Family Meal Prep & Household Manager

Job Title: Family Meal Prep & Household Manager Location: Woodside, CA | 94062 Employment Type: Part-Time | Approximately 20 hours per week Schedule: Proposed Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Monday would be a longer meal preparation and errands day: 10am-6:30pm, with Wednesday and Friday focused on afternoon support approximately 1:00–6:30 PM. Compensation: $45-50 per hour based on experience Start Date: ASAP

Requirements

• Confident aligning with family preferences and independently planning menus, grocery shopping, and preparing multiple family dinners each week

• Excellent organizational skills, executive functioning, and ability to independently manage multiple priorities

• Comfortable around three active, school-age children and providing occasional short periods of childcare coverage

• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for household errands; mileage reimbursed for approved work-related driving

• Comfortable around dogs and assisting with occasional pet care

• Maintain a smoke-free environment

• COVID-19 and flu vaccinations preferred

• About Our Family

• We are a warm, active family of five with three school-age children in first, second, and fourth grade. Our days are filled with school, sports, creative activities, and the joyful energy that comes with raising three lively kids and friendly Australian Mountain Doodle. We value family time, healthy living, and creating a home where everyone feels supported and connected.

• With one parent managing the family's daily routines and the other balancing an increasingly demanding career, we've reached a season where we'd love an extra set of capable hands. We recently moved into our home and are continuing to establish the systems and rhythms that help everything run smoothly. We have weekly professional house cleaners, but are looking for a household manager to ease up the overflow and mental load.

• Most importantly, we want to bring ease and enjoyment back to family meals. Cooking has become another responsibility on an already full plate, and we're looking for someone who genuinely loves food, can take ownership of our weekly dinners, and help introduce fresh, nourishing options our children will enjoy. Beyond the kitchen, we'd appreciate thoughtful household support that frees us to spend more meaningful time together as a family.

• Who You Are / What We're Looking For

• You're a confident, capable home cook who genuinely enjoys preparing delicious, wholesome food for families. You understand how to create practical weekly menus, shop efficiently, and prepare meals that balance nutrition, variety, and the realities of busy evenings. You're creative without overcomplicating things and know how to make healthy food approachable and enjoyable for children.

• Beyond cooking, you bring the mindset of a chief of staff for the home — highly organized, proactive, and able to see the big picture while executing the details. You notice what needs attention, establish priorities, and follow through from start to finish. You don't require constant direction or hand-holding; you take ownership, communicate clearly, and bring thoughtful solutions.

• You're warm, trustworthy, and comfortable in a lively household with three energetic children. You have a calm, grounded presence, can engage naturally with kids, and understand how to support their growing independence. You appreciate a home where children participate in everyday responsibilities and can encourage that involvement without taking on a primary parenting role.

• Above all, you're someone who makes life feel lighter. Whether five family dinners are thoughtfully planned, the laundry is moving, groceries are stocked, or a household project is completed, you take pride in creating a home that feels organized, nourished, and cared for. We're seeking a reliable, long-term partner who can grow with our family and help us spend less time managing logistics and more time enjoying our children.

Key qualities we're looking for:

• Passionate about food: Loves cooking and creating wholesome, flavorful family meals
• Confident and creative: Brings fresh ideas, variety, and practical meal solutions
• Exceptional executive functioning: Plans ahead, prioritizes effectively, and manages multiple responsibilities
• Proactive self-starter: Anticipates needs and independently takes action
• Accountable and thorough: Completes tasks from beginning to end without constant oversight
• Organized and systems-minded: Creates sustainable routines that simplify household life
• Calm and grounded: Brings steady, positive energy to a busy home
• Warm and engaging: Connects naturally with children while respecting family boundaries
• Adaptable and resourceful: Moves comfortably between cooking, errands, and household priorities
• Trustworthy and dependable: Communicates clearly, arrives punctually, and consistently follows through
• Long-term mindset: Values building trust and becoming a meaningful part of the family's support system

Key Responsibilities

• Family Meal Planning & Preparation: Primary Priority

• Take full ownership of planning and preparing approximately five family dinners per week

• Create balanced weekly menus featuring fresh, whole-food ingredients and a variety

• Independently manage grocery lists, shopping, and ingredient inventory

• Prepare meals using a combination of fresh cooking, batch preparation, slow-cooker recipes, and make-ahead options

• Ensure dinners are ready to serve or require minimal finishing on busy family evenings

• Accommodate a household onion allergy with careful ingredient selection and food preparation

• Introduce age-appropriate variety and creative meal options that encourage children to explore new foods

• Batch-bake wholesome, convenient snacks such as muffins, banana bread, and other family favorites

• Maintain a clean, organized kitchen, including preparation and post-cooking cleanup

• Monitor pantry and refrigerator inventory to minimize food waste and keep essentials stocked

• Collaborate with the family on preferences and feedback while independently managing day-to-day meal execution

• Household Management & Organization: Secondary Priority

• Complete daily household resets, including kitchen counters, blankets, common areas, and general tidying

• Help establish and maintain practical organizational systems throughout the family's recently occupied home

• Keep household spaces functional, orderly, and ready for daily family life

• Manage ongoing laundry cycles during shifts, including washing, drying, folding, and putting away clothing

• Rotate bedroom linens weekly, refreshing one bedroom at a time as needed

• Support seasonal decluttering, organization, and donation drop-offs

• Assist with holiday decoration takedown and seasonal household projects

• Periodically deep-clean and organize the refrigerator

• Identify opportunities to improve household routines and proactively suggest solutions

• Work collaboratively with the family's existing Thursday cleaning team

• Household Inventory & Errands

• Maintain a running inventory of household essentials, including toiletries, laundry supplies, and groceries

• Coordinate purchases and restocking through Costco, Target, Amazon, and other preferred retailers

• Pick up packages and mail from the family's private mailbox, combining trips with grocery shopping when possible

• Manage household returns, exchanges, and dry cleaning

• Assist with occasional gift shopping and special purchases

• Organize errands efficiently to maximize time and minimize unnecessary trips

• Track household needs and communicate upcoming purchases or replenishment priorities

• Vendor & Property Coordination

• Coordinate with existing household vendors, including weekly pool service, gardening, and periodic pest control

• Serve as an on-site point of contact for scheduled service visits when the family is unavailable

• Communicate scheduling updates and follow up on outstanding household needs

• Monitor household maintenance items and flag concerns proactively

• Help ensure routine home services are completed smoothly and consistently

• Childcare Gap Coverage: Occasional Support

• Provide occasional short periods of supervision during transitions between parents' evening schedules

• Engage naturally with three active, school-age children through games, reading, outdoor play, or age-appropriate activities

• Bring a calm, confident presence to energetic after-school environments

• Encourage children's participation in simple household responsibilities, consistent with the family's Montessori-inspired approach

• Assist with occasional family scheduling needs as mutually agreed upon

• Respect the family's established parenting routines and expectations

• Pet Care

• Provide occasional walks for the family's Australian Mountain Doodle

• Assist with groomer drop-offs and pickups when needed

• Support basic pet routines during particularly busy family days

• Encourage children's age-appropriate participation in pet care

• Personal Assistant & Special Projects

• As trust and familiarity develop, assist with select family calendar and scheduling needs

• Research travel options, activities, or family-related logistics

• Support occasional party planning, gifting, or special events

• Take ownership of small household projects that simplify family life

• Adapt to evolving responsibilities based on mutual agreement and household priorities