Live-In House Manager for Country Residence near Newbury, Berkshire
Location: Near Newbury
Start Date: ASAP
Salary: £50,000–£55,000 gross per annum (depending on experience)
Accommodation: Newly renovated cottage on-site
Schedule: 5 days per week including weekends (2 consecutive days off during the week)
Holiday: 21 days + 8 bank holidays
About the Family
A warm and welcoming young family with three children are seeking a dedicated and experienced House Manager to oversee their large weekend residence. This is a fully staffed household, and while the property is only used part-time, it’s maintained and run to the highest standards year-round.The family are looking for someone proactive, trustworthy, and flexible—someone who genuinely enjoys creating a smooth, well-run home environment and is just as happy rolling up their sleeves as they are managing behind the scenes.
Role Responsibilities
You’ll be responsible for the overall running of the household, working closely with the principals to ensure everything operates smoothly and discreetly. This includes supervising the housekeeping team (currently two), managing contractors, overseeing property maintenance, and stepping in to support with hands-on tasks when needed—especially during weekends or staff absences.
You’ll coordinate rotas, keep household inventories up to date, and manage service standards across the board. Hospitality is a key part of this role: you’ll help with entertaining, setting up and clearing meals (including silver service when required), greeting guests, and arranging occasional events or dinner parties. Other responsibilities include overseeing budgets, managing cars, supporting with errands, and occasional dog care.
You’ll also act as the main point of contact for the family and their guests—ensuring a calm, responsive, and professional household environment at all times.
Ideal Candidate
- Highly organised, discreet, and experienced in managing private households
- Warm, approachable, and happy to lead by example
- Flexible and hands-on—happy to help with housekeeping, laundry, or service if needed
- Skilled in supervising and motivating a small team
- Confident managing budgets, rotas, inventories, and suppliers
- Experienced with silver service and small event planning (preferred)
- Holds a full, clean UK driving licence
- Experience managing a large family residence
What’s on Offer
This is a brilliant opportunity for an experienced House Manager who enjoys variety, responsibility, and working within a friendly and respectful family environment. The role comes with a newly renovated cottage on-site and offers a long-term, stable position for the right person.
If you’re a hands-on House Manager looking for a rewarding role with a lovely family in the countryside, we’d love to hear from you!