Household Manager and Family Assistant (with Meal Prep Support)

Sage Haus•Oak Park, IL

23h•Onsite

About The Position

We are an active, close-knit household with two school-age children and a small, friendly Boston Terrier. Our home is energetic and busy, with sports, extracurricular activities, school projects, and a full weekly schedule. We value healthy, thoughtfully-prepared meals and take pride in maintaining an organized and well-functioning home. As our family's schedule continues to evolve, we are looking for a reliable professional who can provide consistent support, help keep the children on track, and contribute to the smooth operation of the household. The parent works from home several days each week and is transitioning toward a more structured return-to-office schedule. This role will provide valuable support in managing the family's day-to-day rhythm and ensuring the household remains organized and functional, even during particularly busy weeks. We value honesty, discretion, reliability, and sound judgment. Our home is warm and welcoming, and we are looking for someone who brings a similarly professional, positive, and respectful presence to the household.

Requirements

Ability to maintain a smoke-free environment.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Reliable personal transportation, valid driver's license, and clean driving record.
Candidates are required to be up to date on recommended vaccinations in accordance with American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, including COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations, subject to applicable legal accommodations.
Proactive, detail-oriented, and highly dependable professional.
Takes pride in keeping a busy household organized and running smoothly.
Naturally attentive to the details of daily life and comfortable taking initiative without needing constant direction.
Warm and nurturing with children while maintaining appropriate boundaries and expectations.
Calm under pressure, communicates clearly, and is equally comfortable managing household tasks, supporting children, preparing meals, running errands, and keeping shared spaces orderly.
Takes ownership of responsibilities and follows through from start to finish.
Strong household management instincts and the ability to anticipate the family's needs.
Organized, resourceful, and comfortable working independently in a fast-paced home environment.
Discretion, sound judgment, and respect for the family's privacy are essential.
Confident and responsible driver, comfortable enforcing established routines and screen time expectations, and committed to providing consistent, professional support.
Someone the family can trust to be reliable, thoughtful, and proactive in helping the household function smoothly.

Nice To Haves

Current CPR and First Aid certification preferred, or willingness to obtain certification.
Mileage reimbursement is provided for work-related errands and transportation.
Occasional evening babysitting.
Occasional evening coverage if additional hours are desired.
Provide occasional ironing or steaming of garments, including dresses and dress shirts.
Assist with longer-term household organization projects, including the basement, pantry overflow, children's toys, seasonal décor, garage, bicycles, and outdoor equipment.
Assist with occasional household projects and organizational initiatives as they arise.

Responsibilities

Provide after-school care Wednesday through Friday, including safe transportation to extracurriculars and occasional weather-related school pickups, while supporting afternoon routines, organization, snacks, school-day preparation, and established household expectations.
Manage children’s laundry and household linens, including washing and maintaining children’s clothing and bedding, household bedding every other week, towels weekly, and kitchen and powder room linens as needed.
Prepare or batch-cook approximately three family meals per week, including washing, chopping, and preparing fruits and vegetables as groceries are received, maintaining grocery lists, and supporting grocery delivery drop-offs and organization.
Complete daily resets of shared spaces, including the kitchen, living room, dining room, parlor, and porches; operate and monitor the robot vacuum/mop; and manage routine indoor plant care.
Provide consistent structure and reinforcement of household expectations, including screen time limits and established routines.
Prepare healthy, higher-protein meals with an emphasis on organic produce and dairy when possible.
Monitor refrigerator and pantry inventory and incorporate existing ingredients into meal preparation to help minimize food waste.
Prepare occasional school lunches as needed.
Complete a thorough kitchen reset at the end of each day, ensuring the space is clean, organized, and ready for the next day.
Encourage the children to maintain their bedrooms and assist with age-appropriate tidying and organization.
Prepare the home for professional cleaning visits every 3–4 weeks by ensuring floors, children's rooms, and other areas are accessible and appropriately organized.
Assist with seasonal clothing organization, including sorting, storing, and coordinating donation drop-offs.
Assist with seasonal and holiday décor changes.
Assist with packing for family travel using provided packing lists.
Manage seasonal porch watering.
Coordinate occasional outdoor household maintenance, including scheduling services such as gutter cleaning; lawn and snow maintenance are managed by outside vendors.
Assist with longer-term household organization projects, including the basement, pantry overflow, children's toys, seasonal décor, garage, bicycles, and outdoor equipment.
Replace household batteries and light bulbs and change smoke detector batteries as needed.
Wash dog bedding as needed.
Provide occasional ironing or steaming of garments, including dresses and dress shirts.
Maintain a clean, organized, and well-stocked laundry area.
Maintain running lists of household supplies, groceries, and pantry needs.
Complete household returns, package breakdown, dry cleaning coordination, and recycling.
Manage Amazon, Costco, Target, and other household orders as needed.
Manage household mail and package organization.
Assist with school-related errands and projects, including purchasing supplies, project materials, and items needed for school activities.
Complete occasional detailed cleaning projects, including refrigerator cleanouts, coffee maker descaling, and similar household maintenance tasks.
Clean and maintain household humidifiers and air purifiers.
Refresh and organize the mudroom, entryway, garage, and other high-traffic areas as needed.
Assist with occasional household projects and organizational initiatives as they arise.
Research and coordinate contractors and service providers for household repairs, maintenance, and seasonal projects.
Schedule and coordinate services such as gutter cleaning, door re-staining, and other home maintenance projects.
Prepare the home for professional cleaning visits and communicate household priorities or special requests to the cleaning team.
Follow up on household maintenance projects and communicate updates or outstanding needs to the family.