Head Housekeeper - Nr Lavenham, Suffolk - RR1972

An experienced and reliable Head Housekeeper required to join a welcoming family of four in their large and elegant period country home located between Sudbury and Lavenham. This is a long-term, permanent and stable position in a beautifully maintained property with no pets, no cooking duties, and a respectful and appreciative household environment.

The children are school age, and aside from the occasional help with the school run each week, the focus will primarily be on managing the day-to-day care and upkeep of the home. The successful candidate will take ownership of all housekeeping responsibilities and ensure the household runs smoothly and efficiently and is clean, tidy and immaculately presented. This role requires someone with excellent initiative, attention to detail, and a calm, can-do approach.

Key Responsibilities:

• Full responsibility for the daily housekeeping of a high-spec private residence -keeping the family home immaculate, with a keen eye for detail and a genuine love/passion for making the house spotless.
• Hands-on laundry care and wardrobe management, including organising dry cleaning
• Managing general household organisation (linen, cupboards, drawers, supplies, making sure that children's school and sports clothes are, washed, ironed, out and ready on the correct day, with a good understanding of their weekly routine. 
• Tidying after breakfast and dinner, emptying and re filling dishwasher, making beds, and ensuring all rooms are clean and in order and beautifully presented.
• Hands on - housekeeping including dusting, mopping, hoovering, making sure rooms are beautifully presented, emptying bins, regular deep cleaning of high used areas such as kitchen, bathrooms, sinks, showers, baths etc
• Regular cleaning and upkeep of gym, pool, and spa areas
• Preparing the house before and after family travel (the home is vacant for ~7 weeks in summer)
• Occasional, weekly school runs (a clean driving licence is essential – automatic car provided)
• Monitoring household standards and supplies, and flagging or resolving issues as needed

Household Details:

• Family of four (two school aged children)
• 3 main bedrooms in use and two additional 2 guest bedrooms
• Multiple reception rooms, homework room, offices, garden room
• Separate annexe with dedicated space for laundry and household tasks
• No pets, no cooking, no heavy childcare responsibilities

Working Hours:

• 4 or 5 days a week (flexible depending on the candidates’ requirements)
• Preferred split shift (morning until late morning; and mid afternoon until end of afternoon) although flexible re start and finish times - for example 7:30/8.30am–11:00/11.30am and 3:00–6/ 6:30pm
• Approximately 5-7 hours per day, with flexibility required around school terms and family travel
• Weekly school pick-up using a provided, automatic car

Ideal Candidate:

• Proven private household experience in a senior or head housekeeper capacity
• Proactive, discreet, and organised with a genuine pride in their work and love for housekeeping 
• Positive, reliable, and able to take initiative without supervision
• Strong communicator with excellent references
• Confident driver with a clean UK licence
• Someone who will take great pride in keeping the house immaculate and clean, thinking ahead, with a high level of attention for the finer details, i.e. de-lime scaling shower heads, cleaning/organising kitchen cupboards, noticing things like smeared / marked doors or windows.

The family love their home and enjoy being in a clean, tidy environment. It is therefore important that we find someone who feels the same. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced, private housekeeper who is passionate about creating and maintaining a clean, well-run home. The position is based in a vibrant, loving household where no two days are the same—ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic family home while enjoying independence and trust. The role offers a calm, family-focused environment with flexibility and autonomy for the right candidate.

To apply, please provide a current CV, covering letter and references where possible to info@ruralrecruitment.co.uk.

If you would like to discuss this position in more detail, please contact Rebecca info@ruralrecruitment.co.uk to arrange a call.