Domestic staff are professionals who provide a range of services to keep households running smoothly. Their duties may include cleaning, cooking, childcare, household management, transportation, maintenance, and more. In the United States, there are approximately 2.2 millions domestic staff workers working in private homes and estates across the country. Some households need only one or two types of domestic staff, while others require a full team of domestic staff. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the different types of domestic staff and their job descriptions to help you determine which staff would benefit your household or estate.
Private Chef
A private chef is responsible for preparing meals for a household. Their responsibilities may include:
- Preparing and cooking meals for the household and their guests
- Planning menus according to dietary requirements and preferences
- Shopping for ingredients within an allotted grocery budget, including locating specialty items per the client’s requests
- Cleaning and maintaining the kitchen and cooking equipment
- Preparing meals for events that are hosted in the client’s home, such as dinner parties or special events
- Maintaining detailed records of clients’ food allergies, dietary restrictions and preferences
- Ensuring that meal ingredients are properly stored at the correct temperatures to prevent spoilage
- Introducing clients to new foods and cuisines, expanding their culinary horizons and encouraging healthier eating habits
Housekeeper
A housekeeper is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and tidiness of a household. This may include regular upkeep as well as periodic deep cleaning. Their responsibilities may include:
- Cleaning and dusting rooms and common areas
- Vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping floors
- Washing, drying, folding, and ironing clothes
- Changing bed linens regularly
- Organizing closets and drawers
- Cleaning and stocking restrooms
- Collecting and disposing of trash and replacing trash receptacle liners
- Properly cleaning and maintaining upholstered furniture
- Properly cleaning and oiling wood furniture
- Notifying maintenance or house managers of any issues or necessary repairs
Nanny
A nanny is responsible for caring for children in a household. Their responsibilities may include:
- Engaging/playing with the children
- Feeding children (this may or may not include meal prep)
- Bottle feeding infants
- Changing diapers
- Potty training toddlers
- Bathing and dressing young children
- Tidying up after children + themselves while on duty
- Washing dishes/bottles used throughout the day
- Helping children acquire new skills like teeth brushing or tying shoelaces
- Following the parents’ lead re: discipline, schedules, and family rules
- Transportation to/from school or activities
- Organizing play dates
- Meal prep for the children and/or other family members
- Tutoring/assisting with homework
- Additional light housekeeping not directly related to the day’s activities (such as the whole family’s laundry or dishes, changing bed sheets, or vacuuming)
Household Manager
A household manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a household. Their responsibilities may include:
- Managing other domestic staff members, such as housekeepers, chefs, and nannies
- Coordinating maintenance and repairs for the household
- Managing household budgets and financial records
- Planning and organizing events, such as parties and family gatherings
- Running errands, such as mailing packages or grocery shopping
- Managing household inventory, such as cleaning supplies and linens
- Scheduling appointments for clients such as wellness exams, and coordinating calendars
- Handling administrative tasks, such as paying bills and managing household accounts
- Ensuring that the household runs smoothly and efficiently
- Providing excellent communication with the clients and their guests
Personal Assistant
A personal assistant is responsible for providing administrative support to an individual or family. Their duties may be similar to that of a household manager, with less emphasis on managing of other staff or contractors and more focus on the needs of the individual client(s). Their responsibilities may include:
- Acting as the point of contact between the household manager and clients
- Screening and directing phone calls, composing and distributing correspondence
- Managing calendars, scheduling appointments, and organizing meetings
- Making travel arrangements, such as booking flights or hotels
- Running errands, such as purchasing personal items or picking up dry cleaning
- Managing the client’s personal budgets and financial records
Estate Manager
An estate manager one of the types of domestic staff who is responsible for overseeing the operations of a large estate. Their responsibilities may include:
- Planning and executing the overall management of the property in coordination with the owners
- Overseeing maintenance, including scheduling regular maintenance and designating tasks and responsibilities to contractors and household staff
- Supervising household staff, including hiring, training, and ongoing management of staff members
- Managing budgets and expenses for the estate
- Planning and organizing events, such as parties and family gatherings
- Running errands pertaining to the needs of the estate
- Managing household inventory, such as tools and equipment
- Ensuring that the estate runs smoothly and efficiently
- Providing excellent communication with the client(s)
Chauffeur
A chauffeur or personal driver is responsible for the timely and safe transportation of the client(s) and their guests. Their duties may include:
- Transporting clients to their destinations in a timely and safe manner
- Ensuring the vehicle is in good condition such as regularly checking and inflating tires tires
- Scheduling regular vehicle maintenance such as oil changes and alignments
- Maintaining vehicle maintenance records
- Ensuring the vehicle is clean and well-stocked
- Suggesting local places and sightseeing spots to the clients
- Assisting passengers with their luggage
- Running errands and/or escorting children to school and extracurricular activities
- Understanding local traffic patterns and alternative routes
Butler
A butler is a professional employee who is primarily responsible for the efficiency and style of carrying out their employer’s household operations. Their duties may be similar to that of a personal assistant or household manager with more emphasis on hosting and ensuring the comfort and style of the household. Their responsibilities may include:
- Answering the household’s phone and written communications
- Answering the household’s door and welcoming guests
- Managing the cleaning staff and maintaining inventories
- Managing budgets and expenses for the household or estate
- Planning and organizing events, such as parties and family gatherings
- Managing household inventory, such as bar items or table linens
- Assisting the clients and other household staff with the planning of events
- Overseeing the smooth running of hosted events and gatherings
- Providing personalized service to the client and their guests
- Having a thorough knowledge of the household’s operations and local amenities
Ready to hire domestic staff?
Without these types of domestic staff members, all of these responsibilities fall on your plate! Domestic staff relieve a huge burden for busy people and households, particularly if you travel often. If you’re considering hiring a new domestic staff member or domestic staff team, we can help. We have access to the industry’s best professionals and can help you find the perfect staff for your household. Contact us today to get started!
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