Household Manager & Family Assistant

Job Title: Household Manager & Family Assistant Location: Northampton, MA 01060 Employment Type: Part-time | 10 hours per week (guaranteed, with potential to grow) Schedule Core hours Monday and Tuesday, ending by 5:30/6:00 PM for school pickups. Flexible structure - options include two longer blocks Monday and Tuesday, or shorter blocks across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (Wednesday pickups are not required, so an earlier end time is possible). Compensation $28-$32 per hour, based on experience Start Date ASAP Requirements Must be authorized to work in the United States Maintain a smoke-free environment Reliable personal transportation required (mileage reimbursement provided for work-related errands) Candidates are required to be up to date on recommended vaccinations in line with American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines (including COVID-19 and flu), subject to applicable legal accommodations. Must be comfortable working in the home when a child is present and under the weather. Masking is welcome at the candidate's discretion. Must be comfortable working in a diverse and inclusive household About Our Family We are a warm, welcoming household in Northampton, MA led by a single mom who works from home balancing a demanding career and raising two wonderful boys (ages 4 and 7). Our home is also shared with one very sweet, slightly anxious family dog. With 50/50 custody, life naturally ebbs and flows. When the boys are home, they are busy with school and activities, and thrive in an environment where they're encouraged to take healthy risks, work through challenges on their own terms, and simply be themselves. We're looking for a trusted Household Manager who can take ownership of the day-to-day logistics and create the systems and structure that allow our home to run more smoothly. From meal planning and grocery shopping to school pickups, calendar management, household organization, and keeping the kitchen ready for the next meal, your support will help make everyday life feel more manageable. Right now, evenings are often spent catching up on dishes, cleanup, backpack prep, and the countless details that accumulate throughout the day. The goal is to reduce that burden, keep the household running smoothly, and free up time for this single mom to spend with her children. Because this is a work-from-home household, you'll be comfortable working independently while naturally balancing a warm, friendly presence with respect for the workday. The kids may also occasionally be home during your working hours, including when they're sick. Because this is a 10-hour-per-week role, success isn't measured by getting everything done every week. While there are core activities that will happen weekly (food prep, kitchen management, house reset, etc.) there are responsibilities that will happen monthly or by prioritizing a few steps at a time over the course of a few months. We already have biweekly house cleaners and some household support in place, so you won't be starting from scratch. Instead, you'll become a trusted partner who brings consistency, organization, and peace of mind, helping our home feel calm, cared for, and ready for whatever the week brings. Who You Are / What We're Looking For You're someone who enjoys helping busy families feel a little more organized and a lot less overwhelmed. You naturally prioritize the work that creates the biggest impact, knowing that an organized calendar, meals planned and prepped for the week, a reset home, and backpacks ready for tomorrow can make all the difference. You're dependable, proactive, and organized, and you consistently follow through on your commitments. You're warm, kind, and emotionally mature, with experience caring for children and a natural ability to build genuine rapport. You enjoy supporting kids as they grow, encouraging independence, allowing them to take age‑appropriate risks, and calmly guiding them through challenges rather than stepping in too quickly. You're flexible and adaptable, understanding that no two weeks look exactly the same and that priorities may shift depending on the family's schedule and needs. You know how to read a room. You're happy to exchange a friendly conversation, but you're equally comfortable working independently and respecting focused work time in a work-from-home household. You're unfazed by the reality that kids are sometimes home sick and are comfortable working around the natural rhythms of family life. You're an excellent communicator who enjoys collaborating through shared task lists, digital calendars, and household management tools, and you appreciate how much smoother life becomes when everyone is on the same page. Above all, you're trustworthy, professional, and inclusive. You value and respect diverse families and are excited by the opportunity to become a long‑term, trusted partner who helps create a calm, organized home where everyone can thrive. Key Responsibilities Meal Planning & Prep Lead Monday as the primary food day: meal plan, shop for groceries (combination of Instacart and in-person for fresh produce and values-aligned meat), and batch prep proteins and vegetables for the week Prep protein and fiber-forward lunch components for parent (5/week) Prep lunch for one child and snacks for the other child (2-3/week) with thoughtful support for sensory-sensitive eating and gentle palate expansion Prep dinner components (2-4/week) depending on the family schedule Prepare batch ingredients so the parent can quickly assemble meals throughout the week (not full meal assembly) Occasional breakfast batch prep, such as overnight oats Daily kitchen cleanup and reset Household Management & Organization Create and maintain household organization systems, with particular focus on building strong systems in the early weeks of the role Daily home reset: dishes, surfaces, vacuuming high‑traffic areas Prepare the home ahead of biweekly cleaners Seasonal clothing swaps for children Coordinate donation drop‑offs (as time allows) Indoor plant care Replace batteries, light bulbs, and smoke detector batteries as needed Clean dishwasher filter Replace air purifier filters quarterly; clean and refill humidifier as needed during winter months Occasional outdoor tidy: collect and store kids' toys from the yard, ideally with the children's help Help with packing and unpacking for travel as needed Quarterly prep for guest sleeping arrangements Family Support & Child Assistance School pickups: one child by 5:00 PM and one by 5:30 PM using the family vehicle Prep backpacks, clothing, and snacks Help set up space for at‑home OT activities per provided instructions Occasional light backup childcare and supervision as needed Administrative & Personal Assistant Support Awareness of family calendar Manage kids' appointments and activities; work toward a consolidated shared digital calendar Coordinate school and activity signups; track and itemize related costs for co-parent cost-sharing (additional hours may be added) Support event and appointment coordination Travel planning and logistics (nice to have) Inventory & Errands Returns, dry cleaning pick up and drop off Mail and package handling, break down boxes and set up a system for organization Manage running household supply lists and restock pantry, fridge, and household essentials (as time allows) Laundry & Linen Care Fold and put away laundry; occasional washing when it fits the day's schedule Towel rotation (cleaners handle sheets) Restock laundry supplies; keep the laundry area tidy and well organized Pet Care Occasional walks with the family dog; training on handling a somewhat anxious dog will be provided Schedule vet appointments as needed Deep Cleaning & Special Projects Fridge deep clean approximately quarterly Oven and baseboard cleaning approximately twice per year Organizational projects as needed (toys, gear, OT equipment) Vehicle Management Schedule oil changes Occasional interior clean-out and organization This role requires a background check. #J-18808-Ljbffr Sage Haus