Caretaker

Contact Name
Tacy Lincoln
Phone Number
8023380576
Email
[email protected]
Details

Job Description – Property Caretaker

Type: Full-Time

Location: Charlotte, VT

Start Date:  November 15, 2024 (Flexible)

Position Overview

Private family seeking a full-time caretaker for a large, rural property with expansive gardens, grounds and an additional nearby lakefront property.  The caretaker will be responsible for the overall maintenance and care of the property, animals (including horses, chickens, dogs and cats), gardens, grounds, and building structures.  This position directly supervises seasonal staff and serves as the liaison between the owners and all contractors hired to maintain the property.  This position is a 12 month position whose workload and tasks vary depending on the season.  

Primary Responsibilities

Gardening (50%)

  • The kitchen garden is a highlight of the property and a significant amount of time is dedicated to planting, harvesting and maintaining the kitchen garden and adjacent edible landscape plantings. 
  • The property also has extensive perennial gardens which the caretaker is responsible for maintaining.  Tasks include: composting, edging beds, weeding and annual pruning of perennial shrubs. 
  • Working with the property owner to design and install new landscape plantings.  
  • Designing and maintaining container plantings around both properties. 
  • Purchasing and maintaining inventory of all gardening supplies

Animal Care (20%)

  • Daily care of the horses, including feeding, grooming, and manure removal. 
  • Facilitation of veterinary and farrier appointments.
  • Ordering and maintaining grain stores and general supplies for the animals and barn.
  • Maintaining paddocks and pastures, including fence repair and coordinating brush hogging and trimming.  
  • Organizing and helping to bring in hay for the season.
  • Cleaning and upkeep of the historic barn. 
  • Care and exercise of dogs when owners are out of town.

Supervisory Duties (15%)

  • Responsible for hiring and training seasonal assistants.
  • Develop a weekly schedule of tasks and jobs for assistants and oversee work.

Property and Trail Maintenance (10%)

  • Scheduling of all annual and seasonal property maintenance.
  • Managing all contractors on the property including:  groundworks, plumbing, electrical,  painting, carpentry , window washing, lawn mowing, snow plowing, etc.
  • Responsible for shoveling snow as necessary on all the property’s walk-ways and porches.
  • Trail work - both properties have a network of walking and/or horseback riding trails that require regular maintenance such as weed whacking, hand trimming and clearing of downed branches and trees. 
  • Upkeep and maintenance of seasonal spa. 

Household assistance (5%)

  • Assisting with annual maintenance of vehicles.
  • Coordinating holiday greenery order and decorating.
  • Harvesting and arranging flowers for guests and special occasions.  
  • Running errands and assisting in other capacities as needed. 

 

Required Qualifications 

  • A minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
  • A minimum of 3 years of gardening experience.
  • A minimum of 1 year of supervisory experience.
  • Experience working with horses and other farm animals is preferred.  Must be comfortable around large animals. 
  • Possess basic horticultural knowledge and experience in plant identification, pruning techniques, etc. and a willingness to learn new farming skills and/or gardening techniques.
  • Comfortable operating and maintaining small farm equipment such as weed whacker, leaf blower, gas powered pruners, ATV.
  • Valid drivers’ license and clean driving record

 

Required Skills

  • Maintains a high level of discretion and confidentiality. 
  • Proven success in ability to be flexible and adapt in a dynamic and collaborative work environment. 
  • Detail oriented. 
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Must be reliable, proactive, and have a positive attitude.
  • Able to make decisions quickly, with a proclivity of the owners’ preferences.
  • Able and willing to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions.
  • Must be able to lift a minimum of 50lbs. 

Salary & Benefits

Salary will be commensurate with experience.   The Caretaker position is a live-in position.  The caretaker cottage is a charming 2-bedroom and office farmhouse on 1 private acre with a conserved viewshed adjacent to the owners’ property.  It also has a detached garage and a barn.  All utilities are included.  Flexible vacation days and a health care allowance are also included in the benefits package.  

 

Application Process

Candidates should send a cover letter, resume, available start date, salary requirements, and three references to Tacy Lincoln at [email protected] .  No phone calls please.