PHS Job 1465, House Managing Couple, Live in, Full time, Permanent

Perfecthouseholdstaff ,
Banbury, Oxfordshire
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Job Description

PHS Job 1465 Our new clients are looking for an experienced professional House Managing Couple for their wonderful property, in beautiful Oxfordshire. The estate is a 400 acre located in the countryside, 2 miles south of Banbury in North Oxfordshire. The location is very attractive, both in its setting, and in its proximity to Cotswolds countryside, to Banbury facilities and for transport links (M40/mainline trains from Banbury). The estate is well known for its gardens which regularly open to the public and feature in many publications. The owners primarily use the property at the weekends/bank holidays with occasional other use in summer weeks. They typically arrive Friday evening and leave Sunday late afternoon. Most of the time they are alone. They have 4 adult children. 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 8-10 times a year weekend guests (2-12 at a time). 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 three other gardeners live on the estate. * The household style is informal but done to a high standard. * There are dogs (setters) and a cat to be looked after though on your days off, care will be addressed by other staff. Type: Full time, Live In, Permanent Working hours: Flexible hours Salary: Negotiable (27,000-30,000 GBP / Year Gross per one person) Holidays: 20 Days + 8 other days Driving Licence: Required Accommodation: a 1 bed apartment adjacent to the main house (currently being extended to 2 bed). Bonus: There is shared use of an estate car for work purposes. The owners also have a large chalet in Switzerland: * 7 bedrooms with a separate 1 bed staff studio on the lower floor * The principals use the chalet 5-6 times a year for long weekend or week/10 day stays including new year. They typically have family and other house guests which can mean 4-18 people staying. The housekeeper/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). Keeping in mind to 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. Job will suit experienced high calibre people. Mature, self starting and responsible, but fit and energetic. Non smoking. Culturally attuned with a friendly and approachable personality. High standards and respectful, but not standing on ceremony. Flexibility is key to this role. The job requires hard working , long hours and intensity when the principals are present but the estate is very quiet and flexible much of the time when owners or no guests are not around. The Owners are looking for a couple, one acting as housekeeper, the other as house manager/ handyman/ estate worker depending on skills and experience. Housekeeper A successful candidate will need to maintain the upkeep of the property making sure that all areas are clean and tidy, have a hands-on attitude, provide high standards of housekeeping and would be expected to be on duty at weekends when owners in residence including evenings as late as needed for dinner clearing. Days and hours otherwise are flexible so long as the job done well. The property has art and antiques, due to this we are looking for people with relevant experience. Driving is necessary to get around the countryside. Duties: * Housekeeper is responsible for day to day smooth running of the house. * All normal housekeeping elements such as bed turn downs, cleaning, tidying, laundry, fire setting, washing up etc * Shopping, flowers, household admin present, though given pattern of house usage these are often relatively light. * Supervising of maintenance jobs when needed. * Cooking (recipes provided) to a good dinner party standard (by at least one of the couple) is desirable as is baking. * Assistance with meet and greet, food prep, drinks pouring, food serving and other hospitality related efforts important. * Occasional driving for train station or airport pickups and drop offs of guests also needed. House manager/handyman/estate worker The successful candidate will need to be hands on wherever possible (eg painting, gutter clearing, simple mechanical and electrical, log cutting etc) supplemented by commissioning/supervision of contractors on an economical basis where necessary if complex or specialist skills are required. Reporting line would be to Owners overall but to Head Gardener/ Estate Manager for administrative issues and all gardens and non house related work. Duties would ideally include: * 1 Responsible for the management and maintenance of the Estates property, mechanical/electrical/plumbing/media and physical assets (main house,

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