Household Staff Job Definitions
Here we present an overview of the key staff positions in a private home. There is a great deal of variety between homes and this is why International Domestic Placement Group always prepares a detailed job description for clients that can be used to explain the position to candidates who have been pre-qualified for an available job. More detailed job definitions are available upon request.
Household Manager
Household Managers take care of the daily details of managing a home thereby freeing up time for the employer to do other things. This is a rather general job title and actual duties will vary in each situation. The more complex the residence and the standards of the home, then the more sophisticated and professional the House Manager should be.
Taking care of the daily details can mean that the House Manager is doing some cooking, cleaning, driving and other domestic tasks. At this level, the position is relatively uncomplicated and salaries are often in the $40 - $50,000 range typically with accommodation and medical benefits. The successful employee will often be efficient, skillful and quick to antecipate their employers needs.
The House Manager position is one of esteemed stature within a traditional household, bringing with it ultimate responsibility and often full accountability for the management of the house. Frequently the most senior role in the staff hierarchy, the House Manager is responsible for the every day running of often more than one residence. An experienced House Manager should exhibit managerial qualities of highly professional standards. The role demands excellence in organizational and operational skills. He/she should have an extremely diverse knowledge basis and competencies with staff management and training, development of household standards and protocols, financial accounts and budgeting, household inventories and supply control, planning of formal entertainment and business schedules, and all other household responsibilities that would ensure for the smooth running of any given establishment. Reporting directly to the employer, a House Manager is an invaluable asset to any busy household. Excellent recommendations and vast previous experience is quintessential.
Being the do-it-all person is not the aspiration or best utilization of all Household Managers. By virtue of training and experience more sophisticated Household Managers can utilize a broader range of talents and skills to save employer time and money. Managing staff, anticipating employer needs, being able to think the way the employer thinks, understanding pro active property management, event planning, security understanding luxury items, and more are in the play book of these professionals. It is understood that there is always some hands on involvement and this level of Household Manager will know all the domestic tasks in order to properly supervise, train and fill in if necessary. Salaries can reach to $100,000 for such talented individuals with accommodation and benefits...
Butler
The British style Butler is often in uniform and primarily charged with managing the household staff, reception of guests, serving of refreshments and meals, maintaining the fine silver and china, the valet of the employers clothing and various other duties. The Butler reflects a formal image. Generally duties would not include cooking and cleaning duties other than as trainer or fill in...
The current perception of the USA Butler combines the duties of the Household Manager with a more formal attitude and mindset of the formal Butler. As with the House Manager job definition, there is a wide range in the actual job duties depending on the particular residence and also on the quality, experience and skill of the individual providing Butler service.
Salaries can vary greatly. The classic Butler who has executive level management skills, excellent job history and who can portray a wonderful service personality can achieve salaries of $80,000 and up. The USA Butler salaries would track the figures given above for Household Manager.
Chauffers
A chauffer must be a high calibre professional drivers to fulfil private or corporate positions and have substantial experience and knowledge driving within New York City and the outer districts. It is preferential that Chauffeurs have had some right-hand-drive experience and performed Anti-Terrorist and Defensive driving courses. Applicants must hold a clean, full licence and have had experience driving premiere cars including; Bentley, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Mercedes S-Class, Limousines and stretched vehicles. It is often beneficial that candidates have obtained American Chauffer Gu Exceptional recommendations are imperative.
Estate Manager
Primarily an Estate Manager is paralleled to the expectations and capabilities of a House Manager, yet focuses upon the Estate and property, rather than the house of residence. An Estate Manager is often required to manage many properties acquired by the employer, ensuring all estates are well organized and impeccably maintained. An Estate Manager should control and promote the collective operations of all gardening, maintenance and other ground staff. Furthermore they should develop and sustain financial budgets and accounting requirements for the estate. This role is directly reportable to the employer, and is accountable for all other ground staff. Accommodation in the form of a self-contained cottage is most commonly provided on the property. Large estate or farming management is beneficial for successful placements combined with excellent references and previous experience
Often Estate and Household Manager jobs are thought of as being the same. A job title is what the employer wants to call it. For purposes of our definition, these two jobs are not the same. When taken to a greater range of responsibility the title Household Manager gives way to the Estate Manager who has all the same skills and more. There will have more property, staff and issues to take care of. Management often includes careful financial oversight, policy making authority and use of executive level communications skills. There may be a very large estate involved with significant auxiliary features such as stables, golf course, vineyard and so forth. There may be private aircraft and yachts to oversee and perhaps multiple homes to oversee. There may be an involvement with the employer's business. As with the Household Manger, the Estate Manage needs to understand the jobs of all staff that he or she oversee. Salaries range from $80,000 to $150,000 or more with corporate style benefits.
