House Manager & Family Assistant

House Manager & Family Assistant

Location: Barrington, IL

Employment Type: Part-time (Approximately 20 hours/week)

Proposed Start Date: ASAP

Compensation: $30/hour, based on experience, with room for growth and increases over time tied to performance and evolving responsibilities

Schedule: Consistent coverage is needed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30–4:30 PM. Outside of those hours, approximately 16 additional weekday hours can be scheduled flexibly before 5:00 PM.

Requirements

• Maintain a smoke-free environment
• Access to reliable transportation
• Enjoy being around a small, loving family dog
• Experience working with early elementary-aged children
• Ability to work independently
• Proactive, detail-oriented and solutions-oriented mindset

Who We Are

We are a busy family of three with a 7-year-old daughter and a lovable 10-year-old Chihuahua-Dachshund mix. Our household is dynamic and full of energy, with both parents working from home—one is the founder of a fast-growing company, and the other recently joined to help steer the business to new heights. Don't worry about us being in your way, we have plenty going on to keep us busy with work! Between managing work commitments, extracurricular activities, and a full family schedule, we're looking for a reliable, proactive, and highly organized House Manager & Family Assistant to help keep everything running smoothly.

We value flexibility, organization, and a hands-on approach to managing the day-to-day needs of our home. We need someone who can seamlessly handle the routine tasks while also staying adaptable to our evolving needs. Our goal is to be fully present when we spend time together as a family—not bogged down by logistics, scheduling conflicts, or work stress. We're looking for someone who can take the reins, keep everything on track, and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks, from daily household tasks to the bigger-picture family and home responsibilities that need to be managed throughout the year.

Who You Are / What We're Looking For

You're an organized, proactive, and self-sufficient person who enjoys maintaining order and staying ahead of the game. You don't need to be micromanaged—you're a natural problem-solver who takes initiative and anticipates what needs to be done. With excellent organizational skills, you thrive in a busy environment, juggling tasks and adapting to changing needs as they arise.

We're looking for someone who:

• Manages both routine tasks (meal prep, laundry, errands) and ad-hoc projects (organization, seasonal transitions, deep cleaning)
• Takes ownership, jumps in, and gets things done without hesitation
• Anticipates needs and stays ahead of the schedule to keep our home running smoothly
• Has a calm, positive demeanor, enjoys teamwork, and works independently
• Focuses on household management but is comfortable working with kids and pets
• A highly experienced, nurturing professional with a hospitality mindset—someone who understands how a well-run home should look and feel, cares deeply for the details, and brings pride to their work
• Is adaptable and tech-savvy, managing communication and tasks digitally to keep the family informed without interrupting their day-to-day responsibilities
• Has a goal-oriented mindset and values growth in the role and within the family dynamic, eager to evolve and bring new ideas to the table as we grow

Above all, we need someone who is trustworthy—someone who will go above and beyond to ensure everything is handled with clear communication and a well-defined plan, so we're confident nothing falls through the cracks.

If you're a problem-solver who loves keeping things organized and supporting a family's rhythm while growing in your role, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

Household Management & Organization

• Maintain household organization systems and manage clutter, including closets, storage, pantry, and toys
• Reset and tidy rooms daily to ensure neatness and prep the house for weekly cleaning services (load/unload dishwasher, wipe surfaces, vacuum high traffic areas, etc.)
• Oversee household schedules and calendars, anticipating when parents are traveling and preparing for their absence (coordination of childcare, meals, and logistics)
• Conduct seasonal swaps, such as clothing transitions; ensure appropriate storage of seasonal items (e.g., winter/summer gear, holiday décor)
• Coordinate donation drop-offs and pick-ups
• Support packing and unpacking for personal and professional travel
• Supervise or coordinate with service providers/vendors (e.g., cleaners, landscapers, handymen)
• Create and maintain a shared yearly home maintenance calendar
• Maintain indoor plants on a consistent schedule

Inventory Management & Errands

• Run errands such as grocery shopping, returns, dry cleaning, and gift shopping (including gift wrapping)
• Create and manage running household supply lists, tracking all essential items and expiration dates
• Coordinate and manage household orders
• Handle package pickup, mail sorting, and deliveries

Family Support & Child Assistance

• Coordinate and support school and extracurricular logistics, including Tuesday/Thursday school pick-ups, transportation to activities, calendar management, and preparation of school-related items (backpacks, clothing, snacks), with engaging supervision and creative play as needed
• Provide backup childcare and transportation when the part-time nanny is unavailable, ensuring consistent coverage and continuity of care
• Support extracurricular commitments by managing schedules and materials, preparing crafts and activities (including monthly Girl Scout meetings), and planning ahead for schedule changes, school breaks, summer camps, and alternative care needs

Administrative & Personal Assistant Support

• Assist with travel planning, including booking ground transportation for parental work travel and ensuring all logistical aspects of home life and childcare are planned for and scheduled while parent(s) are away
• Manage family calendars, track reminders, and oversee general administrative tasks
• Help with filing work papers and maintaining organizational systems as needed

Meal Planning & Preparation

• Coordinate weekly meal planning with the family's meal prep chef, ensuring alignment across all meals and household needs
• Manage and prepare all non–non-chef-covered meals, including breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and remaining dinners outside of the chef's four weekly dinners and breakfast quiche
• Ensure all meals and snacks are balanced, nourishing, and strictly adhere to dietary restrictions (gluten-, dairy-, and nut-free for one child)
• Handle grocery shopping (online and/or in person) for household meals, snacks, and pantry essentials, coordinating as needed with the meal prep chef
• Prepare protein-forward, filling school lunches, breakfasts, and snacks for the one child
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness and organization following meal preparation

Laundry & Linen Care

• Wash, dry, fold, and organize family laundry (just for mom and daughter)
• Iron, steam, and prep outfits, especially for work attire
• Ensure laundry areas are tidy and well-stocked

Pet Care

• Feed and walk small dog as needed
• Manage pet care schedules, including administering medications (heartworm), ensuring the mobile groomer is scheduled every 4 weeks, and maintaining pet supplies
• Engage and play with loving family dog regularly

Vendor & Property Oversight

• Schedule and supervise service providers (e.g., cleaners, landscapers)
• Research, coordinate, and manage home repairs and maintenance schedules
• Oversee outdoor