CHEF & HOUSEKEEPER COUPLE REQUIRED FOR HNW COUNTRY HOME IN SUSSEX
Location: Sussex, UK
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent
Salary: Negotiable, DOE
Status: Live-in
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Chef and Housekeeper Couple for a lovely country estate in Sussex. Joining a small team at the estate, you as a Couple will be responsible for the upkeep and cleanliness of their country property, ensuring exacting standards are maintained at all times, as well preparing and serving delicious and balanced meals for the family of four when they are in residence. A secondary home for the family, they tend to visit over weekends, so the successful candidates must be happy with weekend work.
The Chef should be able to prepare delicious, nutritious, and visually appealing family-style meals, and be able to creatively use the produce available on the estate - the family enjoy organic, fresh dishes in keeping with the seasons. The Housekeeper will oversee all functions of housekeeping, laundry, and ironing, with the assistance of a part-time cleaner, and should also be able to assist with table service.
Other duties will include household purchasing, liaising with the wider team on-site and in the London residence, as well as liaising with contractors and suppliers. Both candidates should be happy with pet care duties to include dog walking, feeding and washing, and at least one of the candidates also has to be a confident driver, able to run errands and do grocery shopping.
Working from Thursday to Monday, the role is around 50 hours per week, and the schedule will vary depending on the family's need. Covering breakfast, lunch and dinner when the family are in residence, the Couple will have a longer break in the afternoons, and the working hours will likely be 8am-6pm on the days when the house is not occupied.
The accommodation provided is a lovely private cottage with courtyard, and pets (limited in size and number) are welcome. Some flexibility will be required to also assist the family in their London residence when required, which could be a couple of days per month. Prior experience as a Domestic Couple in a private household or country estate, or on a luxury yacht, is essential for this role.
DUTIES TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
- Planning menus according to the Employer's needs and dietary restrictions
- Stock and organise the kitchen, making best use of the produce on the estate including preserving fruits and vegetables
- Maintain kitchen to a high level of cleanliness and hygiene
- Dealing with household shopping and maintaining accounts and budgets, building relationships with local suppliers
- Ensuring that the house is always clean, neat, tidy and welcoming
- Dusting and polishing furniture and fixtures; polishing brass and silver, antiques, art, and fine furniture
- Making beds and changing linens, ensuring that bedrooms are set up pre-arrival
- Sorting, washing, loading, and unloading laundry, hand washing delicate items & ironing
- Keeping bathrooms stocked with clean linens, toiletries, and other supplies
- Steaming and cleaning draperies, washing blinds
- Laying and clearing tables
- Meeting and greeting visitors, preparing and serving beverages
- Liaising with suppliers and contractors, as well as the wider team
- Pet care & ad-hoc errand running
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:
- Previous experience in a Couples role supporting a HNW or UHNW family
- Meticulous and very high attention to detail
- Well-presented, polished and positive 'can-do' attitudes
- Excellent communication skills
- Good standard of written and spoken English
- Exceptional cooking and service skills
- Confident driver with a valid driving license
- Longevity as demonstrated by previous employment
- Able to prioritise and multitask effectively
- Child-friendly and pet-friendly
- Right to live and work in the UK
- Excellent checkable references