Chapter Text
The role
We are looking for someone with logistics management experience, willing to work in a remote location - accommodation provided (rota to be agreed with successful applicant although proposed 5 days on 4 days off.)
Must be an independent, self motivated individual, with a flexible approach to problem solving.
Experience of managing a long term maintenance schedule and budgets as well as balancing ad hoc repairs as they arise is strongly desirable. Managing and approving contractor work completed on behalf of the client and ensuring all works are completed safely in line with global Health and Safety guidelines, evidence of appropriate professional accreditation will need to be provided. There may also be future scope for future site expansion, where demonstrable construction project management experience would be beneficial.
All transportation will be provided by the employers and included within the hours of work.
Also included within the responsibility of the role will be the ordering and management of a semi-regular supply run.
The successful candidate will receive generous remuneration in line with the responsibility of the role.
An up to date forklift licence is desirable, although training will be provided should the individual be willing.
Interested parties should submit their CV to [email protected].
“EOS, why are you forwarding me these CV’s?” John asked
“Lady Penelope asked me to review them and forward any promising ones to you.”
“But why Eos? I am sure Lady Penelope is perfectly capable of sorting out her own recruitment without my input.”
“I believe she thought that you might want some input in the hiring process given the location of the role.”
“Really?” he asked distractedly, scrolling past a few more emails, trying to find any that were really for him. “Why should I care where these people work?”
“Well since they are going to be based on Tracy island after all.”
“...what?” he did a full double take.
“Lady Penelope mentioned it to Scott Tracy and he agreed it would be a good idea to engage some additional help on the island to free up the islands occupants from some of the daily logistical tasks.”
“He didn’t say anything,” he thought for a moment, “He has got to stop agreeing to things on less than 2 hours sleep. Gordon managed to get him to agree to that 6ft self inflating dinosaur last week and we still don't know how we are going to get it back out of the guest bathroom without damaging something or someone. Virgils been tearing his hair out over it.”
“I think that's why Lady Penelope put out the job advertisement.”
“You might have a point, maybe I should look at these.” he scrolled through the first CV, and scrolled and scrolled. “Jeeze, how qualified are these people? What job are they even applying for?” he opened up the supporting document.
“OK, that explains it, this job is certainly…varied. I’m surprised we even got one applicant. I think I was expecting more of a housekeeper role. EOS could you put a call through to Lady Penelope please?”
“Of course John, connecting you now.”
“John, how nice to see you, what can I do for you?”
“I’ve just been taking a look at this homework you’ve set me.”
“Homework?”
“Looking through these applications.”
“Oh yes, I did take a first pass at them also, there are some promising individuals. I think you should be able to find a good fit.”
“Yes but for what job, this list of requirements is….eclectic.”
“I think one could consider it a modern estate management role, it's fairly common for those with a country seat.”
“But we don’t have a country estate Penelope.”
“Darling you practically have a full country. I think a little support in ensuring the smooth running of the logistics of it all is hardly shocking.”
“I was expecting more of a housekeeper role if anything.”
“Well that might also be worth considering, but honestly darling, what with the cleaning bots and Max, not to mention your grandmother's utilization of available manual labour, I believe that is mostly kept under control. However, Virgil seemed to be getting a little frustrated with the neverending maintenance list when I last spoke to him, and you can’t keep relying on Brains to sort out anything and everything just because it might involve a screwdriver or a wrench.”
“You have a point,” John conceded a little grumpily. But the farmboy make do and mend was just too deeply ingrained.
“Anyway, as the saying goes ‘if you don’t make time for maintenance, maintenance will make time for you.’ “ Penelope said primly.
“I can tell you’ve been talking to Virgil,” John replied dryly.
“I quite like it as a saying though, I think it can also be applied to ones skin care routine. Or perhaps ones personal firearm care.”
“...ummm,....yeah.”
“You have been using that moisturising cream I sent you, it really is very important to keep the skin hydrated John.”
“...ummm,...yeah. Anyway, what do we do with these CVs?” diving back under the workload for cover.
