Technical Estate Manager (Part-Time, On-Site)

Technical Estate Manager (Part-Time, On-Site) Location Cascais, Portugal Overview We are seeking a highly capable Technical Estate Manager to oversee the operation, maintenance, improvement, and long-term management of a private residence in Cascais. This role is ideal for someone with a technical, engineering, construction, facilities management, or project management background who enjoys solving problems, coordinating contractors, and ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks. The successful candidate will act as the owner's representative and advocate, protecting the homeowner's interests, managing vendors, identifying risks early, and ensuring that issues are resolved properly and permanently. This is a hands-on, on-site role requiring regular property visits and direct supervision of contractors and service providers. Core Responsibilities The successful candidate must be comfortable making recommendations and decisions independently, rather than escalating routine matters to the homeowner. Property Operations ● Conduct property inspections once a week and identify issues before they become larger problems. ● Maintain a complete overview of all property systems, including electrical, plumbing, irrigation, pool equipment, HVAC, automation, solar, security, gates, landscaping, and general building maintenance. ● Create and maintain documentation for all major systems and repairs. Contractor & Vendor Management ● Obtain and compare multiple quotations. ● Challenge assumptions and recommendations made by contractors where appropriate. ● Negotiate pricing and scope of work. ● Supervise contractors on-site. ● Ensure work is completed correctly, on time, and within budget. Hold vendors accountable for delays, defects, poor workmanship, and warranty issues. ● Act exclusively in the homeowner's interest. Project Management ● Manage repairs, upgrades, renovations, and improvement projects. ● Create action plans, timelines, budgets, and follow-up schedules. ● Coordinate specialists including electricians, engineers, pool technicians, gardeners, automation companies, architects, surveyors, and municipal authorities. ● Ensure projects move forward without constant homeowner involvement. Reporting & Tracking ● Maintain a structured issue-tracking system by using Trello. (Basic training can be provided.) ● Provide concise weekly updates. ● Track open items, next actions, responsible parties, deadlines, and risks. ● Ensure no task is forgotten or left unresolved. Preventive Maintenance ● Develop maintenance schedules for all systems. ● Identify recurring failures and recommend permanent solutions rather than temporary fixes. ● Monitor performance of existing service providers and recommend replacements when necessary. Ideal Profile Essential ● Technical, engineering, construction, facilities management, or similar background. ● Strong project management skills. ● Experience managing multiple contractors simultaneously. Excellent organizational skills. ● Strong written and verbal communication. ● Ability to read quotations, challenge proposals, and identify unreasonable pricing. ● Comfortable using spreadsheets, project management software, and digital reporting tools. Highly Desirable ● Experience managing luxury homes, estates, hotels, commercial facilities, or high-end residential properties. ● Knowledge of Portuguese construction practices and permitting processes. ● Experience dealing with municipalities, licensing, utilities, and infrastructure projects. ● Basic understanding of electrical, plumbing, pool, irrigation, automation, solar, and building systems. Personal Qualities We are looking for someone who: ● Takes ownership rather than waiting for instructions. ● Solves problems instead of escalating every decision. ● Is proactive rather than reactive. ● Is comfortable making recommendations. ● Has sound judgment and common sense. ● Can push vendors professionally when needed. ● Is highly trustworthy and discreet. ● Understands that their role is to protect the homeowner's interests. ● Follows through until issues are fully resolved. Success in This Role Looks Like ● Problems are identified before the homeowner notices them. ● Contractors are managed effectively and held accountable. ● Open tasks steadily decrease rather than accumulate. ● Repairs are completed correctly the first time. ● The homeowner gains visibility without having to micromanage. ● The property becomes more reliable, documented, and easier to maintain over time. Reporting Line Reports directly to the homeowner. Part-time, long-term position with flexibility based on experience and scope.