Live in Housekeeper

Our Clients have a beautiful property in a 400 acre estate in the countryside, 2 miles south of Banbury, North Oxfordshire and are looking for a Live – In Housekeeper, with excellent cooking abilities. 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 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 live on the estate

This is the family weekend property where the typically come to stay on weekends/bank holidays with occasional other use in summer weeks. They arrive Friday and leave Monday. The majority of the time it is the 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 done to a high standard.

There are dogs (setters) to be looked after at the property, though on your days off care will be done by the gardeners . The Principals are looking for a Live- in Housekeeper who will be working as Part of already fully staffed property .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.

Duties outlined but not limited to:

• The housekeepers job is a full time high standard hands on housekeepers job.
• Housekeeper 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.
• Housekeeper is 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 present, though given pattern of house usage these are often relatively light. House has art and antiques.
• Supervising of maintenance jobs when needed.
• Cooking ( to recipes provided) to a good dinner party standard is desirable as is baking
• Assistance with food prep, drinks pouring , food serving and other hospitality related efforts 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. 

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 housekeeper 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. 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.

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).

Accommodation: is a 2 bedroom on the Estate Grounds.

Salary: is to be negotiated and reflective of experience and capabilities, £45,000 plus

REF: S&W#3216794