Job Details
A full-time live-in couple is required to run a prestigious chateau in Meyrals, near St Cyprien, situated in the Dordogne area, in the south-west of France. You will be maintaining the small estate grounds, the swimming pool and carrying out the general upkeep of the chateau. The role is required for a minimum of 6 months, although this is likely to be extended for a further 6 months.
This position is on a self-employed basis; therefore you will be responsible for paying tax and National Insurance on your income and carry out your own tax and National Insurance deduction as and when required.
This role will ideally suit a couple who is looking to relocate to France, and who has previous experience in hospitality, catering and grounds maintenance. Above all else, and due to the nature of the role, you should be reliable, discreet, have excellent attention to detail, be energetic and hardworking with a desire to carry out all tasks to a consistently high standard.
The role also requires significant commitment in terms of time, as well as the flexibility to adapt to the changing nature of the owners’ diaries, who spends extended periods overseas and therefore a 24/7 presence is required on the estate.
Applications from ex-military personnel (Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Marines) will be particularly relevant for this role and are strongly encouraged.
The successful candidates will be living in a rent free, generous and high-quality gatehouse, within the grounds of the chateau, comprising of 3 en-suite bedrooms, a fully fitted kitchen and lounge/dining room.
Main Duties:
The live-in couple will be responsible for the security, routine maintenance, household cleaning and general upkeep of the chateau (both indoor and outdoor), its outlying dwellings, the swimming pool, gardens and grounds (high-spec maintenance equipment provided on-site).
During the day, the live-in couple will ensure that the chateau is kept to the existing very high standards of maintenance and will facilitate any cleaning, servicing and repairs as required.
Out of hours, you will remain on the grounds to provide a presence for security purposes and will respond to any ad-hoc situations as required (alarms, power cuts in the chateau, etc.).
When the owner returns to the chateau during the summer months (3 to 4 months a year), you will be required to carry out occasional airport runs and housekeeping duties including meal preparation if the owner’s chef isn’t available.
The Successful Candidates
The successful candidates will be comfortable in the service environment, with a professional and committed approach. They will have excellent communication skills, strong organisational skills and a keen eye for detail. Experience in security, facilities management and the service industry would be extremely useful.
Due to the nature of this role, the live-in couple should be willing to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays during certain periods of time, and carry out airport runs as and when required.
Personal Specification & Requirements:
Essential:
- Must hold a current and in date Passport & UK driving license
- Good communication skills
- High standards of presentation
- Problem solving and use of initiative
- Attention to detail
- Comfortable with being on-site and on-call during evenings and weekends
- Must have the ability to work effectively under pressure and be able to react to changing priorities
- Due to the nature of the work, you must have no pets and/or dependants
Desirable:
- Previous estate management experience
- Experience working in the service industry with high net worth clientele
Salary: £25,000 (combined salary) plus rent-free accommodation and car
This position is on a self-employed basis; therefore you will be responsible for paying tax and National Insurance on your income and carry out your own tax and National Insurance deduction as and when required.
Benefits:
- 20 days’ holiday and bank holiday
- Generously equipped and well-furnished 3-bedroomed gatehouse, rent free with all bills included (including utilities and council tax)
- Car and fuel
This job is no longer available for new applications.
Proud to be honouring the commitment of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant and supporting the Armed Forces Community