Location: Private country estate, UK
Salary: £80,000 – £100,000+ DOE
Accommodation: Private accommodation provided on the estate
Vehicle: Car provided
Start: Spring 2027, with familiarisation visits during winter
Contract: Permanent preferred, although alternative arrangements may be considered
Role Summary
MOR Talent Boutique is delighted to be working on an exceptional opportunity for an experienced House Manager / Butler to join one of the UK's most significant privately owned country estates.
Set within an extensive multi-estate portfolio, the principal residence operates at an exceptionally high level, combining the intimacy and discretion of a private home with the service standards, structure and pace of a world-class luxury hotel.
During the main season, the estate hosts an extensive programme of private house parties and sporting weekends, regularly welcoming distinguished international guests. The household can accommodate up to approximately 25 guests at any one time, with larger family groups possible during peak periods.
The successful candidate will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the house from a service, hospitality and food and beverage perspective, acting as the principal point of contact for matters relating to the property and guest experience.
This is very much a hands-on position rather than a traditional Estate Manager role. The successful candidate must be equally comfortable overseeing the operation, leading a team and personally delivering exceptional service.
The Household & Environment
The property is a private family home first and foremost, but during the season it operates at a pace comparable to an outstanding five-star hotel or highly serviced private chalet.
Guest turnover can be significant, particularly during the sporting season, and the household needs to transition seamlessly between arrivals, departures, lunches, dinners, house parties and larger gatherings. Candidates do not need to come from a sporting background, but they must be comfortable working within a traditional British country estate and shooting environment.
Responsibilities
Household Leadership & Operations
- Take day-to-day responsibility for the smooth running of the principal residence
- Act as the main operational point of contact for the house and its hospitality requirements
- Maintain exceptional standards throughout the property at all times
- Ensure the house is fully prepared ahead of the principal's arrival, guest visits, house parties and sporting weekends
- Coordinate the different elements of the household operation to ensure an effortless experience for the principal and guests
- Anticipate requirements rather than relying on reactive instruction
- Oversee guest arrivals, departures and room readiness
- Ensure service standards remain consistent regardless of the intensity of the programme
- Maintain excellent communication with the wider estate team, estate office and head office
- Support the transition between quieter periods and the extremely demanding high season
Butler & Front of House Service
This is a genuinely hands-on role. The House Manager will be expected to lead from the front and participate personally in service.
- Formal and informal table service
- Fine dining and high-level dinner service
- Guest hosting and front-of-house presence
- Drinks and beverage service
- Preparation and oversight of dining rooms and entertaining spaces
- Ensuring service sequences are meticulously planned and executed
- Supporting lunches and hospitality taking place elsewhere on the estate
- Welcoming and looking after guests throughout their stay
- Maintaining a discreet but attentive presence throughout the house
- Remaining available after dinner when required to ensure guests continue to be looked after
Food & Beverage
The estate has an established professional culinary team operating at an exceptionally high standard, with Michelin-level experience represented within the kitchen. The House Manager / Butler will work closely with the chefs to ensure seamless coordination between kitchen and front of house.
- Managing communication between the kitchen, front-of-house team and guests
- Planning and coordinating meal service
- Ensuring tables, service equipment, glassware and dining areas are prepared appropriately
- Understanding formal dining etiquette and service standards
- Coordinating service timings with the kitchen
- Maintaining detailed awareness of guest preferences and requirements
- Ensuring exceptional presentation throughout all F&B areas
Wine & Cellar
The property has an extensive wine cellar and wine is an important part of the principal's hospitality. Strong wine knowledge is therefore highly desirable, and candidates with sommelier training or previous responsibility for significant private or commercial cellars would be particularly interesting. Formal sommelier qualifications are advantageous but not essential where a candidate can demonstrate excellent practical knowledge.
- Working confidently with an extensive wine collection
- Selecting and preparing wines for service
- Advising on appropriate wine service where required
- Decanting and serving fine wines correctly
- Maintaining excellent cellar organisation and stock awareness
- Working with the principal, chefs and relevant suppliers regarding wine requirements
Guest Experience
Guests may include senior public figures, international families and other highly distinguished individuals. Absolute discretion, confidence and excellent judgement are essential. The House Manager / Butler will ensure guests receive a consistently exceptional experience while preserving the relaxed atmosphere expected within a private home, understanding individual preferences quickly and adapting the style of service accordingly.
Team Leadership
The permanent operation is supported by additional staff during busy periods. Typically, two to three front-of-house staff support daytime operations, with around three evening service staff working alongside the House Manager / Butler during dinner and evening service. A strong local pool of temporary and seasonal staff is available to support areas such as laundry, kitchen portering and other operational requirements.
- Briefing and coordinating front-of-house staff
- Establishing clear service standards
- Allocating duties and ensuring appropriate coverage
- Training and developing less experienced staff
- Maintaining discipline and momentum throughout the season
- Leading by example during service
- Ensuring temporary and seasonal staff integrate effectively into the household
- Maintaining standards during quieter shoulder periods so the team remains prepared for the return of high season
Wider Estate Relationships
The House Manager / Butler will work closely with a well-established wider estate infrastructure, including estate management, gamekeeping teams, the estate secretary, maintenance personnel, head office, chefs and household staff, and temporary and seasonal employees. An Estate Secretary is based on site and manages much of the administrative coordination and liaison with head office.
Sporting Season
The estate operates one of the UK's most active private sporting programmes. The House Manager / Butler does not need to manage the sporting operation itself, but the hospitality programme is closely connected to it. On shoot days, responsibilities may include looking after guests before departure, coordinating refreshments and hospitality, attending the lunch location to welcome and host guests, and returning to the main house to prepare for the evening programme.
Off-Season
For a permanent appointment, the role continues outside the principal hosting season. The quieter months are an important opportunity to prepare the property for the following season, including property oversight, reviewing procedures, staff training, inventories and stock control, cellar organisation, maintenance coordination and planning future hospitality. The principal also uses other residences within the UK, including London, and there may be opportunities to support hospitality across the wider portfolio.
Experience & Skills
This appointment would particularly suit someone from a Royal Household, major private household, significant country estate, UHNW family, high-end private chalet, luxury yacht, or an exceptional five-star hospitality background combined with substantial private service experience.
- Significant private household or comparable high-level service experience
- Outstanding front-of-house and butler skills
- Strong knowledge of formal and informal service
- Confidence working within an exceptionally high-standard dining environment
- Strong wine knowledge, ideally including sommelier experience
- Previous responsibility for leading or supervising service teams
- Excellent organisational ability and strong attention to detail
- The ability to manage extremely busy periods without compromising standards
- Confidence around distinguished and high-profile guests
- Flexibility regarding working patterns during the season
Personal Attributes
The successful candidate will fundamentally enjoy hospitality, service and looking after people, rather than seeking to move into traditional estate management. They will be discreet, proactive and anticipatory, calm and practical in solving problems, and able to accept direct feedback professionally.
Working Pattern
The working pattern varies according to the principal's residence and guest programme. During busy periods the operation can run approximately four to six days per week, with flexibility essential around house parties, dinners and sporting events. This is a seasonal private household environment rather than a conventional Monday-to-Friday position.
The successful candidate would ideally make several visits to the estate during the preceding winter to meet the team, understand the systems and complete a structured handover. A paid trial during a shoulder-season house party may also be considered.
This is a rare opportunity for an accomplished private service professional to take ownership of the hospitality operation within an extraordinary British country estate, working with an established team and delivering service at the very highest level.