amanda MacDonald
Inverness,Highland
Summary
Dedicated Estate Manager with expertise in fostering relationships with estate owners, staff, and contractors to ensure alignment with expectations. Skilled in event planning and service scheduling to maintain a welcoming environment. Utilises strong judgement and leadership to navigate changing priorities while consistently delivering results within strict deadlines.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Estate Lodge assistant manager
Grogary Sporting Lodge
Uist, Western Isles
11.2020 - 12.2024
- Hiring, training, and supervising household staff, such as maids, chefs, gardeners, and drivers
- Managing the estate’s budget and handling financial matters, such as paying bills and staff salaries
- Managed daily estate operations, overseeing maintenance and repairs to ensure optimal functionality
- Coordinated contractors, including landscapers, builders, and security personnel, to maintain property standards
- Planning and executing events on the property, from small gatherings to large parties
- Conducted property inspections, identifying and addressing issues to uphold estate security and appearance
- Communicated regularly with estate owners to gather their preferences and requirements. to understand their needs and expectations
- Ensuring that the estate complies with local laws and regulations
- Coordinated various services, such as laundry and catering, to ensure smooth operations. such as laundry, catering, and transportation
Quality Control/Sales
Salar Smokehouse
Uist, Western Isles
05.2020 - 12.2024
- appearance
odour and flavour
texture
ingredients and composition
packaging
defects and blemishes
size and weight within the smoking/cooking of the flaky salmon - Managed the dispatch process for timely and accurate delivery of products.
- appearanceodour and flavourtextureingredients and compositionpackagingdefects and blemishessize and weight within the smoking/cooking of the flaky salmon
- Covered staff during illness and holidays at busy pub/Bistro, ensuring consistent service and operational continuity.
Animal Welfare officer/Inspector
SSPCA
Uist, Western Isles
02.2000 - 11.2020
- Investigated neglect and cruelty complaints to ensure animal welfare
- Advised owners on proper care, issued warnings, and escalated serious cases to court
- Assessed rescued animals for medical treatment needs
- Inspect places such as kennels and pet shops
- Inspect events such as circuses, farm shows and races
- Work with the police, local councils, vets and dog wardens
- Draft comprehensive reports on animal welfare cases
- Give evidence in court
- Conduct educational talks on proper animal care about animal care
- Rescue injured or trapped wild animals
- Gather and safely rescue injured or abandoned animals
- Support inspectors in their work with more complicated cases
- Analyzed minor complaints to identify responses
- Put animals to sleep if their condition can't be treated
Nanny
Hartmann Entertainment
Glasgow
09.1997 - 12.1999
- Supported daily routines and childcare for two young children, fostering a nurturing environment
- Built strong, trusting relationships with children, creating a secure and comforting environment.
- Engaged children with games, quizzes and puzzles.
- Took children on outings to local parks and playgroups, encouraging play with others.
- Maintained organisation and efficiency in professional family home, ensuring care for two young children
Private Nanny
d'Arcys Wine Bar
Glasgow
06.1996 - 02.1997
- Supported family by providing personalised care for three young children, including one with special needs, ensuring their well-being and development.
- Communicated with parents to provide daily feedback about child's development and progress.
- Engaged children in reading sessions to enhance their literacy skills.
- Prepared healthy, nutritious meals for children and supported with feeding.
Office Administrator
D'Arcys Wine Bar
Glasgow
01.1996 - 06.1996
- Created staff rotas to schedule employee shifts efficiently.
- Processed staff wages to ensure accurate and timely payment for all employees.
- Organised company receipts for efficient financial record-keeping and easy retrieval.
- Utilised Excel for effective data analysis and reporting to support decision-making.
- Implemented Supercal for scheduling and resource management.
- Employed Microsoft Works for document creation and editing.
