Household Manager & Family Assistant

Sage Haus•Chicago, IL

12d•Onsite

About The Position

We’re an active family of four on the northwest side of Chicago with two working parents and two little ones. The kids are in full-time daycare, so the house is usually quiet during the day, but mornings and evenings are a sprint. We also have a sweet older pit/lab mix who loves greeting visitors before heading back for a nap. We’re cultivating a warm, laid-back household — real talk, a lot of laughs, and a home that’s lived-in, not precious. We appreciate people who are direct but kind, and we genuinely want whoever joins us to feel comfortable here. Both parents have demanding full-time jobs—one commuting downtown several days a week and the other traveling fairly often—so the mental load of managing the house has started to crowd out the time and energy we want to spend actually being with our kids. We’re looking for someone who can take real ownership of the household so we can exhale. We recently survived a long bathroom renovation and learned (the hard way) how much smoother life runs when someone competent is coordinating the details. That’s the energy we’re hoping to bring into our week. More than anything, we’re looking for the right fit: someone reliable, steady, and genuinely warm. Who You Are / What We're Looking For You aren’t new to working with families, and you know how to read the room. You can tell when a parent is buried in back-to-back calls and when it’s the perfect moment to pop in with a quick question or when to take care of it on your own. You observe before you overhaul, ask before you change things, and bring a thoughtful, solutions-focused suggestion to the table when you have an idea for how to improve household systems. You’re organized and proactive, but not rigid. You genuinely enjoy taking the mental load off a stretched-thin family and find real satisfaction in the small wins: a clear counter, a stocked pantry, a smoother morning. You’re comfortable around toddlers and their big feelings, unfazed by a dog who greets you like you’re a celebrity and then promptly falls asleep nearby. You take feedback without taking it personally, communicate clearly, and build trust by being steady, warm, and reliably on top of the details. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

Requirements

Prior experience in a household or family assistant role
Comfortable working around young children and a calm 70 lb dog
Maintain a smoke-free environment
Must be authorized to work in the United States
Reliable transportation (vehicle preferred; mileage reimbursement provided)
Ability to navigate multiple flights of stairs throughout the day
Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.

Nice To Haves

Occasional availability/interest for evening date night coverage or overnight care is a plus.

Responsibilities

Create and maintain household organization systems, including the pantry, kids' gear and toys, and recurring clutter spots
Daily tidying resets: wiping kitchen surfaces, running and emptying the dishwasher, light vacuuming of high-traffic areas
Prep the home before cleaning visits
Seasonal clothing and décor swaps, including routinely sorting kids' clothing for size adjustments
Intentionally coordinate and prepare donation drop-offs, including outreach to local community groups and parent networks
Assist with preparation for gatherings and holidays
Pack and unpack for family travel, including post-trip laundry
Maintain air purifiers and humidifiers
Wash, fold, and organize laundry with priority on kids' clothes, towels, and linens
Special garment care, including hand-washing items as directed, ironing, and steaming
Occasional dry cleaning run (~once a month)
Keep laundry area tidy and supplies stocked
Maintain household supply lists (pantry, fridge, household essentials) and restock items as needed
Manage online orders for groceries and household supplies
Handle mail and packages: bring in packages, sort and recycle junk mail, break down boxes
Handle package returns, ensuring items are mailed back prior to return deadline
Shop for gifts and run other miscellaneous errands as requested
Plan and prepare 1–2 family-style dinners per week that double as leftovers and lunches
Wash and prep produce so it's ready to use throughout the week
Batch prepare healthy lunch options for one parent
Grocery shop for smaller hauls approximately once per week
Maintain tidy and organized kitchen space
Manage scheduling and serve as the household point of contact for cleaners, contractors, and service providers
Research repair options and coordinate quotes as needed
Maintain a seasonal home maintenance calendar (HVAC, AC service, air filters, etc.)
Monitor and restock outdoor supplies as needed
Occasional dog walking, particularly when one parent is traveling and the other is in the office
Monitor and restock pet food and supplies
Occasional light backup childcare during daycare closures and date night coverage (evening hours, pending employee availability for extra hours)
Openness to occasional overnight coverage when both parents travel preferred
Kid-related errands as needed
Potential for family support to grow as kids transition to elementary school in a few years
Occasional deep cleans: fridge, oven, pantry, baseboards, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer
Organizational projects focused on kids' toys, gear, and seasonal clothing transitions
Deck tidying when weather allows and possible opportunities to help with small yard maintenance if interested
Maintain proactive awareness of the family calendar (Skylight)
Provide support for travel research for family trips(Airbnb shortlists, itinerary logistics)
Manage occasional appointment or reservation booking
Track expenses and coordinate reimbursements
Assist with planning for birthdays and other events