House Manager/Private Chef

Job Title: House Manager/Private Chef

Location: St. Helena, CA 94574

Employment Type: Part-Time, 25–30 hours per week

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 2:00 PM -7:00 PM. Occasional evening, weekend, and overnight availability required.

Compensation: $35–$40/hour, depending on experience. Mileage reimbursement provided.

Start Date: ASAP

Requirements:

• Ability to maintain a smoke-free environment
• Ability to maintain a fragrance-free environment
• Reliable transportation, valid driver's license, and clean driving record
• CPR and Infant First Aid Certification required
• Skylight calendar platform fluency preferred
• Comfortable signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA); strict privacy and discretion are non-negotiable.
• Clean, professional, and practical attire and hygiene standards required. Clothing should be neat, safe, and appropriate for household, childcare, cooking, and errands. Standards will be applied consistently and in compliance with California law, including reasonable accommodations for religion, disability, pregnancy, medical needs, and protected hairstyles.
• 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 annual influenza), subject to applicable legal accommodations
• Must be authorized to work in the United States

About Our Family

We are a busy, high-achieving household in the heart of Napa Valley wine country. Our home is led by a driven professional with deep hospitality roots and brings that same high standard of excellence into her personal life.

Our household includes an active toddler who thrives outdoors and follows a Montessori, screen-free approach to learning (swimming, music, and art are favorites). A new baby is on the way in February, and we also share our home with a calm, lovable black Labrador who is very much part of the family.

We value wellness, nourishing food, and thoughtful systems. We operate with an organized, minimalist mindset — if something isn't serving us, it goes — and we appreciate people who bring that same standard of excellence and care to their work.

With a full-time nanny and a weekly housekeeper already in place, the family is now seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated House Manager to collaborate day-to-day operations with the nanny—someone who can bring everything together and keep it running smoothly.

Who You Are / What We're Looking For

The family is seeking an organized, self-starting House Manager who can bring structure, warmth, and a high standard of execution to a busy household. The right candidate will be proactive, polished, and deeply service-oriented — someone who can anticipate needs, manage the household flow, and take ownership of the details so that the principal has more capacity, presence, and ease as the family prepares to welcome a new baby.

You are energetic and personable, with strong judgment and the ability to stay calm and resourceful in a flexible, fast-paced environment. You take pride in solving problems creatively, bringing thoughtful solutions to the table, and creating a smoother daily rhythm at home. You understand how to balance independent ownership with close collaboration, especially in a home with young children, a full-time nanny, a housekeeper, and a beloved family dog.

A proven culinary background, including nutrition and organized kitchen systems, is essential. You are confident shopping at farmers' markets, prepping fresh ingredients, and preparing healthy, varied meals for both adults and young children. Mediterranean, produce-forward cooking and maintaining a clean, organized station should all feel natural to you. A background in professional cooking, front-of-house hospitality, and/or estate management would be a strong asset.

You are discreet by nature, polished in your presentation, tech-savvy, and comfortable managing multiple priorities at once. Above all, you are looking to become a trusted, long-term partner to a household where excellence, care, and good judgment matter every day.

Qualities We're Looking For:

• Hospitality & Service Mindset: You naturally make people feel welcomed, cared for, and at ease, bringing warmth, positive energy, and emotional intelligence into every interaction. You are highly observant, proactive, and take pride in anticipating needs while representing the household with discretion, professionalism, and good judgment.
• Culinary & Meal Prep Skills: You have strong kitchen fundamentals and a true cooks mindset—comfortable with mise en place, prep lists, timing and pacing multiple dishes, and leaving a clean, organized kitchen. In addition, you can plan batch-cooked breakfasts and prepare kid-friendly meals daily.
• Family-Oriented & Emotionally Intelligent: Experience supporting families with young children is required. You connect easily with others, read emotional cues, and balance independent work with collaboration to create a positive, supportive environment for a growing family.
• Poise and Strong Communication Skills: You have polished written and verbal communication skills, handling tasks with grace and efficiency. You can handle last-minute changes, flexible schedules, and sensitive dynamics with tact, poise, and steady professionalism.
• Ability to Work Independently & Proactive Mindset: You are a self-starter who takes initiative, manages tasks with minimal direction, and maintains a fast-paced, consistent flow of communication with the principal. People describe you as thoughtful, resourceful, and discerning.
• Tech-Savvy: You're highly proficient with Skylight as well as calendaring and ordering tools.

Key Responsibilities

Meal Support

• Plan, prep, and fully prepare 3–5 dinners with leftovers each week, plus batch-cooked breakfasts
• Mise en place prep: Clean and chop all produce; vegetables and break down proteins
• Cook in a Mediterranean, produce-forward style — vegetable and fish-led, fruit, whole grains. No processed foods or junk food.
• Prepare kid-friendly, nutritious meals and snacks that are creative and varied.
• Weekly grocery shopping, including local farmer's markets (Tuesdays and Fridays)
• Kitchen clean-up and maintenance

Household Organization, Inventory & Errands

• Create and maintain household organization systems
• Light tidying (dishes, surfaces, vacuum high-traffic areas)
• Guest-ready daily resets and prep home for weekly cleaners
• Manage running household supply lists
• Manage household orders and subscriptions (Amazon/Costco/Target)
• Restock pantry/fridge/household supplies
• Refresh garage/mudroom/entry
• Organizational projects (toys, gear)
• Receipt/budget tracking
• Family calendar/Skylight management (including household schedules)
• Coordinate with weekly cleaning service

Inventory & Errands

• Returns, dry cleaning, gift shopping
• Mail and package handling
• Breakdown boxes
• Roll out trash bins
• Change batteries, light bulbs, smoke detectors, etc.

Laundry & Linens

• Wash/fold/organize laundry
• Ironing/steaming and special garment care
• Linen rotation
• Maintain tidy and well-stocked laundry areas

Family Support

• Back-up pick-ups/drop-offs
• Light supervision / back-up childcare, including nights and weekends
• Prep backpacks/clothing/snacks
• Kid-related errands

Pet Care

• Afternoon feeding/walking of the family Labrador
• Vet/grooming scheduling
• Administer medications
• Maintain pet supplies

How to Apply

Please send a short intro letter telling us about yourself and why this role is a great fit, an updated resume, and 3 professional references with contact information. Please note that this role requires a background check.

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