Winton House: Vacancy for Caretaker
We have a vacancy for a Caretaker at award-winning Winton House, private house and hospitality venue in East Lothian near Edinburgh. The job description is given below. Anyone applying must please print out, complete and send this Application form (opens in a new window) to the address below, either by post or by email.
This job comes with a great team, wonderful location and rewarding work with high aspirations for development.
Please send applications to:
Audrey Stevenson
Winton Caretaker's Job
Chalmers & Co
48 High Street
Haddington
East Lothian
EH41 3EF
T: 01620 824000
a.stevenson@chalmers-surveyors.com
Please return completed application forms, ideally with CV and covering letter or email, by Friday 17th July.
General Job Outline
A well-rounded and practical person is sought to fulfil the diverse live-in caretaking role for Winton House and two self-catering properties. The job includes looking after the structure, fabric and security systems of the properties along with providing assistance to the team running hospitality events. When time permits, assisting the gardeners in the extensive gardens and grounds will also be welcomed and can serve as a change from indoor work. A flat on the ground-floor of the main house with two bedrooms is provided with the post.
The job has great variety and often combines front-of-house customer care, with less dramatic hard work in the background. The hours can be irregular and sometimes unsociable when events within the house are in progress, however this is taken into account as much as possible in order to allow for regular time off when alternative cover is provided. The house and the activities that take place there have changed considerably in recent years and the successful applicant will need to demonstrate a willingness to be flexible as well as show ability as a communicator because of the wide variety of people who come to the House. A good level of fitness is required to cope with stairs and moving furniture between functions.
Place of Work
Winton House lies 14 miles to the south east of Edinburgh and is home to the Ogilvy family. In addition to the caretaker's 'Garden Flat', there is further accommodation in the tower which is let separately. Winton is open for private and corporate hospitality as a venue for dinners, weddings, activity days, meetings, overnight accommodation and occasional tours for the general public. It is one of the most important houses in Scotland architecturally and is surrounded by an agricultural estate with direct links back to 1150. There are two self-catering properties nearby, Wintonhill Farmhouse and Winton Cottage; these are sometimes used in conjunction with events held at Winton House.
The house has become well established for corporate hospitality; it has won prestigious awards for customer service and a green tourism silver award for the approach to management benefitting the environment and community. The caretaking position is crucial to sustain the service which is now expected from the events team and also to maintain the house and grounds to a similarly high standard. Sharing the beauty of Winton with a wide range of visitors is considered important: we hope to allow them to enjoy their stay to the extent that they wish to return.
Character of Applicant
The position is one of trust and responsibility. It can involve close contact with many members of the public and requires someone with integrity and initiative and the capacity to work long hours where necessary, often at weekends. The list below of specific duties is given for indicative purposes only and is not intended to be exhaustive.
General Security/Front-of-House duties will include the following:
Security:
- Opening up and shutting up
- Liaison with tradesmen and suppliers
- Monitoring of the fire and burglar alarms;
Repairs:
- DIY in Winton House, Wintonhill Farmhouse and cottages as required;
- Organising the following: window cleaning, chimney sweeping, maintenance and servicing of appliances, emptying of septic tanks, rubbish uplift, etc.
- Maintenance of roofs and underground drainage;
- Conservation of the property contents, both old and new, either in-house or liaising with external experts.
- Heating – monitoring of woodchip boiler for heat and hot water (shared role);
Events:
- Furniture moving and function set-up.
- Stocktaking/ordering for heating fuel, lighting and catering cooker.
- Setting up & clearing equipment for functions, from tables, chairs & bar units to cabling for marquee events, or setting up equipment for outdoor activities.
- Assisting with activity days especially with large scale outdoor events.
- Meeting and greeting visitors, particularly for showing them to the self catering accomodation.
General:
- Reading meters in Winton House and outbuildings;
- Support of environmental and green policies set by events team – a role previously described as being the Green Policeman!
- Occasional gardening work which may include grass maintenance.
The successful Applicant will need to display the following characteristics:
- An ability to relate comfortably with visitors of all types, other staff and suppliers in a variety of situations. This could vary from, greeting at front door, showing guests into the self-catering properties, assisting guests with queries at functions or dealing with suppliers.
- Organised & flexible.
- Able to work on your own initiative.
- Attention to detail.
- Numeracy.
- An understanding of customer care and client needs within the hospitality industry.
- Sense of fun at the right times.
- Flexibility to changes imposed by clients or colleagues.
Useful but not essential experience would include:
- Basic computer skills.
- Any activity skills or interests/hobbies you can bring to the job.
- An understanding of conservation requirements in dealing with old buildings and their contents.
Liaison
The successful applicant will be answerable principally to Sir Francis Ogilvy and the Events Team, but also to the head gardener for specific related work and will be expected to work as a team player with the Housekeeping, Gardening and Forestry teams.
Accommodation
A self contained flat is provided, occupying the barrel vaulted rooms of the 15th century house. The flat is being upgraded to provide a second bedroom allow for comfortable living space with the maximum amount of insulation for heat and sound. The large former kitchen from the 17th century has been converted for use as a living/dining room and will occupy a central space with a kitchen and study beyond and a bath/shower room and two double bedrooms connected by a corridor and hallway. There will be a separate entry door as well as a door that is shared with the other occupants of the house. The heating for radiators and hot water comes from a newly installed woodchip fired boiler within the gardens and there is an up to date telephone system.
Terms and Conditions
Hours: The working week will normally be from Tuesday to Saturday during the daytime with an on call role in the evenings. Time off will be given on Sundays and Mondays together with Thursday evenings. When required to work on Sundays, time off in lieu where possible will be given. Tuesday to Saturday, the regular hours are 8am – 4.30pm. From 1st October to 31st March, the regular hours are 8am – 4.00pm.
Holidays: 28 days including public holidays. It will be unlikely that extended holidays will be possible during the summer.
Transport: There is an estate vehicle shared with other staff although it is recommended that the caretakers have their own transport. For private car use on Winton business a mileage allowance will be paid.
Salary: The salary is dependent upon experience and is inclusive of furnished accommodation, Council Tax, heating, lighting and telephone rental.