- Processing Invoices
- Staff issues/welfare
- Food and drink stock orders
Office Administrator
MacAlpine & Co Ltd
Hillington, Renfrewshire
09.1994 - 12.1995
- Oversaw operations of busy depot, ensuring smooth workflows and customer satisfaction
- Managed invoicing processes to ensure accuracy and timely billing
- Processing customer orders
- Dealing with complaints
- Making sure correct orders being despatched
- Chasing lost consignments
- Conducted thorough stocktaking to maintain accurate inventory
- Executed stock input procedures for accurate inventory management
- Ordering materials and stock
- Received second promotion in recognition of contributions to operational efficiency
Sales Administrator Assistant
MacAlpine & Co Ltd
Hillington, Renfrewshire
11.1993 - 09.1994
- Processed customer orders efficiently
- Prepared invoices for customer transactions
- Followed up on late orders and enquiries to ensure timely resolution
- Resolved customer complaints to enhance satisfaction
- Making sure orders meet despatch dates
- Received customer orders over the phone
Waitress
Dani's Diner
Erskine
01.1991 - 12.1993
- Delivered friendly and fast service to process high-volume food and drink orders at peak times.
- Delivered meals and beverages promptly, ensuring orders were correct and met customer satisfaction.
- Served customers at busy food counter, ensuring timely and friendly service.
- Kept dining area tidy, clearing tables and resetting them for new guests in a timely manner.
- Assisted with various tasks during part-time role after school, contributing to smooth operations.
Office Junior
MacAlpine & Co Ltd
Hillington, Renfrewshire
03.1993 - 11.1993
- Managed reception area, greeted visitors and answered calls to create a welcoming environment
- Answered phones and performed clerical office functions to address queries, concerns and issues, escalating complaints to management.
- Greeted visitors and appropriately directed to designated areas.
- Operated data entry system to ensure accurate and timely processing of information
- Stored all paperwork in designated places securing important documents for confidentiality purposes.
Customer Sales Assistant
Miss Selfridges
Glasgow
04.1991 - 04.1992
- Assisted customers in selecting products, offering detailed advice to meet their needs.
- Handled customer complaints with empathy and professionalism, offering solutions that resulted in increased customer satisfaction.
- Processed sales transactions accurately, handling cash and card payments efficiently.
- Resolved customer queries and provided assistance on busy fashion shop floor
- Assisted customers during weekends to enhance shopping experience
Education
1989-2003
Park Mains High School
Erskine01-1993
Crookston Castle High School
GlasgowSkills
- Estate operations
- Budget control
- Vendor coordination
- Invoice processing
- Compliance reporting
- Microsoft Excel
- Operations support
- Performance monitoring
- Staff management
- Staff scheduling
- Task prioritisation
- Risk assessment
- Department management
- Quality control procedures
- Administrative processes
- Invoicing
- HR policies and procedures
- Customer relations
- Client relations
- Outstanding customer service
- Excellent communication
- Leadership skills
- Leadership proficiency
- Strategic planning
- Data analytics
- Compliance awareness
- Customer service excellence
Timeline
Estate Lodge assistant manager
Grogary Sporting Lodge
11.2020 - 12.2024
Quality Control/Sales
Salar Smokehouse
05.2020 - 12.2024
Animal Welfare officer/Inspector
SSPCA
02.2000 - 11.2020
Nanny
Hartmann Entertainment
09.1997 - 12.1999
Private Nanny
d'Arcys Wine Bar
06.1996 - 02.1997
Office Administrator
D'Arcys Wine Bar
01.1996 - 06.1996
Office Administrator
MacAlpine & Co Ltd
09.1994 - 12.1995
Sales Administrator Assistant
MacAlpine & Co Ltd
11.1993 - 09.1994
Office Junior
MacAlpine & Co Ltd
03.1993 - 11.1993
Customer Sales Assistant
Miss Selfridges
04.1991 - 04.1992
Waitress
Dani's Diner
01.1991 - 12.1993
1989-2003
Park Mains High School
Crookston Castle High School