We are seeking an experienced and personable houseman to join the established household team at an exceptional private house and beautiful estate in North Wales.
The property is a substantial Grade II listed private residence, which is occupied by the family about half the time. It lies at the heart of a renowned garden (separately owned by the National Trust), attracting about 300,000 visitors p.a., with visitors coming to just below the top terrace on which the house sits. The house is not open to the public. It and the garden lie at the heart of a substantial privately owned Estate, with an established Estate management team
Security of the house and its contents is the principal duty of the houseman. The role requires the successful candidate to live in a spacious, attractive 2-bedroom flat in the house, in order to provide a security presence. This is a part-time, but varied and hands-on, role, requiring someone who can provide live-in security cover, with various duties checking on security and maintenance, supporting the wider household team with the practical day today running and presentation of the property.
The day to day working environment is not overly formal. The household team is friendly, hardworking and enjoys a relaxed atmosphere with plenty of good humour.
Security duties
These will include, non-exhaustively:
· Opening and closing blinds and curtains, for security / privacy and the protection of contents from sunlight.
· Locking and alarming the house at night.
· Locking manually the gates on one of the 3 drives (the other two drives have automatic gates)
· Monitoring the house for any maintenance or security issues, such as leaks, attempts to break in, etc.
· Boundary and external checks of the house, to check for any issues
· Monitoring and dealing with services and status of: CCTV, lights and burglar and fire alarm systems.
Caretaker duties
These will include, non-exhaustively:
· turning on the hot water and heating (as instructed) in the main parts of the house in advance of the family’s arrival and turning off after departure.
· checking the level of oil in the oil tank and reporting any need for a refill to the Estate Office.
· assisting with household duties and working collaboratively with the housekeeping team
· some garden / grounds maintenance work ie sweeping of leaves etc, in the immediate vicinity of the house (top terrace, log store areas, inner courtyard, stable yard, estate office courtyard, bin store).
· Conservatory, sweeping and watering, feeding the fish daily in warmer seasons, cleaning of the pond filter.
· occasional looking after the two friendly dogs of the family for periods of a week or two – a love of dogs is essential.
· Overseeing annual chimney-sweeping, maintenance of log burners and window cleaning twice a year, both in conjunction with the Estate Office.
Other duties
These will include, non-exhaustively:
· working closely with the Estate Manager and other members of the household team
· occasional driving duties, e.g. collecting family or guests from the station (12 minutes’ drive) in one of the estate vehicles. Rarely also from Manchester or Liverpool airports.
· carrying out general houseman duties and practical tasks around the property, daily recycling from within the house to the bin store, weekly take the bins up to the top drive exit for collection.
· assisting with moving furniture, deliveries, luggage and household items as required
· supporting external contractors and deliveries when requested
· assist with entertaining, only a few times a year, when there are weekend parties
Attributes
The successful candidate will:
· have security experience (ideally security-trained) and be used to environments where security is of utmost importance and be highly observant
· be able to show longevity in previous roles, with full references and contactable referees
· be professional, discreet and hardworking, with a flexible approach and a genuine willingness to get involved wherever required
· be willing to “go the extra mile” to make sure that the house is secure and safe when the family are away
· be self-aware and a conscientious team-player, a self-starter who sees change as a challenge not a
· be a friendly discreet individual who will become a valuable member of the estate team
· have a clean driving licence
· a valid DBS certificate or willingness to obtain one
· references form previous employment and contactable referees
About you
The successful candidate will have previous experience in a butler, houseman or household service role. Retired police officers ex Forces are welcome.
You will be confident providing high standards of service but, importantly, will also be happy to take a hands- on approach. This is a team environment where everyone works together, so the role would suit someone who is practical, adaptable and comfortable turning their hand to a variety of tasks.
- Professional, discreet and trustworthy
- Warm, personable and confident around guests and family
- Comfortable adapting between a relaxed day-to-day environment and more formal service when required
- Practical and willing to get involved
- A strong team player with a good sense of humour
- Flexible around the needs of the household and guests
- Calm and organised during busy periods
- Comfortable working within a private household environment
- DBS certificate essential or willingness to obtain one
A full UK driving licence is essential, both due to the rural location of the estate and the requirement to undertake occasional driving duties as part of the role.
The role is contracted at 14 hours per week. Some weekend work will be required on a rota basis when guests are in residence, with flexibility expected around busy periods.
In return, the successful candidate will join a friendly and established household team within a spectacular North Wales estate.
Accommodation
A first floor staff flat is provided, with its own entrance and inter-connecting door to the main house. It was restored a few years ago, and comprises:
· entrance hall (with access from Estate Office courtyard), with stairs up to
· a large open plan living area
· a fully fitted kitchen
· 2 double bedrooms
· bathroom with bath, WC, basin and a separate shower cubicle
Council tax is paid, but the employee will be responsible for payment of costs of sub-metered oil and electricity and internet.
A partner would be very welcome, as would a well-behaved dog.
5 days per week with some weekends, flexible approach to change
15-20 hours per week – 3 or 4 hours per day.
Benefits
These include:
· pension
· access to NT garden
· long-term employment in a very beautiful location
· paid leave
Pay: £18.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
