House Manager & Family Assistant with Meal Prep Support

House Manager & Family Assistant with Meal Prep Support

Location: Palo Alto, CA 94301

Employment Type: Part-time | 16–20 hours per week, with potential to grow into a full-time role

Schedule: 2 - 3 days | Monday - Friday | Flexible within the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Compensation: $40–$50 per hour / based on experience

Start Date: ASAP

Requirements

• Maintain a smoke-free environment.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Reliable personal transportation required; mileage reimbursement provided.
• Fragrance-free.
• 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.
• CPR and First Aid certification preferred.
• Spanish or Farsi speaking is a plus.

About Our Family

We are a family of three living in Palo Alto, made up of two working parents and our energetic two-year-old daughter, who truly lights up every room she enters. Between demanding careers and the joyful chaos of raising a toddler, our days are full, and our schedules are often unpredictable. Life has become wonderfully full, and we've realized that bringing the right person into our home will allow us to shift our energy away from managing endless to-do lists and toward spending more quality time together as a family, enjoying the slower moments we've been missing.

Our home runs on routines, systems, and thoughtful planning. We appreciate organization, consistency, and creating an environment where everyone knows what to expect. We don't have family nearby, so the support we build around us is incredibly meaningful. Right now, we're living in an apartment while preparing for the next chapter. Over the coming year, we'll be managing the renovation of our newly purchased home before eventually moving in. While we're excited about what's ahead, we also know it will add another layer of complexity to an already full season of life. We're looking for someone who can help us stay organized and grounded throughout the transition, bringing consistency and calm to both our current home and the move ahead.

Our daughter is full of joy, curiosity, and energy, and she loves being around people. Connection and conversation are huge priorities for our family, so we keep her daily routine screen-free. This is primarily a household management role, but because family life happens alongside it, we'd love to find someone who enjoys young kids and brings a warm, grounding presence to our home.

Perhaps most importantly, we're looking for a long-term partnership. One of us grew up with a house manager who became an extension of the family for over a decade—someone who quietly kept everything running, cared deeply for the household, and became a trusted presence in everyday life. That experience shaped our vision for this role. We aren't simply hiring someone to complete tasks; we're hoping to welcome someone into our lives who takes genuine pride in creating a home that feels organized, peaceful, and well cared for. As our family grows and eventually transitions into our new home, we hope this role grows right alongside us.

Who You Are / What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate for this role is a seasoned, self-directed professional who brings warmth, structure, and genuine care to everything they do. You're the kind of person who walks into a home, quickly assesses what needs attention, and gets to work without waiting to be asked. You naturally create systems that simplify daily life, take pride in maintaining them, and genuinely enjoy helping a busy household feel more peaceful, efficient, and balanced.

One of your greatest strengths is the kitchen. You love to cook and find joy in creating fresh, wholesome meals from scratch. Meal planning, grocery shopping, and introducing new recipes are things you look forward to, not chores to check off. You understand the value of variety, enjoy working with seasonal ingredients, and are excited by the opportunity to prepare nutritious Mediterranean-inspired meals that help support a healthy family lifestyle.

You're exceptionally dependable, punctual, and thrive in a household where routines matter. You understand that consistency creates peace of mind, and you can be counted on to follow through, think ahead, and anticipate needs before they arise. Whether you're keeping the pantry stocked, organizing the home, coordinating errands, or helping prepare for an upcoming move, you approach every responsibility with the same level of ownership and attention to detail.

Most importantly, you're looking for more than your next position. You're excited by the opportunity to become a trusted, long-term household partner—someone who grows alongside our family, takes genuine pride in making our lives easier, and finds fulfillment in creating the kind of home where everyone can thrive.

Key Responsibilities

Meal Support

• Follow a Mediterranean dietary framework: fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, and fish; no sugar, no repeated meals, no leftovers
• Prepare lunch for one adult + our daughter up to 5 days per week
• Provide dinner support 2–3 times per week through fresh meal, batch cooking, or meal prep (washing / chopping veggies and proteins) for the family
• Manage Amazon Fresh and household delivery orders
• Grocery shopping as needed
• Kitchen cleanup and maintenance after meal prep sessions

Household Organization & Maintenance

• Maintain and build upon household organization systems; keep the home running smoothly day to day
• Daily resets: tidy surfaces, pick up toys, vacuum high-traffic areas, light bathroom and kitchen cleaning
• Prepare home ahead of house cleaner
• Weekly fridge refresh: remove expired items, reorganize
• Maintain pantry organization system after grocery restocking
• Change batteries, light bulbs, and smoke detectors as needed
• Be present and serve as point of contact for scheduled home service visits (HVAC, etc.)
• Seasonal clothing, décor, and bedding swaps
• Toy and book rotation
• Event and guest prep, including annual birthday party and occasional hosting
• Packing and unpacking for family travel, with special attention to toddler gear
• Clean humidifiers and air purifiers

Laundry & Linens

• Wash, dry, fold, and put away laundry for the full household
• Weekly linen and towel rotation
• Occasional ironing and steaming; special garment care as needed
• Maintain a tidy and well-stocked laundry area

Inventory & Errands

• Restock pantry, fridge, and household supplies
• Manage running supply lists and recurring subscriptions (Amazon, Costco, Target), including diapers and wipes
• Handle returns, dry cleaning, and occasional gift shopping
• Mail and package handling
• Break down boxes

Deep Cleaning & Special Projects

• Occasional deep cleans: refrigerator, oven, baseboards
• Organizational projects for toys, baby gear, and pantry
• Storage room organization and decluttering
• Support with future move coordination: packing, storage clean-out, and listing items for sale

Family Support

• Light supervision and backup childcare as needed
• Occasional weekend babysitting for date nights; future overnight coverage as the relationship grows
• School pickup and drop-off
• Backpack and snack prep as the child transitions to school age
• Access to and management of the shared family calendar; add relevant appointments and activities as needed
• Event and appointment coordination on an as-needed basis

Vehicle Upkeep

• Occasional interior cleaning and refreshing of the family vehicle