House Manager, Düsseldorf, Germany

For a HNW family living in Düsseldorf, Germany we are looking for a competent House Manager. Separate local apartment provided. Knowledge of formal service is desirable. Drivers only.

The family live in a large villa in a leafy area on the outskirts of Düsseldorf. The property is a newly refurbished historic villa comprising 6 bedrooms, a wine cellar, library, two reception rooms and a new leisure area built within the large grounds and gardens, which is looked after by a company. There is also a new office area adjacent to the villa which is used for entertaining and business meetings. The villa has large rooms with high ceiling and is furnished with a mix of modern and antique family pieces including exquisite chandeliers and has a stunning central staircase.

The family has 4 children who are almost all teenagers, two of which are going to boarding school, visiting at weekends. The parents have various business interests and conduct some of their meetings from the new office area and entertain a lot, privately and for business. For larger events a catering company is hired. Some flexibility will be required for these events and time in lieu is always given.

The family employ two full-time housekeepers (one of which cooks for the family during the week) and a part-time handy-man who keeps terraces clean and manages the leisure area including the pool, Jacuzzi, sauna etc.

The house manager is a newly created role that reports directly to the Principals in order to coordinate the villa, contractors, staff and visitors to provide a smooth service to the family. The household is run informal except for visitors and for events when a more formal service is required. There is one medium sized pet dog. This role does not require any travel.

The duties of the House Manager:

• Scheduling and overseeing all housekeeping duties
• Manage household organization (deliveries, cupboards, stores etc)
• Training or hiring of staff if required
• Managing contractors, quotes and invoicing
• Overseeing household accounts
• Welcoming guests and providing drinks service
• Checking or re-setting rooms
• Planning and delivering meetings and events (up to 50 guests)
• Liaising with catering companies and additional staff
• Overseeing inventories (incl. wines)
• Ensuring property is fully functioning at all times (changing of light bulbs, fresh flowers, etc.)
• Providing PA duties to the family (restaurant booking, concerts, gift purchases, etc.).
• Overseeing deep cleaning of property while the family is away
• Overseeing security and providing technical support (apple TV, etc.).
• Provide driving services when required
• Running errands (dry cleaning etc).

The requirements of the House Manager:

• A min. of four years´ experience managing a private household
• Must have an EU passport and be legal to work in Germany
• Clean driver license
• Fluency in German and English
• Excellent knowledge of formal service and smart homes
• Experienced in organizing and delivering high end events
• An eye for detail and excellent organizational skills
• Longevity in past roles
• Excellent written references from past employers
• A recent security check (this can be obtained during the recruitment process)

The family is looking for a dependable House Manager who is family orientated and understands the needs of a busy family life, which can get hectic. They require a candidate who is calm, flexible, friendly and pro-active while working discreetly and efficiently to support the family´s needs.

Accommodation: A two bedroom apartment is offered locally within a short distance. There is a staff car available for private use.

Hours: Mon – Fri, 8am – 5pm with an hour for lunch (which is provided) and some flexibility when entertaining (time in lieu given).

Salary: €60 – 80K gross a year with an apartment provided and depending on past experience

To start: as soon as possible