Housekeeper / Cook

An excellent opportunity for an experienced, accomplished and personable Housekeeper / Cook to join the household of an executive couple at their private home in Berkshire. We are seeking a positive, proactive and self-motivated individual who takes pride in their work, thinks ahead and confidently manages their own time and priorities. The successful candidate will be comfortable working independently, maintaining a beautifully presented home and taking ownership of the household's day-to-day needs.

• Maintaining the home to a consistently high standard
• Housekeeping, laundry and ironing
• Household shopping and errands
• Preparing fresh, wholesome and well-presented meals
• Preparing the home for guests and helping ensure everything runs smoothly during their visits
• Anticipating household requirements and organising tasks efficiently
• Caring for the couple's small dog, including walks, feeding, general care and driving when required. Dog care is an important part of the role.

When the principals are travelling, the successful candidate will be expected to care for the dog and have it sleep in their accommodation, providing continuity and companionship. A genuine enjoyment of and confidence with dogs is essential. The normal working week is five days, with two days off. Flexibility is required, particularly when guests are staying, when weekend work and occasional later evenings or split shifts may be necessary. A full weekend off will be guaranteed at least once each month. When the principals are travelling, there may be greater flexibility to arrange working hours during weekdays.

Couple Applications: Applications from couples may be considered where one person is suited to the full-time Housekeeper / Cook position and the other is interested in undertaking a few hours of maintenance work and driving as required. There is no full-time requirement for the second person. The salary budget is primarily for one full-time position, with any additional maintenance or driving work for a partner offered on a part-time or occasional basis according to the household's needs. The second person should ideally have practical maintenance skills and be a confident driver.

The successful candidate will be:

• Proactive, positive and enthusiastic, with a genuine can-do attitude
• Organised, reliable and able to manage their own workload
• Experienced in a private household or similarly high-standard environment
• A capable and confident cook
• Warm, personable and comfortable integrating into the household
• Trustworthy, discreet and respectful of privacy
• Flexible and willing to adapt when circumstances change
• A genuine dog lover, confident caring for a small dog
• Fluent in spoken English
• A non-smoker
• A confident driver with a clean driving licence & valid DBS check

The position includes a modern, fully furnished two-bedroom apartment with a private entrance. All utility bills are included, including internet. The accommodation may also suit the successful candidate's own small dog, if required. Unfortunately, cats cannot be accommodated.

This role would suit someone who values the trust, independence and standards associated with working in an executive private household, and who takes pride in using their initiative to ensure everything runs smoothly. If you are someone who takes pride in your work, thinks ahead, enjoys responsibility and naturally looks for ways to make life run more smoothly, we would be very pleased to hear from you. Successful candidates will be contacted within 24 hours of receipt of CV.