WEDDING CHATEAU MAINTENANCE MANAGER - CHATEAU RIGAUD
Starting autumn 2025
Permanent position with accommodation and flexibility to travel out of season
Around €3500 / month, experience depending & excellent tips
Opportunity for a partner to join the team in another capacity
We are looking for a hands-on, practical Maintenance Manager to join our team at Château Rigaud. This is a key role, reporting directly to the General Manager, with responsibility for the upkeep of the château buildings, vehicles, grounds, and pool, as well as leading and motivating a younger seasonal team during our busy summer months.
The role will suit someone with a trade background who has developed a wide variety of transferable maintenance skills and is now looking for a new life in rural France. You’ll need to be both practical and people-focused, able to roll up your sleeves and also train, motivate, and supervise younger team members who may be working in this environment for the first time.
Key Responsibilities
Grounds & Vehicles
- Mowing, strimming, raking gravel, recycling, jet-washing terraces, wood chopping & log preparation
- Supervising younger staff to ensure these jobs are done properly
- Moving heavy items such as laundry bags, tables, chairs, umbrella bases
- Driving guests in minibuses to lunches, dinners, and wine tastings
Pool Care
- Taking water readings, handling chemicals, hoovering, skimmer cleaning
- Maintaining poolside equipment and inflatables
General Maintenance
- Everyday repairs: tightening loo seats, fixing flushes, unblocking pipes, changing handles, repainting, plastering, small carpentry and electrical jobs
- Occasional emergency works: e.g. leaks requiring digging or rapid response until specialists arrive
- Fosse tank monitoring and maintenance
Team Leadership
- Training, motivating, and managing younger, often inexperienced summer staff
- Delegating grounds and cleaning work while ensuring high standards
- Leading with patience, humour, and resilience
Requirements
- EU passport or legal right to work in France
- Full manual driving licence (confidence driving a minibus essential)
- Willingness to drive a tractor and use a chainsaw
- Basic plumbing, electrics, and carpentry skills
- Comfortable working at heights (up to 10m)
- Physically fit and able to carry heavy loads; stamina for long days in high season
- Strong leadership, time management, and communication skills
- Excellent spoken English; basic French an advantage
- Knowledge of AV/IT systems (sound, projectors) an advantage
Terms & Conditions
- Salary: €35,000 – €45,000 depending on experience & contract terms
- Accommodation: Fully serviced, self-contained accommodation provided
- Working Pattern:
- March–October (high season): 42 hours/week, 5 days (including weekends), 2 consecutive days off
- October–March (off season): option of full-time work or reduced hours while retaining accommodation, ideal for those who wish to travel
- Holiday: 25 days paid holiday per year (max. 5 days during May–Sept peak season)
- Tips: Equal share of team tips
- Contract: Annual, renewable
Opportunity for a Partner
We also welcome applications from couples. There are opportunities for a relocating partner to join our team in a variety of roles, depending on experience — from restaurant/front-of-house management through to bar, housekeeping, or gardening.
This is a unique opportunity for someone who wants to combine practical maintenance and team leadership skills with a fresh start in the French countryside.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: €35,000.00-€45,000.00 per year
Application question(s):
- Do you have experience of working within a trade such as plumbing, electrics, general building or horticulture?
- If successful in this position, when would you be available to start?
Licence/Certification:
- Manual Driving License (required)
Work Location: In person
