The posting
Job Title: House Manager and Family Assistant with Childcare Support
Location: Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL 60614
Employment Type: Part-time | 20 - 25 hours per week
Schedule:
- Set childcare hours (during school months): Mondays and Thursdays, 4:00–6:00 PM, plus approximately 4 hours on Friday mornings. Childcare hours are flexible during school breaks if desired.
- Household support: approximately 12–15 hours per week during daytime/school hours. Days and shift times are flexible; Wednesdays are unavailable.
- Flexibility to occasionally stay later for additional backup childcare coverage is preferred
Compensation: 30–35 per hour, commensurate with experience
Start Date: ASAP
Requirements:
- Access to reliable transportation (no car required)
- Ability to navigate multiple flights of stairs throughout the day
- Ability to lift up to 40–45 lbs
- Candidates are required to be up to date on recommended vaccinations in line with the American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines (including MMR, Tdap, and annual influenza), subject to applicable legal accommodations
- CPR/First Aid certification preferred (or willing to obtain upon employment)
- Comfortable working alongside and caring for a 60 lb senior dog
- Comfortable working in a Jewish home
- Maintain a smoke-free environment (including vaping)
- Must be authorized to work in the United States
About Our Family
We're a warm, busy, and down-to-earth household in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. We have a wonderful three-year-old daughter and timid senior dog who will become your shadow once she warms up. Both parents work full-time (one with a flexible schedule and one who is in-office five days a week), and while we have some household help already in place, we're at a stage where the mental load of keeping everything running smoothly has become hard to manage on our own.
We value a home that feels organized and calm, and we know keeping it that way takes time and consistent attention. We're looking for a proactive, dependable partner to help manage household systems and provide dedicated childcare during key after-school hours, helping bridge the gap between school and our work schedules. Our goal in bringing on this household support is to create more space for what we love and for quality time together as a family. By taking everyday tasks off our plates, you’ll help us spend less time catching up on household responsibilities and more time enjoying life together.
We're a progressive household that values a welcoming, respectful environment, and we want someone who feels genuinely comfortable in our home and with the way we live.
Who You Are / What We're Looking For
- You are proactive and self-directed: You take pride in noticing what needs to be done and following through without waiting for a list, bringing an organized, tidy, and calm presence to a busy household.
- You practice thoughtful judgment: You know when to ask questions—especially as you’re getting settled—and when to use your best judgment and move forward.
- You are warm and adaptable: You’re comfortable caring for a young child and being around dogs, and you don’t mind a little chaos.
- You’re a clear communicator: You keep the family informed about what you’ve accomplished, so they have visibility without needing to ask.
- You are a natural systems-builder: As you settle in, you create routines that run smoothly on their own and take satisfaction in maintaining them. Ideally, you’ve worked in a home environment before and understand what it means to be a trusted, reliable presence in someone’s personal space.
Key Responsibilities
Household Organization & Maintenance
- Create and maintain household organization systems throughout the home
- Reset the home daily with an emphasis on the first floor: dishes, surfaces, vacuuming high-traffic areas, toy pickup, trash, etc
- Prepare the home for the weekly cleaner
- Manage seasonal clothing and bedding swaps, including sizing transitions for the child
- Coordinate donation drop-offs and hand-me-down logistics for family members
- Prepare guest spaces as needed (e.g. pull out sofa bed, set out clean towels and linens)
- Support packing and unpacking for family and work travel
- Proactively stock and replace batteries, light bulbs, and smoke detector needs throughout the home
Childcare & Family Support
- Pickup three-year-old from school twice weekly
- Provide attentive, engaging care after school and on Friday morning
- Serve as backup childcare during school closures as needed; availability to occasionally stay later for additional backup childcare coverage is a plus
- Review the family's shared calendar (Skylight) to anticipate upcoming needs — school events, travel, costume days, etc. — and prepare accordingly
Inventory & Errands
- Receive, unpack, and organize grocery and household deliveries
- Manage and update the shared household supply list via the Skylight app (flag low-stock items without over-ordering)
- Purge expired pantry items on a regular basis
- Handle mail, packages, and box breakdown
- Assist with miscellaneous errands as needed (returns, dry cleaning drop-offs) — no car required
Meal Support
- Collaborate on planning and suggesting dinner ideas for approximately 4 nights per week
- Prep ingredients for dinner: chopping, marinating, loading the rice cooker or slow cooker
- Batch prep breakfast and snack items (muffins, process produce, etc.)
- Maintain kitchen organization and tidiness
Laundry & Linens
- Wash, fold, and organize family laundry
- Hang dry and stain-treat special garments as needed
- Keep laundry area tidy and well stocked
Deep Cleaning & Special Projects
- Periodic deep cleans of the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry on a regular cadence
- Clean and maintain humidifiers and air purifiers as needed
- Tackle longer-term organizational projects (e.g. basement storage)
Pet Care
- Serve as backup feeder and handler for the family dog when the regular dog walker is unavailable (very short outings only)
- Administer evening medication as needed (pill in a pill pocket)
- Maintain pet supplies
Vendor & Property Oversight
- Serve as on-site point of contact for handymen, contractors, and service appointments
- Manage the household seasonal maintenance calendar and flag upcoming tasks (gutter cleaning, HVAC inspections, etc.)
- Manage the outdoor deck space: fill bird feeders, and handle seasonal flips (covering and uncovering furniture, cleaning the deck)
How to Apply:
If interested, please submit the following:
- A brief letter explaining why you would be a great fit for this position
- Your updated resume
- At least 3 professional references with contact information
Note that this role requires a background check.
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