Are you considering taking a House Manager position? Do you feel like your current position has unofficially merged into being a House Manager? Let’s get into the details.
What Is a House Manager?
A House Manager is an overseer of all duties that affect and contribute to the flow of the house and family. Their role is to ensure that the day-to-day functioning of the house runs “smoothly”.
What Does a House Manager Do?
A House Manager can do a plethora of tasks within a household. Here is a breakdown of the most common duties.
Scheduling
- Oversee Family Calendar
- Manage vendor & household maintenance appointments.
- Planning and scheduling of children’s appointments and activities.
- Travel plans
- Parties
Shopping/Inventory
- Food
- Children’s Clothing
- Household Supplies
Organization
- Pantries
- Closets
- Drawers
- Important Documents
Chores
- Laundry
- Light Housekeeping
- Pets
Errands/Miscellaneous
- Manage Household Staff
- Grocery
- Cooking
- Dry Cleaning
- Car Maintenance
- Budget
Do House Managers Care For the Child/ren?
As a House Manager, the interaction with the children is definitely limited, if at all. So, it’s very common for a house manager to work early and/or daytime hours. This ensures that there are no kiddos around or in the way while the managing of the house is happening. With that being said, there are a few different types of house managers.
Nanny Manager – A Nanny manager is a type of House Manager that is full nanny to the children and manager of the home.
House Manager – A standard House Manager is mostly dedicated to the duties of the house but may have minimal interaction with the children. Some even care for the children for a portion of their hours.
Family Assistant – A Family assistant has no interaction with the children. This title requires you to focus solely on the running of the household.
What Is a Typical House Manager Schedule?
House Managers can work anywhere from 4-8 hours per day. It usually depends on the size and the specific needs of the family. Since this job can support both large fully-staffed households and small ones, you can find both part-time and full-time positions.
What Skills Does a House Manager Need?
The work of a house manager requires a wide-ranging skillset. Families are usually looking for very experienced HM’s but, there are also families who can recognize your skills and value without previous house management experience. Here are the main ones that you need to succeed as a House Manager:
Leadership: As a House Manager, you’ll usually be managing other household staff and vendor accounts/appointments. That requires a take-charge type of person who can lead and direct others.
Organization: Keeping closets, playrooms, pantries, etc. clean and organized is no easy task. Organization has to be a natural skill for you.
Multi-tasking: A House Manager handles a plethora of tasks, sometimes all at once. So, you need to be capable of handling multiple things at once.
Flexibility: With managing an entire household, there are many things that can be thrown your way. You must be flexible and capable of handling anything that may pop up.
Excellent Communication: You’ll sometimes be talking to a lot of people and handling different scheduling and mediating tasks. You’ll also be relaying information back and forth. You must have a strong ability to communicate effectively.
If any of this appeals to you this may be just the position you are looking for! Or, something you are already doing. If you feel your day-to-day has already evolved to this job description, it may be time to speak to the family about making some adjustments. Especially regarding pay. If you are interested in pursuing a House Manager position, this is the time to update your resume to highlight the relevant skills. You can also reach out to references who you may have helped with tasks similar to that of a House Manager to prep them to speak on those particular tasks when contacted.
