Live-in Housekeeper Job, Banbury, Oxfordshire
We are looking for an experienced, professional and hands-on Live-in Housekeeper to join a beautiful private country estate near Banbury, Oxfordshire. This is a fantastic long-term opportunity for a self-motivated individual who enjoys working to exceptionally high standards in a prestigious yet informal household.
The property is a stunning 9-bedroom Manor House set within a 400-acre estate, renowned for its award-winning gardens and peaceful countryside setting. The principals mainly reside at the property on weekends, bank holidays and during selected periods throughout the year, with occasional entertaining for family and guests.
The successful candidate will take full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the household, working closely alongside the wider estate team, including the Estate Manager, gardeners, handyman and an additional cleaner. The role offers a varied workload, balancing quieter periods with busier times when the principals are in residence or entertaining.
An exciting aspect of this role is the opportunity to travel with the principals to their family chalet in Switzerland several times each year to provide housekeeping and hospitality support during their stays.
Housekeeper Responsibilities:
- Full housekeeping to an exceptionally high standard
- Daily cleaning and presentation of the property
- Laundry, ironing and linen management
- Bed making and evening turndown service
- Caring for fine furnishings, antiques and artwork
- Flower arranging
- Shopping and household errands
- Household administration
- Setting fires during the winter months
- Kitchen clean-up and washing up
- Supervising the weekly cleaner
- Liaising with and overseeing contractors and maintenance visits
- Preparing the house for family and guests
- Assisting with entertaining, including:
- Food preparation
- Occasional cooking using provided recipes
- Baking (desirable)
- Serving food and drinks
- Clearing after meals
- Occasional airport and railway station collections for guests
- Travelling to the family's chalet in Switzerland to assist with housekeeping, laundry, shopping, meal preparation, service and hospitality during family stays
The ideal candidate will be mature, discreet, proactive and able to work independently with minimal supervision. They will take genuine pride in maintaining a beautiful country home and enjoy providing excellent hospitality when the principals and guests are in residence.
Previous experience working within a high-end private household or country estate is essential. The successful candidate will be flexible, hardworking and capable of adapting to both busy entertaining periods and quieter times throughout the year.
Candidate Requirements:
- Extensive private household housekeeping experience
- Excellent housekeeping and laundry skills
- Experience caring for fine furnishings, antiques and artwork
- Confident assisting with hospitality and entertaining
- Occasional cooking and baking skills would be desirable
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
- Able to work independently and use initiative
- Flexible with working hours, including weekends and evenings when required
- Full UK driving licence essential
- Fluent English
- Non-smoker preferred
- Must have the right to work in the UK
- Checkable and verifiable references covering the last 5 years
Salary: Negotiable depending on experience
Schedule: Average 40 hours per week, Tuesday - Thursday. Flexibility is essential as weekend and evening work will be required when the principals are in residence. Time off in lieu will be given following busy periods and overseas travel. You may be given around 10 weekends off a year
Accommodation: Spacious self-contained two-bedroom apartment within the estate stable block, separate from the main house.Pets and partners may be considered. Shared use of an estate vehicle is provided for work purposes.
Start Date: When the right candidate is found
Vacancy Number: 167042
Responsible Consultant: Ellie Kehoe
If you wish to apply and are not registered with Greycoat Lumleys, please submit your CV to sophie@greycoatlumleys.co.uk
Please note that this is a popular role and we will only consider candidates with direct experience as outlined above, with checkable and verifiable references covering the last 5 years.
You must already have the right to work in the UK.