Estate Caretaker

ESTATE CARETAKER

We are seeking an Estate Caretaker to undertake Estate Maintenance, Groundskeeping, Gardening and Security Duties.

After an initial trial period, the Estate Caretaker will be employed on a permanent contract, working 40 hours per week.

The Role

The Estate Caretaker will be based on an Estate near Rye, East Sussex and will report directly to the estate owners and to their Personal Assistant.

Located in the Sussex countryside, the property is a Grade II listed building with a large and well-established garden. The estate comprises of 250 acres, including 100 acres of woodland, several cottages and 110 acres of land in arable, grazing, and equine use. There is stabling for up to 10 horses, with four horses in residence, two in training and one at stud in Ireland.

The Estate Caretaker will ensure the proper maintenance of the Estate as well as undertaking other general day to day jobs on the Estate. The Estate Caretaker duties are wide ranging and flexibility is therefore required to meet the needs of the owners.

Salary and working hours

The Estate Caretaker will receive a competitive remuneration package based on a 40 hour working week. The salary will be in the region of £30,000 to £35,000 per annum (depending on experience) and living accommodation in the nearby village can be provided as part of the role by negotiation. You will be provided with the use of an estate vehicle for estate matters as part of your employment.

From time to time you may be required to work outside these hours and at weekends.

Estate Caretaker - General Duties

Day to day duties in the Garden will include:

- Mowing, strimming, and edging.

- Path maintenance and raking the gravel.

- Hedgecutting (thorn, beech, and laurel).

- Pest control (squirrels, magpies, moles etc.)

- Watering, spraying and general weeding.

- Maintenance and use of garden machinery (ride on mower, pedestrian mowers, hedgecutters, brush cutters, compact tractor, chainsaw and any other when required.)

Day to day duties for the House and Cottages will include:

- Monitoring and ensuring regular maintenance of the CCTV system

- Locking up the house and ensuring security

- Taking responsibility for recycling and waste disposal

- Taking electricity and water meter readings and checking oil tanks

- General repairs and redecoration work

- General lifting and carrying where required

- Swimming pool cleaning and maintenance

- Supplying logs and kindling

- Clearing drains and gutters

Day to day duties for the Woods and Stables will include:

- Selective tree felling/logging

- Strimming

- Rolling and harrowing the horse paddocks

- Repairing fencing, bridges, gates and stiles

- Checking reed beds and adjusting water flow

Other General duties will include:

- Dog walking

- Delivering and collecting people from the train station

- Managing contractors to assist with works on the Estate from time to time

- Liaising with the owners and/or their Personal Assistant to arrange MOT's for estate vehicles (including delivery and collection)

- Liaising with the owners and/or their Personal Assistant in relation to ordering materials from appropriate suppliers and arranging deliveries where necessary

- Any other duties or tasks to help with the smooth day-to-day running of the Estate

In an emergency you may, from time to time, be required to assist with arranging works etc. outside of your standard working hours.

You will be required to abide by current Health and Safety at work regulations at all times.

Training

The Estate is committed to giving employees training and support where required. The Estate will provide training/refreshers in the following:

• Health and Safety (including training in appropriate use of machinery and equipment etc.)

• Other relevant courses/professional development/refresher courses on a case by case basis.

Candidate Qualifications and Experience

It is essential that you hold a full, clean, driving licence and have experience of gardening and basic building maintenance.

You will have prior experience in the following:

• Tractor driving and trailer operation

• Ride on mowers

• Brush cutter/strimming

• Pedestrian mowing

• Hedge cutting

• Spraying (ideally you will hold a Pa1-Pa6 certificate)

• Chainsaw (you will hold a Cs30-Cs31 certificate)

Estate Caretaker - Qualities

We are looking for a personable, diligent and dependable employee with a wide range of skills. You will be trustworthy, reliable and be willing to take responsibility for the security of the Estate. Ideally, you will have an interest in the countryside and in animals. You will be a good communicator and happy to take instruction as well as to work independently and to work with the estate team. We are looking for someone with a keen eye for detail who will take a real pride in keeping the house, garden and grounds in immaculate condition.

How to apply

Please send a cover letter and a curriculum vitae addressed to Matthew Bennison, Strutt and Parker, 201 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2NR or via email to by midday on March 28th 2024.

If you have any queries about the role then please email: