House Manager
Overview
A private Italian family of four, seeks an exceptional House Manager to join their large private household in Knightsbridge, London.
This new opportunity would suit a professional individual with strong Housekeeping experience, gained in private households, luxury hospitality, or yachting. The House Manager must be a natural leader, passionate about delivering impeccable five-star service with unwavering attention to detail. They will also set the standard for excellence, fostering a positive, “can-do” culture whilst inspiring and managing a loyal team.
The family have multiple properties around the world and travel extensively during the school holidays.
Job duties
Responsibilities of the House Manager in Knightsbridge include:
- Managing a large team of domestic staff, including 5 – 6 Housekeepers, a Maintenance, Driver, and Private Chef, and organising the weekly household rota
- Alongside the PA, recruiting new staff members and providing the relevant onboarding and training
- Directly handling household staff issues
- Acting as point of contact between the Principals and all domestic staff, ensuring the team are fully briefed and always prepared
- Purchasing household items and maintaining stock levels / inventories
- Managing a household budget and checking shopping receipts
- Meeting, greeting and escorting guests. Preparing and offering refreshments
- Preparing rooms for meetings and guests
- Managing weekly floral budgets and arrangements
- Overseeing service and leading staff during dinner parties/hosting
- Arranging and supervising additional staff when necessary for events, such as Butlers
- Supporting the chef with meal timings and menu planning
- Running household errands
- Ensuring good general upkeep and maintenance of the property and outdoor spaces
- Daily inspection of properties, including wardrobes, and outdoor spaces, to determine any need for cleaning and repairs. Promptly dealing with, or delegating, any such issues
- Managing utility accounts and submitting monthly meter readings
- Meeting and escorting suppliers/contractors
- Overall household management including managing household maintenance calendar
- Overseeing repairs and installations with trusted suppliers and vendors
- Staying on top of servicing appliances and equipment
- Organising and overseeing deep cleaning of the property when the family are travelling
- Ensuring the property is always secure
- Ensuring the house manual and contractor contact list is up to date
- Helping to maintain an inventory of the family’s belongings
- Managing the vaults and any storage units
- Support the PA and Project Manager, gathering estimates for works in the house when requested
- Identifying and implementing ways to improve efficiency within the household
- Liaising with staff in the family’s other residences
- Occasionally travelling to provide support in other properties
Candidates must be/have:
- Extensive housekeeping expertise (in yachts/private households/luxury hotels), paired with proven experience as a House Manager within a private household
- Meticulous attention to detail, especially in cleaning and table arrangements
- Ability to lead domestic staff by example with a hands-on approach
- Flexible with working days and hours (there will be limited occasions where you will be needed 6 days a week, with time in lieu offered whilst the family are travelling during school holidays)
- Tech savvy – comfortable working with apple products, drafting rotas, online shopping etc
- Calm and approachable manner
- Organised and thorough
- Ability to cope in a fast-paced environment
- Able to read the room
- Willingness to step in and help other departments during busy periods
Hours
45 hours per week.
Monday – Saturday (when family are in residence during term time)
Monday – Friday (when family not in residence during school holidays)
Ample time off in lieu given when the family are travelling (they travel extensively).
Location
Knightsbridge, Central London.
Salary
Up to £80,000.
Job ref
CP775: House Manager for Private Family in Knightsbridge.
