An Aberdeenshire estate focused on fishing in the River Dee is hiring a housekeeper and chef couple, with a cottage provided as part of the package. The salary ranges from £55,000 to £60,000 per couple, dependent on experience, and the start date is listed as February 2027.
The estate features guest accommodation including a guest lodge with 10 double en-suite bedrooms, a sitting room, and a dining room, as well as a cottage sleeping up to four guests. The main benefit of the roles is a two-to-three bedroom cottage with its own garden, with council tax paid.
Role Perks and Responsibilities
Additional perks include a pension, yearly salary reviews, and a mobile phone and laptop provided for work use. The job posting also mentions "generous time off" during quieter periods on the estate.
The housekeeper will oversee and maintain high standards of cleanliness, manage changeovers, clean and restock, and assist the cook with food preparation and kitchen duties. They will also lay tables, serve guests, and clear up after meals, ensuring all guest areas are beautifully presented and that bedrooms and bathrooms are ready for guests.
Chef Duties and Ideal Candidate
The chef will prepare high-quality meals for up to 20 people at a time, introduce dinner menus using local produce, and prepare cooked breakfasts with local ingredients. The role also involves introducing a pre-order catering service for guests, batch-cooking food for first-night arrivals, and preparing packed lunches and barbecues on certain days.
Applicants should both have experience in similar roles, full driving licences, be comfortable with rural living in all seasons, and possess good verbal and written communication skills. Desirable attributes include being trustworthy, professional, having a good eye for detail, and strong organisational skills. The couple must also provide full references from past employers.
Job Listing Details
The job listing states: "An exceptional opportunity has arisen for a reliable and experienced Housekeeper and Chef Couple to live and work on a beautiful estate on the banks of the river Dee in Royal Deeside."
It adds: "This is a live-in or live-out long-term position for a discreet, proactive, and self-sufficient couple who would thrive in a beautiful Scottish rural setting and take pride in maintaining high standards for an evolving fishing estate and its guests."
