Banbury, Oxfordshire – Live In Domestic Couple– Own Cottage pets welcome. £70 - 80K Per annum

Banbury Oxfordshire – Live In Domestic Couple  for lovely weekend residence in Oxfordshire – Own Cottage pets welcome.  £70,000 to £80,000 per annum
Family Description and Location

Our British Clients seen an experienced couple for their 400 acre estate 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 House is well known for its gardens which regularly open to the public and feature in many publications.  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.
The owners primarily use the house 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 at BG. 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 living at BG, though on your days off care will be done by the gardeners.

 
Job Description
Housekeeper

The housekeeper’s 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 (by at least one of the couple) 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/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. 

House manager/handyman/estate worker -
Duties can be adjusted to fit experience but would ideally include
 

• 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)
• Switzerland 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. 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 ( 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 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.

Candidate Requirements
 
It is essential that you have worked as a Domestic Couple in a similar role for at least 3 years with suitable references. You will both need to speak good English, both need to be experienced drivers, and be able to organise your own work and your own day.  Job will suit experienced high calibre persons. Mature , self-starting and responsible, but fit and energetic. 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.
 
Days of Work, Accommodation and Salary
 

• This is a five day a week role and as this is a weekend residence you will be working over the weekend, and you will have two consecutive days off during the week being Tuesday and Wednesday or Wednesday and Thursday.
• You will be working a 40-45 hour week but the exact hours will depend on when the Principals are in residence and whether they have guests.
• Your accommodation is a two bedroom apartment which is part of a converted stable block (pets will be considered)
• Salary will be £70,000 to £80,000 gross per annum depending on experience Salary is by negotiation and reflective of experience and capabilities. Holidays standard four weeks plus bank holidays but to be taken by arrangement flexibly ( eg many bank holidays owners would be in residence hence days to be taken at other times).

Apply Online