We are assisting a HNW family based in Oxfordshire with the recruitment of an experienced, organised and highly professional Estate/House Manager to manage the daily running of their large country residence. A busy family home, the principals frequently entertain and host business meetings on-site, therefore the successful candidate must have exceptional people skills and great confidence in a front of house, client-facing role, able to meet and greet guests, ensuring that all their needs are met.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the home and be hands-on across the management of the whole property, including managing household staff and doing daily checks of the property to ensure high standards are maintained at all times. Responsible for managing and implementing the daily, weekly, and monthly schedules for all staff, to include housekeepers, laundress and chef, as well as any seasonal staff. You will also be responsible for the recruitment of household staff with input from the Chief of Staff and family, carrying out performance reviews for the domestic team, managing and logging staff holidays, sickness, working hours and lieu days.

Further duties will include purchasing goods for the household, liaising with suppliers and service providers and keeping an eye on any areas of the estate that require maintenance or repairs, arranging with the relevant contractors and service providers to have the matters tended to. The ideal candidate will be assertive, dynamic and proactive, providing a strong link between the principals and staff, working alongside PA’s and other staff to ensure the smooth running of the property.

This is a live-in position, with accommodation provided in a separate 1-bedroom apartment on-site with all utilities included. Core working hours will be 9am-6pm from Monday to Friday, with flexibility required to work longer hours or weekends when needed.

DUTIES TO INCLUDE:
• Overseeing the household domestic team and grounds keeping staff, and offering hands on assistance where necessary
• Implementing a daily and weekly rota to ensure all domestic duties are achieved, including laundry, cleaning of rooms to suit the schedule of the principals, and preparation for guests
• Doing daily checks of the property to ensure all tasks are completed to the highest standards
• Being the first point of contact for all guests, meeting and greeting any visitors and ensuring that all their needs are met
• Serving refreshments and managing the wine cellar and bar
• Management of holiday rota, performance reviews, monitoring of casual staff hours and pay, record keeping of hours, holiday, and lieu days
• Liaising with the Chef regarding meals and any special events such as dinner parties
• Managing the domestic household budget
• Purchasing goods for the household and keeping receipts to submit monthly domestic expenses
• Engaging and overseeing all internal contractors/suppliers
• Overseeing the care of the china, antiques and other specialist items
• Writing and updating household manuals
• Ensuring any maintenance issues are brought to the owner's attention
• Ensure efficiency, harmony, and morale is encouraged and maintained
• Instruct the maintenance and upkeep of outbuildings
• Oversee the purchase of maintenance equipment and supplies
• Ensure the completion of exterior jobs
• Delegate to ensure a fair working environment
• Ordering animal feed
• Animal welfare & veterinary appointments
• Working with PA team to trouble shoot IT issues
• Organising the Drivers when errands are needed to be run
• Ensuring all business areas comply with current health and safety
• Ad-hoc errands and additional responsibilities as required

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:
• Prior experience in a managerial role within a private household/private estate
• Excellent English and communication skills
• Well presented with an outgoing personality
• Polite, discreet, and loyal
• Flexible, ‘can-do’ attitude and a hands-on approach
• Professional, boundaried and assertive
• Demonstrate a high level of IT literacy
• Ability to motivate and train staff members
• Valid UK driving license
• Enhanced DBS or willingness to obtain an Enhanced DBS check
• Eligibility to work in the UK
• Brilliant checkable references