Lady's maid
A Lady's Maid defined...
A Lady's Maid is a domestic professional who serves as a "lady-in-waiting" so to speak to her female employer. A Lady's Maid serves as a personal maid to the lady of the house and accommodates her personal needs and service. A Lady's Maid is similar to her male counterpart, a Gentleman's Gentleman.
What qualifications does a Lady's Maid have?
A minimum of three years as a Housekeeper or Lady's Maid
Knowledge of social etiquette and the affluent lifestyle
Strong communication and organizational skills
In what type of residence are the services of a Lady's Maid required?
A client in need of a Lady's Maid would be one who led a very busy lifestyle with social and professional engagements. A Lady's Maid often is of great assistance to a client who participates in many charitable and social activities and requires extensive wardrobe and lifestyle assistance.
What are the duties of a Lady's Maid?
Duties of a Lady's Maid include but are not limited to:
Complete service to the lady of the house
All packing and preparations for travel
Light housekeeping to the lady's quarters
Occasional meal service and light preparation
Travel companion to the lady of the house on personal and professional engagements
What is the salary range of a Lady's Maid?
Salary range is dependant on a number of circumstances not limited to but including:
Years of professional experience
Educational background
Formal training
Extent of benefits offered
Hours
Duties
Our candidate salaries do not depend on live-in or live-out scenarios. In general, a Lady's Maid is compensated $45,000-65,000 annually
Personal Assistant
Working on a one-on-one basis within a home office environment and is responsible for all organizational matters both commercial and private for the employer. A Personal Assistants duties include managing the home office, all secretarial duties, diary management and scheduling appointments, organization of mail and responses, manage accounts payable and expenses, travel arrangements, overseeing special projects and organizing corporate and private entertainment.
As with Household Manager, the Personal Assistant duties will vary in every employment situation. From being a home based secretary to performing duties similar to the Household Manager, the P/A is usually very flexible and coordinates many important activities in the home. Often the Personal Assistant works closely with the Household Manager to synchronize information and quickly handle requests of the family. Job duties can include keeping the family calendar, managing the House Book which documents important household information, along with all types of errands, shopping, and special projects and sometimes helping other household staff with special projects. The Personal Assistant commands a salary from $40,000 to $90,000 or more with benefits. Often this is a live out position. Housekeeper and Houseman These important positions are primarily responsible for the cleaning tasks in the home. They will usually follow a daily routine and have good knowledge of cleaning methods and the proper use of cleaning supplies and equipment. Good organization and ability to prioritize are important. Depending on the home other duties such as light food preparation, shopping and errands may become part of the job. Salaries range from hourly rates to $30,000 - $50,000 per year with benefits. Generally this is a live out position and candidates are sourced locally.
Executive Housekeeper
An Executive Housekeeper is one of the key management people in the hospitality industry. They are responsible for the cleanliness and service standards within the accommodation sector of the property and can supervise staff ranging from a few, to several hundred and can be responsible for operational budgets ranging from a few thousand to a few million dollars per annum. Today's Executive Housekeeper has a wide and varied array of responsibilities and to meet the ever changing and challenging demands of the position needs available current resources to educate and support. Some of the duties can include but are not limited to the following:
- Recruitment , selection and training of the Housekeeping staff.
- Counselling and disciplining of staff.
- Sourcing , selection and purchasing of all equipment used in the Housekeeping department.
- Develop cleaning programmes whether daily or periodical..
- Prepare and work within the constraints of budgets for payroll , capital and expenses.
- Maintain a clean and safe workplace and apply current Health and Safety legislation.
- Decide methods and techniques of cleaning.
- Selection of chemicals and the application of current legislation in relation to handling and storage.
- Keep an up to date room inventory and liaise with all other operational departments on a daily basis.
