Part-Time House Manager (Ann Arbor)

Sage Haus•Ann Arbor, MI

2d•$33 - $38•Onsite

About The Position

We are a warm, busy, and creatively driven family rooted in a one-of-a-kind home in Ann Arbor. Our house is full of life, with big dogs, art projects, ongoing renovation, and a steady rotation of family and loved ones passing through. We like our home to feel welcoming and alive while also being a functional space for work, creativity, and play for the whole family. Our household has two working parents, two school-age children, and two large Bernese Mountain Dogs who are very much part of the family. One parent works from the home full-time and uses the house as a creative and professional workspace. The other parent is out of the house several days per week for work, with some work-from-home days in the mix as well. Both parents are business-owners and have many moving pieces to manage in their work lives each day while also juggling being intentional, encouraging parents to their children and a major home renovation. We are a free-spirited, go-with-the-flow family who loves to create and are intentional about how we spend our time. We love hosting family gatherings, traveling, and supporting our kids being kids as long as possible. We have our priorities in place, and are now working toward a more organized, functional home. We are looking for someone who can help us get there and stay there to help us thrive in the beautiful chaos that we love.

Requirements

Maintain a smoke-free environment
Must be authorized to work in the United States
Reliable transportation and a valid driver's license
Must be comfortable working in a home with large dogs
Must be comfortable signing and maintaining a confidentiality and nondisclosure agreement
Natural problem solver who thrives when no two days look the same
Proactive and takes initiative without being told what to do next
Tidy, detail-oriented, and able to identify and address needs creatively
Resourceful and able to resolve issues independently
Able to take things off the family's plate
Warm, grounded, and easy to be around
Able to connect with children and understand social dynamics
Flexible without being passive, able to take direction and feedback
Brings own ideas, systems, and initiative
Takes ownership from concept to completion
Has a growth mindset
Comfortable with ambiguity and a bit of chaos
Discreet, trustworthy, and takes privacy seriously
Genuinely cares about doing a good job and being a true partner

Nice To Haves

CPR and First Aid certification is a plus and may be required in the future
Room to grow with time
Possibly be interested in growing as the role and our family evolve

Responsibilities

Wash, dry, fold, and put away all household laundry, including clothing, uniforms, workout clothes, scrubs and other work gear, towels, and bedding
Hang dry items as needed and stain treat garments before washing
Change and launder bed linens between regular cleaning crew visits
Monitor laundry supply levels closely, including detergent levels (the household uses a specialized all-in-one washer/dryer with a basin system that requires attentive monitoring)
Perform thorough daily resets of main living areas: countertops, surfaces, dishes/dishwasher, trash, toys and craft supplies, pillows, blankets, and high-traffic floor areas
Reset the primary bathroom daily and the kids' basement playroom several times per week
Manage organization system in the basement, ensuring all items are consistently put into appropriately labeled bin for ease of access (i.e. overseeing seasonal clothing, décor, bedding swaps, etc)
Create and maintain other household organizational systems
Water all indoor plants and deck plants
Manage smoke detector maintenance and light bulb replacement
Prepare the home and outdoor spaces for gatherings and hosting as needed, including the deck, fire pit area, and outdoor furniture
Assist with packing and fully manage unpacking after family travel, including returning items to their proper places and processing all laundry
Fill the household water filter (critical for a well-water property) and the ice maker and coffee machine with filtered or bottled water daily
Manage household grocery delivery via Kroger Boost: maintain and build the shared list, place orders, unpack, and put everything away
Monitor and manage subscribe-and-save subscriptions, adjusting schedules as needed
Maintain back stock of household supplies and restock when items are running low
Create and manage an organizational system for processing incoming mail and packages: open, sort by category (household, bills, junk, business, brand work, etc.), put away appropriately and flag items needing action
Process returns and handle miscellaneous errands as requested
Break down and recycle cardboard boxes
Batch prep weekly snacks including hard-boiled eggs, homemade protein bars, and prepped (washed/chopped) fruits and vegetables
Prepare 1-2 full dinners per week
Create dinner meal plan using a curated Pinterest board for inspiration (meals should be protein-forward and family-friendly, with one family member who follows a vegetarian diet)
Prepare packable grab-and-go lunches for one parent to take to work
Support the children in packing their own lunches by keeping prep items ready and accessible
Keep the kitchen tidy and functional throughout the day
Brush both dogs once per week
Administer flea and tick preventative medication monthly
Schedule and transport to grooming appointments every 2-3 months and administer occasional at-home baths as comfortable
Schedule veterinary appointments as needed
Opportunity to assist with pet care and oversight during family travel (1-2 times per year)
Monitor the school email calendar for upcoming events, special days, teacher appreciation weeks, and activity-related needs, converting items into tasks and executing them proactively
Coordinate with the virtual assistant, who manages the email inbox, to execute the in-person and logistical side of home, school, and kid-related needs
Provide weekly support with product preparation for content creation, including unboxing and assembling small household items as needed, staging items in the designated filming location, and handling cleanup and put-away after filming
Opportunity to increase involvement with family businesses as role progresses
Ensure children's activity uniforms and gear are clean, organized, and ready ahead of scheduled activities
Provide occasional school pickup or drop-off or backup care as needed (once trust is established)
Perform a light clean of the family vehicle twice per week: remove items, light vacuum or wipe down as time allows
Schedule and drive the family vehicle to maintenance appointments as needed
Track registration and ensure it is current
Coordinate with the regular cleaning crew by flagging areas that need attention, such as the fridge, baseboards, and other areas not covered in routine visits
Assist with seasonal deep clean projects and organization initiatives as requested
Manage donation prep and coordinate drop-offs; assist with listing higher-value items for resale with appropriate privacy considerations
Perform routine monthly checks of well water salt system and fill the basin as needed; monitor salt inventory and place one to two orders per year as needed
Serve as the on-site point of contact for contractors, repair technicians, and service providers
Schedule and oversee maintenance visits for HVAC, appliances, electrical, and other home systems
Research vendors and obtain quotes when a go-to contact is not already in place
Salt and shovel the front porch stairs regularly during winter months