House Manager / Family Assistant

House Manager / Family Assistant

Location: Oberlin, Ohio 44074

Employment Type: Part-Time, 18-22 hours per week

Core days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Flexible daytime hours with required midday coverage (especially for pet care)

Academic calendar–based structure, with June and July typically off (or significantly reduced hours)

Schedule shifts each semester; spring may move to Tuesday, Thursday, and one flexible day

Flexibility needed: occasional adjustments for school changes, travel, and household needs

Compensation: $25-$30/hour based on experience

Start Date: Mid-August

Requirements

• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Maintain a smoke-free environment.
• Reliable personal transportation with a clean driving record and willingness to use own vehicle (mileage reimbursement provided).
• Up-to-date on general vaccinations per CDC guidelines.
• CPR and First Aid certification preferred.
• Comfortable with dogs.
• Experience working with neurodivergent children is strongly preferred.

About Our Family

We are a warm, close-knit household that values kindness, humor, and a calm, grounded approach to daily life. Our home includes a school-aged child and a young puppy, and while life here is full and active, we prioritize connection, stability, and creating a sense of ease in the home wherever possible. One parent works in academia, so the family schedule naturally shifts with the academic calendar and can be demanding during the school year.

We are looking for someone who can provide meaningful day-to-day support, with a strong focus on meal preparation and consistent care for both the child and the puppy. Cooking is a major priority — healthy, creative meals that align with a pescatarian and vegetarian household, CSA produce prep, and dependable weekday dinner support. Midday puppy care is also an essential part of the role, along with helping the home stay organized, calm, and running smoothly.

The ideal person is someone who brings steadiness, initiative, and warmth into the home. They are confident in their skills, comfortable working independently, and able to balance structure with flexibility. They take pride in creating order out of daily life logistics and understand the value of being a reliable, grounding presence in a busy household environment.

Who You Are / What We're Looking For

• A warm, grounded communicator who is direct, honest, and calm in both easy and challenging moments
• Experienced working with children and genuinely comfortable around kids who may need extra patience, creativity, and consistency. Bonus points if you know your way around video games (Mario and Minecraft go a long way here).
• Culinarily confident — someone who can cook healthy, creative pescatarian and vegetarian meals.
• Conscientious and organized, with a natural instinct to notice what needs attention and take care of it.
• Reliable, and professional in approach to household management work this role calls for someone who has done this before and takes it seriously.
• Flexible and adaptable with a shifting academic calendar and evolving household needs
• Collaborative in nature — you ask questions, communicate clearly, and respect household decision-making
• Comfortable with dogs and confident handling basic pet care routines

Key Responsibilities

Meal Support (Core Priority)

• Prepare 2-3 breakfasts per week (egg-based dishes and similar healthy options).
• Cook 4 weeknight dinners, with enough for lunch leftovers the following day; mix of hot-and-ready and prepped-to-reheat.
• Wash, chop, and prep weekly CSA produce for snacks and meal planning.
• Advise on the grocery list (family manages online ordering and pickup).
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness and organization throughout.

Family Support (Core Priority)

• Occasional daytime coverage for school closures or no-school days; very occasional evening support (about 3 hours, roughly once a month or every other month)
• Handle weekday afternoon school pick-ups (Monday–Friday) if the child transitions to a school farther from home (approximately 30 minutes away, TBD)
• Occasional overnight babysitting for parent work travel, approximately 2-3 times per year on an ad-hoc basis.

Pet Care (Core Priority)

• Midday check-in, feeding, and outdoor walks/potty breaks for the puppy
• Occasional pet-sitting overnights as needed.

Home Systems (Ongoing Maintenance)

• Wash, fold, and organize towels (weekly) and the bedding and blankets (bi-weekly).
• Deep cleaning tasks not covered by the biweekly cleaner: refrigerator, couch covers, shower grout, dishwasher, laundry machine & dryer, walls, baseboards, and windows.
• Take out the recycling (weekly).
• Clean two small humidifiers in the winter.

Additional Responsibilities (if time allows during the week)

Household Organization & Maintenance

• Daily resets: dishes, wiping surfaces, vacuuming high-traffic areas.
• Maintain existing household organization systems; new systems welcome but not required.
• Ensure the laundry area remains tidy and well-stocked.
• Prepare donation drop-offs and coordinate as needed.
• Replace light bulbs, batteries, and air purifier filters as needed.
• Organizational projects (e.g., toys, gear, closets) as needed

Inventory & Errands

• Maintain shared household inventory list and flag low-stock items for replenishment via Amazon and Target (with family approval before purchase)
• Occasional Amazon returns

Vehicle & Vendor Oversight

• Research and coordinate repair and home improvement quotes as needed.
• Clean the family vehicle interior.
• Be present and act as point person for building contractors and repair people.

Administrative & Personal Assistant Support

• Assist with expense tracking for work-related travel as needed.
• Travel planning and logistics support is a welcome bonus skill.

How to Apply

Please ensure to include the following when applying:

• A brief letter explaining why you'd be a great fit for this role
• Your updated resume
• At least 3 professional references with contact information

This role requires a background check.

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