HOUSEHOLD MANAGER DUTIES & HIRING GUIDE

The demands of a large home are executive-level! If you are seeking professional oversight for complex home operations, staff management, and long-term planning, a Household Manager is the solution. Learn more about this leadership role, including duties, and the qualities to look for when hiring a Household Manager.

WHAT IS A HOUSEHOLD MANAGER?

A Household Manager is a highly experienced professional who serves as the CEO of the home. This role is executive in nature, focusing on the management of staff, budgets, long-term maintenance, and efficiency of a large residence. Unlike a Family Assistant who often provides hands-on support, the Household Manager operates from an oversight level. Their primary goal is to ensure the home is running seamlessly and the principal’s time and privacy are protected. A Household Manager is an excellent fit for families that employ a full staff, or travel between multiple residences.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

A Household Manager’s duties are tailored to fit the needs of the family, often including the following tasks:

Staff and Contractor Supervision: Overseeing and managing domestic staff and coordinating external contractors (e.g., landscapers, repair technicians).
Home Maintenance & Repairs: Proactively managing the home maintenance calendar, coordinating appointments, obtaining bids, and overseeing projects from start to finish.
Budgeting & Expense Reports: Managing household budgets, tracking expenditures, handling invoices, and preparing detailed expense reports.
Inventory Management: Monitoring and maintaining inventory of household supplies, ensuring the home is fully stocked.
Calendar Management: Managing family calendars, scheduling all appointments (personal, professional, medical), and confirming details.
Event Coordination: Planning, coordinating, and executing family events, parties, and special occasions.
Errands and Logistics: Running essential family errands, managing shipments, mail, and specialized shopping.
General Organization: Maintaining the organization of common areas, pantries, storage spaces, and administrative files.
Travel Planning: Arranging all aspects of family travel, from flights and accommodations to detailed itineraries.
Point of Contact: Acting as the primary point of contact for the principals, fielding communications and filtering information.

Note on Childcare: A Household Manager’s responsibilities do not typically include primary childcare. While some families may require secondary support (like driving older children or light supervision), the main focus remains on managing the household’s operational needs.

BENEFITS OF A HOUSEHOLD MANAGER

Hiring a Household Manager is a strategic decision that provides organizational stability and peace of mind for the principals.

Executive Oversight: By taking responsibility for the high-level management of the home, the Household Manager provides a single, professional point of contact for all complex operations, freeing the principals from a myriad of tasks.
Guaranteed Efficiency: A Household Manager will implement streamlined systems for budgeting, maintenance, and staff scheduling, which translates to cost savings and increased longevity of property assets.
Discretion: They protect the privacy and personal time of the principals by handling all sensitive staff, vendor, and financial matters with professionalism.

HIRING A HOUSEHOLD MANAGER

A successful Household Manager is a sophisticated leader and project manager. Starling looks for candidates with these essential traits:

Proven Executive Leadership: The ideal candidate must have a demonstrated track record of managing employees, complex budgets, and high-value physical assets.
Financial Acumen: Strong skills in budgeting, accounting, and expense tracking are crucial, along with an ability to negotiate contracts favorably.
Utmost Discretion and Professionalism: They must possess impeccable judgment, maintain the highest standards of professional conduct, and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to respecting family privacy.
Systemic and Proactive: The best Household Managers don’t just respond to problems; they design, implement, and maintain the organizational systems that prevent problems from occurring.

APPLYING AS A HOUSEHOLD MANAGER

If you are a professional Personal Assistant or Nanny considering the Household Manager role, focus on developing the bridge between your existing skillsets.

Shift to Delegating: Move to managing staff and vendors. This requires strong leadership and delegation skills.
Financial Management: Hone your skills in creating and tracking complex budgets, managing vendor contracts, and handling payroll and household accounts with precision.
Develop Property Expertise: Focus on preventative maintenance planning, learning about home systems (HVAC, smart home tech, security), and overseeing projects like renovations and high-value repairs.

CONCLUSION

The Household Manager is the executive leader and organizational backbone of a large home. By offering strategic oversight and staff management, the Household Manager ensures the principal’s life remains seamless, private, and efficiently run.

Ready to hire a Household Manager? Contact Starling to help define the perfect executive role for your home!

Starling is a stellar nanny placement agency proudly serving Greater Seattle and the Eastside. Starling nannies are passionate about education and child development! We represent professional nannies, private teachers, newborn care specialists, household managers, family assistants, personal assistants, and more. Learn more about Starling’s core values.