House Manager & Family Assistant (with Light Childcare)

Job description

House Manager & Family Assistant (with Light Childcare) Location: Santa Monica, CA 90405 Employment Type: Part-time, 20–30 hours per week Schedule: Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM and after (4–5 days per week). Occasional evening availability needed (approximately once per week) to support date nights. Flexibility to support family travel on an as-needed basis. Compensation: $40–$45 per hour, commensurate with experience. Start Date: ASAP Requirements Maintain a smoke-free environment. Must be authorized to work in the United States. Reliable transportation required. 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 influenza), subject to applicable legal accommodations. CPR and First Aid certification preferred. Tech-savvy—proficiency in Google Suite, including Google Calendar, and household automation systems. Comfort and experience working with dogs. About Our Family Based in Santa Monica, we're a warm, close-knit, active family of four, including two beloved, very sweet small dogs (one more mature and one younger, newer addition) and two wonderful school-age children (ages 8 and 11), who fill our home with lots of love. We spend a lot of time together as a family and particularly enjoy the mornings—we love the ritual of getting the kids ready, making breakfast together, and walking or biking the children to their nearby schools. After drop-off, our days open up into a mix of meetings, mentorship opportunities, fitness, creative projects, speaking and teaching engagements, and everything in between. Our schedules are flexible and unstructured, which we love, but it also means we need someone consistent and highly organized who can hold down the home base while we're on the move. We care deeply about a well-run, highly organized home and a healthy environment where our kids can flourish. We also have a second property nearby where we split our time, which requires routine care and attention. We've built a great team of vendors around us—cleaners, a dog walker, landscapers, and more—and now we're looking for a highly seasoned, detail-oriented house manager to be the connective tissue that keeps it all on track. From creating and maintaining meaningful systems in our home, tackling laundry with attention to detail and care, overseeing household inventory and vendors, supporting the maintenance of our second property, to light childcare, we’re looking for a true powerhouse to support our household so we can focus on what matters most to us: having the time to be present as a family and enjoy each other’s company. Who You Are / What We're Looking For You are a highly seasoned house manager who has seen it all and doesn't need a detailed to-do list to show up and get to work. You can easily walk in, read the room, assess the family’s more fluid schedule, and use good judgment and excellent time management to know what needs to happen and when. You think a few steps ahead, create meaningful systems that truly hold up over time, and take quiet pride in a reset, organized household that runs like a well-oiled machine. You're highly proactive, not reactive—you check the calendar in advance, make sure the car is fueled and ready for the weekend, notice when the pantry and fridge need restocking well before anything runs out, and audit the kids' clothing to make sure everything still fits properly. You're tech-savvy and are comfortable using Google Calendar and Google Suite, and you treat scheduling accuracy as non-negotiable, especially when it comes to the children. You also communicate clearly and efficiently—you can easily send one well-organized, succinct message that includes all necessary details and updates. Your energy is warm, incredibly professional, and grounded—you would describe yourself as highly detail-oriented, organized, and self-directed. You have a "let's get it done" attitude, offer helpful suggestions to streamline household operations across multiple properties, and quickly notice what needs attention. Our ideal fit is someone comfortable adapting to a more fluid schedule, who naturally anticipates needs, has high emotional intelligence, and takes professional boundaries seriously. You also have excellent time management skills, can balance competing priorities with ease, and are comfortable taking cues from the family's rhythms—you know when it’s appropriate to step in or step back. You must be comfortable and have experience working with dogs and school-age children (ages 8 and 11), and feel aligned with a lifestyle that values health, wellness, and active, intentional living. Key Responsibilities Family Support Provide reliable backup support for local school pickups and activity drop-offs as needed Offer light after-school supervision during afternoon hours as needed Prepare backpacks, clothing, and snacks for school days Coordinate playdates and kid-related logistics Support weekly date night coverage, including proactively sourcing babysitter backup when needed Engage meaningfully with the children during supervision time, including homework support Household Organization & Maintenance Create and maintain functional household organization systems Perform daily resets and prep home for cleaning crew visits Light tidying throughout the day (dishes, surfaces, high-traffic areas) Manage seasonal swaps for kids' clothing, décor, and bedding Coordinate donation drop-offs Prepare home for events, holidays, and guests Assist with packing and unpacking for family travel Care for indoor plants and maintain fresh flowers Proactively change batteries, light bulbs, and smoke detectors Inventory & Errands Restock pantry, fridge, and household supplies Maintain running household supply lists Manage household orders and subscriptions (Amazon, etc) Handle returns, dry cleaning, and gift shopping Manage mail, packages, and box breakdown Meal Support Prep healthy meals and snacks (chopping, washing, prepping ingredients) Prepare simple school lunches for two children, five days per week Handle grocery shopping Assist in sourcing a meal prep chef for batch cooking support Maintain a clean and organized kitchen Laundry & Linens Wash, fold, and organize laundry Handle ironing, steaming, and special garment care as needed Keep laundry areas tidy and well stocked Pet Care Serve as backup for walking (they have regular dog walker), food and water (also children's responsibility) Schedule and transport dogs to vet and grooming appointments Maintain pet supply inventory (food, treats, supplies) Vehicle Upkeep Schedule and coordinate family vehicle maintenance Keep family vehicle fueled, clean, and organized Vendor & Property Oversight Oversee and coordinate existing vendors (cleaning crew, landscapers, pool service, HVAC) Research, solicit quotes, and coordinate repairs and projects Manage outdoor spaces and seasonal property maintenance Handle simple maintenance tasks independently when appropriate, using good judgment about when to DIY versus call a professional Estate-Level Oversight Conduct routine walkthroughs of a second nearby property (check systems, run water, inspect for issues) Coordinate vendors and ensure property readiness at the secondary location as needed Oversee home systems (HVAC, security, pool) via app-based controls and existing vendor relationships Administrative & Calendar Support Manage and maintain the family's Google Calendar with a high degree of accuracy — adding, updating, and tracking all appointments, activities, and events Monitor household email and translate incoming information into calendar entries and action items Coordinate family appointments (medical, dental, and other recurring needs) Support travel planning and logistics in coordination with the family's travel advisor, including weather checks and packing support Deep Cleaning & Special Projects Coordinate occasional deep cleaning tasks with cleaning crew (fridge, oven, baseboards) Refresh garage and entry areas as needed Lead organizational projects focused on kids' rooms, toys, gear, and clothing How to Apply Please submit a cover letter, an updated resume, and three professional references with contact information. 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