“Well I suggest you select some likely looking examples and we arrange for an interview, holographic might be best for now. Then should any still seem like possibles, we can present them to the rest of your family for approval. You can always write in a trial period if you're unsure about the role entirely or make it a fixed term position, although that might limit the applicants you get, but promise me you won't be one of those awful people who keep an employee on edge with a continuously rolling short fixed contract.”
“In this family, we’ll be lucky if Grandma doesn’t adopt the first person across the threshold just on principle…. Scott might be just as bad actually.” John sighed.
“Are you saying that my constant invites to the island aren’t just a product of my winning personality and would in fact be extended to the postman should they cross the welcome mat?” she held a hand delicately to her chest to combat the shock of this revelation.
“No further questioning at this time your honor.” John maintained a fixed blank expression
“That’s not quite how that works, Dear.” a smile crept past the mask of theatrical shock.
“Shush Alan doesn’t know that yet” there was a spark of mischief in his eyes that would have been easy to miss.
“Quite. Well, I think one of the beach huts could be converted to an independent flat for the successful candidate, they really are quite underutilised, I think your father expected far more guests on the island when he planned their construction.”
“Honestly, I just dont think he spotted that the architects put in multiple ‘beach huts’ he saw one, signed it off and got distracted by stashing all of Brains’ creations under the villa.”
“That does sound worryingly believable, but in this instance it may come in handy. A beachside abode would help make the role a little more appealing, don’t you think?”
“I thought the four days off sounded appealing enough.” John mumbled, trying to stretch out a kink in his back.
“Well Darling, not everyone is quite so suited to a 24 hour role like yourself. One must maintain some work-life balance.” she pointed an accusing finger in his direction.
John laughed, “Are you really in a position to lecture on clear delineation of work and pleasure? When was the last time you attended a party that didn’t have an alternative motive?”
“I do believe that is slander,” she responded primly, folding her arms, “and you will struggle to find a scrap of evidence that would hold up in court.” she gave him her best freezing glare, which had John laughing again, and he nodded to concede her point. “Anyway, the point is we find someone who can come and balance these things, and then hopefully International Rescue will also be able to become acquainted with the concept of down time that isn’t completely ruled by a repairs list.” Now her look was far too all knowing.
“Ok, so when do I need to have reviewed these by?” John tried to steer the conversation back to business.
“Friday ought to do, if you can manage it,” they both knew she meant barring any emergencies, but neither wanted to jinx it by calling it out. “And Parker is already running a criminal background test.”
“You mean he’s asking his buddies at the pub?” John asked, opening a few more of the CV’s on parallel screens.
“That may be part of the process, yes. Of course, Kayo is also running her own checks too.” she smiled at the contrast in the two approaches, and how John looked visibly relieved to know Kayo was involved.
“Ok, well I’ll see what I can do then and get a response back to you as soon as possible.” his eyes were already getting drawn into the documents as his attention visibly shifted and slight frown formed between his eyebrows.
“Have you found a promising one already, John?” Penelope asked sweetly, knowing that it was probably quite the opposite.
“Am I allowed to dismiss a CV based on the number of typos per paragraph?”
“I think you would have to dress it up as something along the lines of ‘lack of attention to detail in provided documentation’ but I think it can be done.” she flipped to the documents on her own device and tried to see if she could see which one had so quickly irked her friend. She found it on the second try. “Oh, although I think the use of Comic Sans should also discredit this individual, I’m sure none of us want to hear Virgil's opinions on that particular font again any time soon.” she winced at the memory.
“That is a point though. Whoever is appointed would be working quite closely with Virgil, maybe we should get his opinion on these too.” he brightened up a little at the idea of spreading the work.
“Although I do agree with you John, I think it might be worth narrowing down the field before eliciting the opinions of Virgil and Brains, they do have a tendency towards detail focus and I fear it may take them a rather long time to come to a conclusion.”
“Yeah, you have a point. Fine, in that case I better start working through these then, I’ll speak to you later Penny.” and he gave a little wave.
“Good luck John, I look forward to hearing your thoughts.” and she waved back as the call disconnected.