Live in Couple Job in Oxfordshire
A fantastic opportunity to work for a returning client of Greycoats. The property is on a 400 acre estate in North Oxfordshire. The house is a large Manor House, 9 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms. Separate outdoor pool, pool house, tennis court etc. The head gardener/ estate manager and one other gardener also live on the estate. They have 3 dogs (Setters), who live at the property permanently.
The owners primarily use the property at weekends/bank holidays with occasional other use in summer weeks. They typically arrive Friday and leave Monday. Most of the time they are alone but their 4 adult children will visit occasionally. Though there is no set pattern, on average once, and max twice, a month they may have lunch or dinner parties (6-18 people) and maybe 8 times a year weekend guests (2-12 at a time). The household style is informal but done to a high standard. The owners also have a large chalet in Switzerland (8 bedrooms with a separate 1 bed staff studio on the lower floor) which they use 5-6 times in winter for long weekend or week/10 day stays including new year and 2-4 weeks in summer. They typically have family and other house guests which can mean 4-18 people staying. The Couple would travel out a day or two ahead of these visits to prepare the chalet, look after the party during residence ( cleaning/ laundry/ tidying/ shopping/assistance with meal prep/cooking/serving and washing up in the evenings) and stay a day or two later to clean up and close up. These are probably the busiest and longest days involved in the job. Time off would be given in lieu for days off missed during these trips.
Housekeeper duties:
Responsible for day to day smooth running of the house
All normal housekeeping elements, bed turn downs, cleaning, tidying, laundry, fire setting, washing up, shopping, flowers, household admin
Care of antiques and artwork
Supervising contractors
Cooking ( to recipes provided) to a good dinner party standard (by at least one of the couple) is desirable as is baking (cooking is only required when the principals are hosting).
Assistance with food prep, drinks pouring, food serving
Occasional driving for train station or airport pickups and drop offs of guests also needed.
House manager/handyman/estate worker duties
Responsible for the management and maintenance of the Estates property, mechanical/electrical/plumbing/media and physical assets (main house, stable block and outbuildings, pool house, swimming pool, tennis court, gates and security cameras and systems) as well as owners London residence.
Housekeeper assistance as needed (eg heavy items like furniture moving, light bulb replacements if high, log restocking in house)
Entertaining support of housekeeper - assistance in kitchen and serving at dinner parties and other entertainment events. Potentially cooking duties for some dinner/ lunch parties.
Cars/driving - valeting owners car, occasional driving (airport/train station etc)
Pet care duties shared with housekeeper (and other garden staff on your days off)
Chalet support with housekeeper, including picking guests up at airport by car
Responsible for lawn, garden/herb area and patios around house.
Garden/Estate/Arboretum duties if time allows
Duties as part of garden team as needed, may include assistance on open days, estate maintenance (machinery, equipment, fencing, irrigation) , vegetable and fruit cultivation , mowing etc
The ideal Couple would be mature, proactive, responsible, energetic, flexible and hardworking. You must be good teams players. The job requires hard working, long hours and intensity when hospitality being given, and very quiet and flexible much of the time when owners not around or no guests.
Start: Flexible for the right couple
Accommodation: 2 bedroom apartment in the stable block adjacent to the main house. There is shared use of an estate car for work purposes. Bills included. Pets will be considered.
Working days and hours: 5 days week to include weekends when the principles are in residence. 40 hours a week on average with longer hours required when the principals are in residence and hosting
Salary: £80,000 GPA, negotiable depending on experience
Drivers: ideally both
Consultant: Georgia Lester
Vacancy number: 153605