The estate has formal gardens made up of lawns including fine turf, box hedging, formal beds, herbaceous borders, topiary, a walled garden, glasshouse, rose gardens, a pond, stream and a small lake. It also has a poly tunnel for growing seedlings, vegetables and fruit. The property features a main house and 2 cottages and has both smart technology in combination with antique fixtures and fittings.
Duties:
Working with the Gardener to maintain and develop the main gardens: lawns, borders, rose garden, vegetable gardens, green house, fruit cage, polytunnel and woodland gardens
Assisting with the cultivation of fruit and vegetables; harvesting produce and preparing it for use in the house
Assisting with the cleaning and care of garden tools and machinery; keeping the gardeners yard and stores clean and tidy; care for the parkland, games field, lake and pond, and fields.
Assistance with cleaning (regular sweeping and seasonal jet washing) and maintenance of steps, paths around house, patios and terraces; regular cleaning of outdoor sports areas (pool, tennis court, cricket net, pavilion); cleaning, maintenance and upkeep of leisure facilities and equipment (hot tub, tree house, caravan, boats etc); cleaning outdoor furniture, putting out cushions and umbrellas, opening pool ready for use and shutting up afterwards, assisting the housekeeper to keep changing areas clean and tidy; clearing leaves from the tennis court; stocking tennis pavilion fridge; helping set up for outdoor meals; setting up barbecue etc.
Daily unlocking and locking up of the grounds and estate buildings; organising rubbish and recycling; collecting and distributing post; being on call
Animal care: responsibility for the chickens; dog walking and sole charge of family dogs when family are away.
Assistance in the house: clearing and laying fires, bringing in wood; occasional help with general housekeeping if the housekeeper is away or when house is very busy e.g. laying tables, clearing up, helping the chef etc.
Support to the rest of the outdoor team where appropriate
Responsible for liaising with outdoor contractors, where necessary
Responsibility for the estate duty phone 24/7
The ideal candidate will:
Demonstrate enthusiasm and drive to produce the very best results possible, while working harmoniously as part of an established team and have a keen eye for detail. The successful candidate will present themselves as a helpful and patient individual, who will take direction and be flexible where necessary.
Have previous experience working as a Grounds Person for a private family
Experience of working in formal gardens as well as larger estates.
Full driver’s licence
Be hard-working, reliable, flexible and self-motivated
DBS check required at offer stage
Accommodation: 1 bed en-suite room with shared kitchenette with both rent and bills paid for by the estate (groceries not included) No pets or dependents will be considered
Salary: up to £35,000 gross per annum DoE + discretionary bonus (based on performance)
Working Days & hours: 5 days per week Friday to Tuesday (Wednesday and Thursday off) – 45 hours per week
Start Date: ASAP
Job Ref: 114988
Consultant responsible: Bianca De Freitas