Domestic Couple

Our Clients have a beautiful property on a 400-acre estate in the countryside, 2 miles south of Banbury, North Oxfordshire. The location is very attractive, both in its setting, and its proximity to the Cotswolds countryside. It’s also easily accessible to Banbury facilities and transport links (M40/mainline trains from Banbury).

The large manor house includes 9 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, a separate outdoor pool, pool house, tennis court etc. The head Gardener/Estate Manager and one other Gardener live on the estate.

This is the family’s weekend property, where they typically come to stay on weekends/bank holidays with occasional other use during summer weeks. They arrive Friday and leave Monday. The majority of the time it is the two Principals of the property, 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 times a year weekend guests (2-12 at a time). The household style is informal but presented to a high standard.

There are dogs (setters) that are to be a part of the role in caring for them, though on your days off care will be done by the Gardeners.

The owners are looking for a Domestic couple, one acting as Housekeeper, the other as a part-time Handyman/Gardener/Estate worker. The Housekeeper’s job is a full-time, high standard, hands-on job. Housekeepers are expected to be on duty at weekends when the owners are in residence, including evenings (as late as needed) for clearing dinner. Days and hours otherwise are flexible so long as the job is done well. The Housekeeper will be responsible for the daily smooth running of the household.

Duties outlined but not limited to:

• Hands on housekeeping elements
• Laundry
• Fire setting
• Shopping/running errands
• Flowers
• Household admin present
• Though given pattern of house usage these are often relatively light.
• Care of household art and antiques.
• Supervising of maintenance jobs when needed. 
• Cooking (following recipes provided) to a good dinner party standard (by at least one of the members of the couple) is desirable, as is baking.
• Assistance with food prep, drink pouring, food serving and other hospitality related efforts are important.
• Driving is necessary as the house is in the country.
• Occasional driving for train station or airport pickups and drop offs of guests also needed. 
• 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 (e.g. 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)
• Support the 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. It’s hard to tell how much time free for this. It may be ad hoc or may be taking responsibility for entire areas like irrigation, mowing of paths and deer fencing in arboretum. 
• Expect duties to be hands-on wherever possible (e.g. 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 etc. 
• Reporting line would be to owners overall but to Head Gardener/ Estate Manager for administrative issues and all gardens and non-house related work. 

Expect all staff to work together well and very much as a team, helping each other where possible.

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. No language skills needed. 

Job will suit experienced high calibre persons. Mature, self-starting and responsible, but fit and energetic. Prefer no resident children. Non-smoking. Fluent English speaking and culturally attuned. Friendly and approachable personality. High standards and respectful, but not standing on ceremony. Flexible. A good member of estate team with other staff members. 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.

Hours: full-time Housekeeper, part-time Handyman/Gardener/Estate Worker

Accommodation: is a 2-bed apartment in the stable block adjacent to the main house. There is shared use of an estate car for work purposes. 

Salary: is negotiable and reflective of experience and capabilities. £65,000 – £80,000

Holidays: standard four weeks plus bank holidays but to be taken by arrangement flexibly ( e.g. many bank holidays owners would be in residence hence days to be taken at other times).

REF: S&W#2486308