Job Description
Role: Head Housekeeper (Job Share)
Reports to: Property Manager, Brodie Castle
Location: Brodie Castle, Brodie, Forres
IV36 2TE
August 2011
Business Function: Properties and Visitor
Services
Pay Band/Starting Salary: Band C,
£15,580 (pro-rata)
Type of Contract: Permanent, Part-time 24
hrs per week. This is a job share post so some
flexibility will be required.
Terms and conditions
The post is subject to the standard terms and conditions provided with the application pack. There will be
some weekend and evening duties.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
To maximise visitor enjoyment of Brodie Castle and the Laird’s Wing by delivering the highest
standards of housekeeping and collections care, holiday-let servicing, and customer care.
Background
Brodie Castle and Estate is situated in the parish of Dyke and Moy, Morayshire. The castle has
been in the care of the National Trust for Scotland since 1979 and opened its doors to the public
for the first time in 1980. The estate comprises Brodie Castle – which dates from 1567 – and its
policies, which include a walled garden, parkland, driveways, a formal avenue and extensive
plantations. Brodie Castle is further enhanced by the impressive interiors and collections it
contains. Within Brodie Castle there are historic interiors of exceptional quality, which contain
fine plaster ceilings and collections of international significance.
The post-holder is responsible, with the support of the Property Manager, for delivering the
highest standards of housekeeping and collections care, holiday-let servicing and customer care.
The aim is to establish Brodie Castle, incorporating the Laird’s Apartment, as a prestigious venue
for high quality, exclusive corporate functions and for the Castle to be recognised as a “first
choice” destination.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Key Purposes of the placement will be met by:
Collections Care:

Overseeing (and personally participating in) with the support from Collections Conservation
team based at Central Office in Edinburgh and at Trust support at The Stables, Castle Fraser,
an appropriate collections care regime for the Castle, in line with current Trust best practice.
Such practice to include, but is not limited to:
o Conservation cleaning of the collections;
o Deep (planned and ad-hoc) cleaning (particularly during the closed season);
o Assisting with environmental monitoring and pest control;
o Condition monitoring of the collections.
o Developing a team of volunteers for closed season deep cleaning and open season
collections care.

The administration of the ongoing programme of remedial conservation of the collection, for
example by packing collection items to be sent to specialist conservators, maintaining
“Movements Book”, liaising with art-handlers/removers etc.
General Housekeeping:

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Overseeing (and personally participating in) the routine cleaning and housekeeping of
domestic and display areas of the property, including (but not limited to):
o Vacuuming, sweeping, polishing of floors
o Dusting/polishing of fittings such as panelling, stairs, and doors
o Dusting/wiping of sills, skirting’s, door-frames, and window frames
o Cleaning of windows
o Cleaning of lavatories, sinks, staff-rooms etc
Supporting the use of the property for functions and events by:
o Protecting vulnerable collections;
o Assisting with functions furniture set-up and striking;
o Clearing and cleaning before and after the event.
Undertaking the administration required in support of housekeeping, including (but not
limited to):
o Planning rotas and regimes for routine and in-depth cleaning;
o Stock control and ordering of recommended cleaning consumables/janitorial supplies;
o Recording work undertaken.
Holiday Let Accommodation (the Laird’s Wing and other holiday cottages):

Overseeing (and personally participating in) the routine servicing of let accommodation of the
property, including (but not limited to):
o Vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, polishing of floors;
o Dusting of surfaces, fittings, furniture, ornaments, doors;
o Cleaning of windows;
o Changing of bed linen and towels, and making of beds;
o Cleaning of bathroom/toilet areas and fittings;
o Cleaning of (let) kitchen/scullery areas and equipment;
o Checking functionality of lighting, heating, TV/radio etc;
o Replenishing of welcome/hospitality trays, and consumables;
o Checking of collections and domestic inventories during changeover – specifically in
the Laird’s Apartment.

Overseeing (and personally undertaking whenever possible) the welcoming of clients to the
Laird’s Wing, and the contact arrangements should additional housekeeping service or help be
required.
The current duties of this job do not require a criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) check to be
carried out nor is the post holder required to become a member of the Protection of Vulnerable
Groups (PVG) scheme, which replaces the ‘Enhanced Disclosure’ check and is administered by
Disclosure Scotland.
SCOPE OF ROLE
People Management
 Supervision of one Collections Care Assistant and one Seasonal Cleaner.
Financial Management
 Assist in Job Share with budget control and management
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
The above outlines the key skills the job holder will need to possess and exercise. In addition,
either knowledge of or experience in the following is required:
Essential

Sound previous housekeeping experience including:
o Cleaning and presentation of areas open to the public or let for holiday rental.

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o Cleaning of domestic/staff areas
o Stocking/ordering housekeeping/janitorial supplies
o Organising housekeeping routines
o Recording work undertaken
A personal commitment to excellence in customer care with the ability to enthuse and
motivate others in a pleasant, friendly and helpful manner.
Excellent organisational and administrative skills with the ability to prioritise and reprioritise
workloads.
Attentive to detail with an eye for presentation and finish.
Excellent inter-personal skills for handling customers and diverse members of staff.
Ability to manage time efficiently and effectively in an environment of changing priorities.
Personal commitment to high standards of cleaning.
Ability to work effectively and efficiently without close supervision. A methodical approach to
work is essential.
Willing to show commitment and flexibility in work practice.
This is a physical job, which will normally include lifting, fetching and carrying cleaning
equipment and materials. Please note that the accommodation and office Brodie are spread
over a number of floors. Occasional use of stepladders will be required.
Desirable
 Experience supervising or leading other staff.
 Experience as a Housekeeping Assistant/Collections Care Assistant (or similar) in a
castle/country-house or museum.
 A working knowledge of collections-care housekeeping in an historic building environment.
The Key Responsibilities, Scope of Job, and Required Qualifications, Skills, Experience &
Knowledge reflect the requirements of the job at the time of issue. The Trust reserves the right to
amend these with appropriate consultation and/or request the post-holder to undertake any
activities that it believes to be reasonable within the broad scope of the job or his/her general
abilities.
Applications
Interested applicants should forward a completed application form to Human Resources
Department (Applications), The National Trust for Scotland, Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins Road
Edinburgh EH11 4DF, by mail or by email via [email protected], by first post (i.e. 10.00am)
on Friday 9 September 2011. Interviews are likely to be held at Brodie Castle on Wednesday 28
September 2011.