- Liaise with outside contractors
Private Chef
The world of private households can offer great opportunities to both Chefs and Cooks, and 1st Agency prides itself on placing the perfect Chef with the most suited employer. We promote long-term placements for private estates or households and can arrange Chefs for private dining experiences and private functions. A personal Chef should have exceptional experience with the employer's desired cuisine, yet also facilitate a diverse range of culinary skills and attributes. It is often assumed that the Chef will individually manage the kitchen inventory. Our Chefs and Cooks have extremely high standards and experience, with most of our Chefs holding a Head Chef position in five stars Hotels and prestigious Country Estates. In addition to the training and talent required for preparing food that pleases the palate of the employer the Chef needs to have a temperament that is very flexible to last minute changes, special requests and the differing personalities of the family and friends being served. Private Chefs should have a good understanding of various styles of table service, party protocols and the job duties of other staff. The ability to maintain a record of family and guest preferences is important as well a willingness to be alert to requests to try different things. Abilities to shop carefully for quality and to manage the kitchen for efficiency, cleanliness and cost effectiveness are valued by employers. Salaries range from $45,000 to $90,000 with benefits. Usually this is a live out position.
Couple
Couples are two people who can individually fill a staffing need in the home. Often these couples can handle all the domestic work in a smaller residence themselves or with a housekeeper. Most couples enjoy working together so that both might be involved in the various domestic tasks, splitting up as they decide themselves for best efficiency. Salaries are currently $65,000 - 120,000 with accommodation and benefits. Caretaker couples are two people who prefer taking care of properties that are only used on a part time basis. They can rise to the occasion when the owners are in residence, but generally prefer a more relaxed pace that allows them more time for themselves while providing a presence on property that is valued by the employer. Salaries are $40,000 and up for these couples.
Houseman
Under-butler or male housekeeper responsible for the heavier housework in a more formal household. Is a very popular domestic position requested by clients nowadays as a general halfway house between a butler and housekeeper in less formal situations covering hands on cleaning, cooking and some driving.
Gardeners
A Gardener is described as 'A person who tends to gardens as either a profession or as a hobby.' We believe that those who choose to establish a successful career in gardening must have a deep passion for gardens, often a direct consequence of what originally began as a hobby. Marshall Harber & 1st Agency seek Gardeners with a genuine desire to tender and care for all styles and types of gardens, having substantial experience which supports this devotion. It is preferential to have horticultural qualifications. We require applicants to have a firm knowledge of large properties that have hosted, formal gardens and topiary, vegetable gardens, organics, herbaceous settings, woodlands, ponds, swimming pools and themed gardens. Gardeners are either commonly granted cottage-style accommodation within the property grounds or nearby. Driving machinery and heavy vehicles is essential. We aim to correlate property styles with suited Gardeners, always ensuring they have relevant previous experience and excellent references
Nanny, Governess and Governor
The care and nurturing of children is probably the most important task that is hired out in a private home situation. From simple babysitting to more complex child care involving multiple children, educational programming, travel, special education, the range of duties can be wide. Usually the childcare provider may have other duties for the children, such as light housekeeping, some cooking and laundry duties. Salaries vary from a few hundred dollars weekly for live in to over $100,000 for qualified, highly experienced English Nannies and Governesses.
The need for both qualified and experience-based Nannies is continuously increasing. Many households are seeking professional and well-established Nanny assistance, to either live-in or live-out to help caring for the children. This often is in the capacity of primaryly care of the children, or sometimes may be more like a mother help, offering some assistiance and a little well deserved respite for the parents. We require that Nannies must have exceptional references from previous employers, experience and those Nannies who can provide supporting credentials.
Our reference validation process is very thorough, and we require substantial evidence of authenticity prior to placing Nannies into private houses. It is expected that Nannies perform all nursery duties, preparation of children's meals, washing and ironing of all the children's clothes, ensuring the children's bedrooms and play rooms are kept clean and orderly, perform school runs and encourage the participation of community activities. Nannies with current, clean, full driving licences are highly sought-after. We only promote Nannies who take great pride in their work. They must seek job satisfaction and aim to stimulate early childhood development through a balance of creative, educational and recreational activity.
Baby Nurses
Baby Nurses are an experienced trained infant/newborn specialist who comes into your home in the first weeks of your infants life to assist Mom and Dad with the day-to-day care of their new baby. Baby Nurses work 24-hour days, meaning, they are on-call at all times to care for the baby. A Baby Nurse educates the new parents on caring for their new infant, assists in establishing a routine eating/sleeping/wake schedule for the baby and provides lactation consulting to breastfeeding mothers. We represent the top Baby Nurses across the country who come with letters of recommendation an extensive list of previous clients.
A.B.L.E._Employment_Agency_Inc.,
We have over 20 years of experience in the domestic industry.
We have a wide variety of qualified Domestic staff.
We also work with several other fields such as Home Health
Professionals and Caregivers.
We have in our database over 500 applicants on file, and we interview everyday.
Our aim is to always find the most qualified candidates for your specific needs
At "ABLE" we make your Domestic Personnel problems our Businnes!
