Overview
Seeking an experienced full-time, live-in head butler/villa manager for a 135-acre estate in Italy that includes a 6,000 sqm main house, separate cottages, a monastery, and extensive grounds. The current setup consists of a highly efficient, friendly, conservation-focused team of staff caring for a historic Villa in Siena. It is a semi-formal household that draws on the template of traditional formal butlership to provide an exceptional service standard within the home. The usual schedule will be Monday through Friday, 7:30am-9pm, with time for breaks during the day.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities will involve overseeing the day-to-day operation of the family's stunning property, providing exceptional service to all family members and their guests, including (but not limited to):
- Meeting and greeting guests upon arrival, ensuring they are settled in their rooms
- Carrying luggage for guests and assisting with their needs
- Maintaining a thorough knowledge of all spirits, wine, and cigar collections
- Serving meals and drinks for guests, anticipating their needs and preferences
- Supervising the housekeeping team and ensuring rooms are cleaned and maintained to the highest standards
- Caring for clothing, silverware, crystal, and other estate assets
- Setting up for afternoon tea and cigar lounge services
- Communicating with housekeepers to ensure rooms are cleaned at convenient times
- Recommend and arrange amenities for guests
- Maintaining a professional appearance and demeanour at all times
- Ensuring compliance with estate policies on safety and hygiene
- Performing duties with discretion, professionalism, and a pleasant demeanour
- Pet care for one medium sized dog
- Assisting with general maintenance
- Dealing with inventories and expenses
- Occasional driving and general errands
- Managing and scheduling the household staff
Requirements
- Fluency in Italian and extremely proficient in English
- At least 5 years previous experience as a Butler or in a similar role in the 5* hospitality industry
- Strong multi-tasking skills, excellent organization, and ability to adapt to a fluid environment.
- Commitment to delivering exceptional customer service
- Excellent attention to detail, ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion
- Knowledge of food and wine pairings
- Tech-savvy with better than average IT skills
- Confident driver with clean licence
- Excellent references and a valid background check (enhanced DBS or equivalent)
- Knowledge of silver service
- Awareness of when to get involved and when to step back and to be invisible
Salary and Benefits
- Generous salary on offer for the right candidate
- 26 days holiday per year, plus all Italian national holidays
- Accommodation is a separate flat to the side of the main residence with one bedroom, a kitchen, sitting room and two bathrooms
