What Can You Expect From A Household Manager?
For those unfamiliar with the term, house managers, household managers, or in some cases, palace managers, have evolved from the role traditionally referred to as a Butler. But as you would hope and expect, the responsibilities have changed considerably over the years.
It remains the case, though, that in more traditionally-run households, there are many similarities. These might include formal table service, serving drinks, or valeting and care of the wine cellar, as just three examples.
A successful private House Manager is multi-skilled and highly proactive, and easy to get along with. They may be asked to act as chauffeur, personal assistant, security, cook or even events organiser.
For households in a rural setting, they might also be asked to assist with shoots and take care of firearms. In those instances, the ability to organise a shooting weekend and manage staff accordingly would be essential.
Why You Might Need A House Manager
In households with a team of private staff, the House Manager/Palace Manager is often responsible for all the staff based within the house itself. But the general role is to ensure the smooth running of the household and maintenance and cleanliness of all residences.
It is not uncommon for a Household Manager to come from a commercial or hospitality background, and they can end up managing multiple residences internationally.
The schedule and hours of the position vary considerably – from household to household but also day to day, requiring a considerable degree of flexibility. Occasionally, the position is live-in, where security or the ability to be on call is essential to the role.
There are still roles that call for a Butler. To be a Butler in the traditional sense, you must be highly knowledgeable in etiquette and protocol. This is true of all household positions, though especially the Butler, as they are responsible for making sure standards never slip among the other staff members.
To employ a Butler or House Manager or take on either of those roles, it is always best to go through a House Manager agency to ensure the placement is right for both parties.
What Are The Responsibilities Of A Household Manager?
The typical responsibilities of a House Manager include, but are not limited to the following. It’s helpful to have an understanding of what is required within this complex, but vital role, in order to determine if this is a position suited to you and your capabilities.
- Organising of social and family events,
- Caring for household’s guests and visitors,
- Serving of drinks,
- Serving of refreshments and meals,
- Household project management,
- Maintenance of the property,
- Maintaining security and communication systems and record-keeping,
- Overseeing household staff including hiring, firing, payroll management and performance reviews,
- Writing of household manuals and policy documents for owner’s approval,
- Staff training and development, financial management, budget administration, and purchasing,
- Regularly interacting with owners to maintain direct communication and compliance with their needs,
- Ensuring efficiency, harmony, and high morale throughout the household,
- Caring for silver, china, antiques and other specialist items,
- Ensuring the smooth running of a household and servicing of principals and guests, usually supervising others but also providing service,
- Engaging and overseeing outside contractors, service providers and suppliers,
- Taking on duties of a valet, chef, housekeeper, nanny, pet minder, gardener, or chauffeur if required.
If you are looking for a household manager for your estate, please contact Melissa Offer Private Staffing on +44(0) 207 101 3173. The same number applies if you are considering a career in CPS. We look forward to hearing from you.