House Manager & Family Assistant with Meal Prep Support

House Manager & Family Assistant with Meal Prep Support

Location: Lake Forest, IL 60045

Employment Type: Part-time, approximately 25-30 hours per week, with potential to grow

Schedule: Five days per week, approximately five to six hours per day. Core hours are late morning through early evening. Schedule flexibility is appreciated, including occasional evening availability and rare overnight stays with advance notice.

Compensation: $35-$38 per hour, commensurate with experience

Start Date: ASAP

Requirements

• Maintain a smoke-free environment
• Reliable personal transportation and valid driver's license with a clean driving record
• Comfortable around water and able to provide supervision to teenagers in a pool
• Must be comfortable in a home with four dogs
• Must be authorized to work in the United States
• CPR and First Aid preferred

About Our Family

We're a warm, busy family of five living in Lake Forest, Illinois. Our three teenagers will all be in high school this fall, and along with four much-loved dogs, there's always something happening around our home. Life is full, active, and often a little unpredictable, but we genuinely enjoy it that way. We care much more about creating a comfortable, welcoming home than maintaining appearances, and our dogs are very much part of the family.

Right now, we're in the middle of a major home renovation that has become a significant part of daily life. One parent travels frequently for work, while the other is balancing family life, household logistics, building into their business, and overseeing a large-scale remodel. Our three teenagers are equally busy with active social calendars and extracurriculars, and we love to encourage their interests and autonomy as they grow.

We're looking for someone who enjoys being part of a busy household and would love the opportunity to grow alongside a family for years to come. We value kindness, trust, and long-term relationships, and we hope to find someone who feels genuinely invested in helping our home run smoothly.

Who You Are / What We're Looking For

You're the type of person who naturally notices what needs attention and takes initiative to handle it. You take pride in creating order, solving problems, and putting systems in place that make everyday life easier. You're organized, dependable, and resourceful, but just as importantly, you're flexible enough to adapt when priorities shift or something unexpected comes up. Whether it's coordinating household tasks, helping manage moving pieces, or simply keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes, you take pride in being someone others can rely on.

You're comfortable joking around with and getting to know teenagers, love dogs, and appreciate the energy of a lively household. One of our children thrives with clear expectations, consistent routines, and calm, confident guidance. The ideal candidate is patient, emotionally steady, and able to maintain kind but firm boundaries, remaining composed and supportive during moments of frustration or resistance.

We're looking for someone who sees behavior as communication, enjoys building trust over time, and can provide consistent, compassionate support while helping our children feel successful. Above all, you're excited by the idea of becoming a trusted, long-term partner who helps create calm, consistency, and support in a busy family's day-to-day life.

Key Responsibilities

Meal Support

• Plan and prepare healthy meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner options) and snacks for the family 4-5 days per week
• Batch prep proteins, grains, and produce for easy grab-and-go options, especially for teens
• Grocery shop in coordination with family preferences
• Restock food items and maintain organization of pantry and fridge
• Follow and enforce strict dietary requirements; one household member has allergies to nuts and seafood
• Clean and reset kitchen after meal prep
• Maintain indoor plants (in the kitchen)

Household Organization & Maintenance

• Maintain and improve household organization systems throughout the home
• Perform daily resets and light tidying throughout the day: dishes, surfaces, vacuuming high-traffic areas, etc.
• Prepare home for cleaning staff visits
• Create a comprehensive home reference binder for use by anyone managing the household
• Proactively handle small household tasks: replacing batteries, light bulbs, smoke detectors, and similar upkeep
• Assist with seasonal décor swaps and holiday setup

Laundry & Linens

• Wash, fold, and organize laundry in collaboration with the family (support teenagers in building laundry management habits)
• Ironing, steaming, and special garment care as needed
• Rotate linens and refresh as needed
• Maintain tidy and well-stocked laundry areas

Inventory & Errands

• Restock pantry, fridge, and household supplies on an ongoing basis
• Maintain running household supply lists in collaboration with the family
• Manage household orders and subscriptions (e.g. Amazon)
• Handle Costco bulk storage area, including organization and restocking
• Run miscellaneous errands as requested: returns, dry cleaning, gift shopping, etc.
• Prepare and coordinate donation drop-offs as needed
• Break down and recycle boxes and packaging as deliveries arrive

Family Support

• Provide backup transportation for teens as needed
• Provide a calm, capable adult presence when teens are home, keeping things on track during dinner prep
• Remind one of the teens to take daily medication as needed
• Assist with calendar awareness and help family coordinate household tasks, including teen chores
• Help set up and maintain the family's shared digital calendar system (Skylight)
• Option to provide overnight supervision on occasion for parents to get away (approximately two times per year for a few nights at a time, with ample advance notice for consideration)

Pet Care

• Feed and walk dogs as needed throughout the day
• Schedule vet and grooming appointments
• Administer monthly preventative medications as requested
• Maintain awareness of pet supply levels

Vehicle Upkeep

• Keep family vehicles fueled, clean, and organized as needed

Vendor & Property Oversight

• Serve as a point of contact and steady presence for vendors, contractors, and service providers in the home
• Research and coordinate repairs and quotes as needed
• Keep outdoor common spaces tidy as needed

Deep Cleaning & Special Projects

• Perform occasional deep cleaning as needed, including the refrigerator, oven, and baseboards
• Refresh mudroom and entryway areas
• Clean and maintain humidifiers and air purifiers as needed
• Assist with major organizational projects, particularly in support of the ongoing home renovation and move

How to Apply

Please submit:

• A short introduction letter
• Your updated resume
• Three professional references with contact information

Note: This role requires a background check.

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