Estate Manager – Private Agricultural Estate, Knights Valley (Sonoma County)

About the Property
We are a family-owned, working agricultural estate of roughly 1,500 acres in Knights Valley, with about 400 acres planted to vineyards. The property includes four residences, a horse stable and arena, storage and wine-storage buildings, an olive grove, an apiary, a cattle grazing lease, and a large designated wildlife preserve. Amenities and systems include a pool, spa, tennis court, solar array, water tanks with chlorine dosing, generators, and miles of mountain roads.

About the Role
The Estate Manager is the family’s on-site steward. A separate vineyard management team runs the vineyards. This role covers everything else: animals, residences, structures, grounds, systems, and the vendors who service them. We’re looking for someone who notices problems before they grow, writes everything down, and keeps the family informed. A task isn’t finished until it’s logged.

Key Responsibilities

Animal Care

Feed horses and dogs every morning (by 9 AM) and evening (by 5 PM), turn horses out and in, and clean stalls and kennels
Coordinate vet, groomer, trainer, and farrier visits, and give routine dog medications
Run monthly feed store trips and keep feed stocked

Property, Residences & Systems

Walk the full property and all structures daily, and report damage, hazards, or intrusions the same day
Check unoccupied residences for leaks, HVAC issues, and security
Monitor water systems (chlorine dosing, tanks, pumps, irrigation, sprinklers), generators, solar panels, AC units, and pasture hot-wire fencing
Do general upkeep: leaf blowing, mowing, weed spraying, power washing, porch and garage cleaning, rodent control, and attic inspections
Inspect mountain roads monthly and around storms, and clear fallen trees blocking roads
Maintain vehicles and equipment (truck, tractor, RV, mowers, motorcycles), including battery tenders, inspections, and preventive maintenance schedules
Receive propane, fuel, and diesel deliveries and verify them against invoices
Help with seasonal work, including tree pruning and burn piles

Vendor & Schedule Coordination

Serve as the point of contact for outside providers (landscaping, cleaning, pest control, water service, septic, solar, tennis court, beekeeper, mechanic): schedule visits, provide access, oversee the work, and confirm completion
Brief landscapers weekly on focus areas, and keep cleaning and household supplies stocked
Keep a shared Google Calendar of all vendor visits, vineyard activity (including after-hours work), and cattle lease visits
Forward invoices promptly and manage costs within an approved spending limit

Reporting & Documentation

Submit a written end-of-day report covering tasks completed, animal notes, visitor and vendor log, issues, and photos
Hold a weekly check-in with the family, and call immediately about animal injuries, fire risk, security incidents, or system failures
Build and maintain a shared records database (equipment, serial numbers, vendors, warranties) and written procedures for recurring tasks
GPS-map property infrastructure (water and electrical lines, shutoffs, pumps, tanks, fence lines, septic) and keep the map current
Organize the workshop and keep it that way

Safety & Fire Preparedness

Maintain the fire preparedness plan and Emergency Action Plan, including fuels management and hardening of structures
Manage gate access and security cameras, including annual code rotation and removing access for former vendors
Keep emergency contact lists posted and current

Qualifications

Property, ranch, or estate management experience (strongly preferred)
Comfortable caring for horses and dogs
Strong computer skills: Google Calendar and Drive, Excel, email, and shared file systems (Dropbox or similar); comfortable learning GPS mapping tools
Mechanically inclined, and able to operate trucks, tractors, mowers, power washers, and chainsaws safely
Highly organized and dependable, with clear written communication and the discipline to document daily
Able to do physical outdoor work in all seasons
Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
English/Spanish bilingual is a plus, but not required

Schedule
Full-time and on-site, Monday–Friday plus Saturday mornings for animal care. Saturday afternoon and Sunday are off unless scheduled in advance or there’s an emergency. Some flexibility is needed for storms and power outages.