PRIVATE HOUSE MANAGER

Location: Great Barrington, MassachusettsSchedule: Full-Time, Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PMHours: 40 hours per weekWork Environment: Fully On-SiteReports To: Director of Operations

THE ROLE

A private principal in Great Barrington, Massachusetts is seeking an exceptional full-time House Manager to oversee the daily care, operation, and presentation of a beautifully renovated historic residence.

This is a hands-on household management position for someone who takes genuine pride in creating an exceptionally cared-for home.

The House Manager will have three primary areas of responsibility:

Household Management. Culinary Care. Housekeeping & Wardrobe Care.

This person will take ownership of the residence and develop an intimate understanding of how it operates, what it needs, and how to keep it functioning beautifully.

The standard is that of an exceptional boutique hotel: immaculate but comfortable, organized but lived-in, thoughtfully prepared, and consistently maintained.

The successful candidate notices the details.

They see that groceries are getting low before they run out. They notice that a lightbulb needs replacing, a wall needs touching up, a garment needs special care, or a guest room needs preparing without waiting to be asked.

The goal is simple:

The principal should be able to walk into their home and feel completely cared for.

CULINARY CARE & MEAL PREPARATION

Food preparation is a major component of this role.

Responsibilities include:

• Prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Friday.
• Prepare appropriate meals on Friday for the principal to enjoy Saturday and Sunday.
• Develop a weekly menu and submit it for approval.
• Incorporate food preferences and feedback into future menus.
• Prepare occasional recipes requested by the principal.
• Complete household grocery shopping.
• Maintain grocery and household shopping lists.
• Keep refrigerator, freezer, and pantry appropriately stocked.
• Monitor freshness and expiration dates.
• Maintain an exceptionally clean and organized kitchen.
• Properly store, label, and rotate prepared foods.
• Anticipate food and beverage needs for weekends, guests, and travel returns.

The candidate does not need to be a professional chef.

They must be a confident and thoughtful home cook who genuinely enjoys caring for someone through food.

HOUSEKEEPING

The House Manager is personally responsible for maintaining the residence.

Responsibilities include:

• Routine cleaning throughout the home.
• Kitchen and bathroom cleaning.
• Vacuuming, mopping, dusting, polishing, and sanitizing.
• Making beds.
• Changing linens.
• Maintaining towels and household textiles.
• Trash and recycling.
• Maintaining closets, cabinets, drawers, storage spaces, and household supplies.
• Restocking toiletries and essentials.
• Creating a cleaning rhythm so the house remains consistently maintained.

The home should remain guest-ready even when guests are not expected.

WARDROBE & LAUNDRY CARE

Responsibilities include:

• Wash, dry, fold, steam, and appropriately store clothing.
• Follow garment care instructions.
• Properly care for delicate and specialty garments.
• Coordinate professional dry cleaning.
• Maintain an organized wardrobe and closet.
• Identify garments requiring repair, tailoring, cleaning, or special care.
• Coordinate tailoring, shoe repair, dry cleaning, and related services.
• Maintain bedding, towels, and household linens.

Exceptional garment care and judgment are essential.

GUEST PREPARATION & HOSPITALITY

Responsibilities include:

• Prepare guest bedrooms.
• Prepare guest bathrooms.
• Make beds with fresh linens.
• Provide fresh towels and appropriate amenities.
• Coordinate guest food and beverage needs when appropriate.
• Maintain common spaces during guest stays.
• Turn over bedrooms and bathrooms after departures.
• Restore guest spaces promptly.

The hospitality standard should feel comparable to a thoughtful boutique hotel.

HOME & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

This is a historic residence that has undergone significant renovation and requires ongoing care.

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct regular walkthroughs.
• Identify maintenance needs.
• Maintain a household maintenance list.
• Schedule contractors and service professionals.
• Manage vendor access.
• Meet contractors when required.
• Obtain estimates.
• Coordinate plumbers, electricians, painters, HVAC professionals, landscapers, pest control, and other vendors.
• Oversee work.
• Verify completion.
• Manage routine invoices and payments according to established spending authority.
• Maintain repair, warranty, and service records.
• Manage recurring and seasonal maintenance.

The House Manager is not expected to perform skilled trade work.

They are expected to own household issues from identification through resolution.

HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY & SYSTEMS

The House Manager will maintain systems for:

• Groceries
• Cleaning products
• Laundry supplies
• Toiletries
• Paper products
• Guest amenities
• Linens
• Household necessities
• Maintenance supplies
• Weekly menus
• Cleaning schedules
• Linen rotation
• Maintenance schedules
• Vendor contacts
• Guest preparation
• Seasonal household care

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• The home is consistently immaculate and orderly.
• Meals are planned and prepared.
• Weekend meals are ready before Friday departure.
• Groceries and household essentials remain stocked.
• Laundry never becomes a backlog.
• Clothing is properly maintained.
• Beds and linens remain fresh.
• Guest rooms are beautifully prepared.
• Maintenance issues are noticed and handled.
• Contractors are effectively managed.
• Household systems work without constant supervision.
• Routine issues are solved without requiring the principal to manage them.

Most importantly:

The principal knows the home is handled.

REQUIREMENTS

Ideal candidates will have:

• Prior private household, estate, hospitality, housekeeping, culinary, or comparable experience.
• Strong home cooking skills.
• Meal-planning experience.
• Strong housekeeping skills.
• Laundry and garment-care experience.
• Excellent organization.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent judgment.
• Strong problem-solving ability.
• Vendor and contractor management experience.
• Comfort handling routine household expenses and documentation.
• Smartphone, email, calendar, and basic technology proficiency.
• Reliable transportation.
• Valid driver's license.
• Ability to perform the physical requirements of household work.
• Ability to reliably work on-site Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.

Preference should be given to candidates living in Great Barrington or the surrounding Berkshire County area who are seeking a long-term position.

DISCRETION

This position requires exceptional confidentiality.

Candidates must maintain complete discretion regarding:

• The principal
• Residence
• Guests
• Schedules
• Travel
• Personal information
• Household activities
• Wardrobe
• Possessions
• Photographs
• Conversations

No information or photographs relating to the residence may be shared publicly or on social media.

A confidentiality agreement will be required.

APPLY HERE: https://bwaycollective.typeform.com/house-manager

Pay: $30.00 - $40.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Work Location: In person

Salary : $30 - $40