Family Assistant

A combination of roles, this position supports a family by managing their household, personal and/or childcare needs.

The Role of a Family Assistant

A Family Assistant is a household worker who provides support to a family, typically in the areas of child/pet care, personal assistance, preparing meals, housekeeping and shopping/running errands.

A Family Assistant (also referred to as a Family Helper or Mother’s Helper) can be thought of as a personal assistant to a family, instead of to a particular individual. This person can act as a point of contact for the family, anticipate the family’s needs and preferences, handle things like childcare, pet-care or senior care and perform a variety of errands and daily/weekly chores or tasks for the family.

A Family Assistant can also perform administrative work, such as booking travel and accommodations, organizing family activities and events, preparing budgets/reports or correspondence, conducting research, managing other household staff and vendors, shopping for gifts and personal items and taking care of household, family or personal matters as they arise.

This person is expected to have a high level of adaptability, initiative and professionalism, and be capable of handling multiple competing priorities/deadlines. A successful Family Assistant will quickly become one of a family’s most trusted and dependable partners as they provide valuable support throughout their daily life.

Job Description

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

Although there are no formal education requirements for this role, Family Assistants often possess a Bachelor’s (B.S. or B.A.) degree.

Candidates should have prior experience in child/family-care or executive/personal assistance. We typically look for 2-3+ years’ experience in a home, family office, private business, philanthropy or political office setting. Depending on the specific needs of a family, experience in a particular area may be required, such as household support, management of staff, childcare, senior care, pet-care, etc.

Note: A Family Assistant does not necessarily need prior experience as a Family Assistant. In fact, many of the best Family Assistants come from related roles, such as a Caregiver, Nanny or Assistant. Similarly, because this role deals more with general (compared to specific) experience, recent graduates or those who are at the beginning (or a transition stage) of their career often make exceptional Family Assistants.

SKILLS

Depending on a principal’s needs, a Family Assistant may be required to possess certain skills, like a second language, experience with childhood education, caring for individuals with developmental or physical disabilities, etc.
Willingness to do light housekeeping or organizing within the home, preparing meals, or other daily/weekly duties as necessary
Familiarity with technology, including house systems (smart home devices/interfaces, HVAC, security, etc.)
Administration experience (managing calendars, booking travel, project management, creating reports, etc.)
Financial knowledge, including creating and managing a budget and tracking expenses

CERTIFICATIONS / TRAINING

This role does not require formal training or certifications, but an employer may prefer candidates who have certain computer or other office technology skills, or who have completed or are willing to take an online family/personal assistant course. These courses are designed to help family and personal assistants learn the skills and knowledge needed to perform administrative and personal tasks for their clients.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities for a Family Assistant are entirely dependent on a family’s needs. Common duties include:

Completing household tasks, such as cleaning and laundry
Scheduling appointments for family members (medical appointments, hairdressers, tutors, etc.)
Preparing children for school by helping them with dressing, grooming, packing lunch, and homework and driving them to school, games, and appointments
Making meals for the family according to their dietary preferences and restrictions
Planning family travel and logistics (flights, hotels, car rentals, dining and activities)
Performing various administrative duties (healthcare, school, philanthropies, completing forms, coordinating mailings, researching and executing special projects, managing reimbursements, preparing reports and presentations)
Organizing the household by creating and maintaining files, spreadsheets, calendars, contacts, inventories and budgets
Assisting parents with errands such as grocery shopping, paying bills and ordering supplies
Caring for pets by feeding, grooming, walking, playing with them and running errands for the family such as taking them to the vet or groomer
Helping to coordinate functions, events and other activities for the family (birthday parties, playdates, school projects etc.)
Maintaining family contacts, updating when necessary and being responsible for gifts to family and friends

ATTRIBUTES

Characteristics of a successful Family Assistant include:

“Nothing is too small” attitude

A great Family Assistant will possess an attitude that “nothing is too small” for them – that they understand their role as the ultimate support/resource to a family. This person should be ready to take on any task, no matter how big or small, with enthusiasm and efficiency. He or she should be proactive, adaptable, professional and always striving to deliver high-quality results.

Organizational skills

A Family Assistant should be proficient in planning, organizing and executing projects on behalf of the family. He or she should be able to set clear goals, prioritize tasks, delegate responsibilities, monitor progress and evaluate outcomes. He or she should also be able to handle multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.

Interpersonal communication

A Family Assistant should have excellent interpersonal skills and communication abilities to interact effectively with the family, children, pets, as well as guests, friends, colleagues and vendors of the family. He or she should be able to listen actively, communicate clearly and concisely, express empathy and respect, and resolve conflicts constructively. They should also be able to adapt their communication style to different situations and audiences.

Team player attitude

A Family Assistant should be a team player who can collaborate well with others and contribute to the overall success of the family’s life. This person should be supportive, cooperative, flexible and respectful of diverse opinions and perspectives. He or she should be willing to share information, knowledge and feedback and seek help when needed.

Responsibility and integrity

A Family Assistant should take full responsibility and accountability for their actions and decisions. He or she should be able to work independently and proactively, take initiative and ownership of tasks and follow through on commitments. He or she should also demonstrate integrity and honesty in all aspects of his or her work, adhere to ethical standards and principles and protect the confidentiality and privacy of the family.

COMPENSATION

Total compensation for a Family Assistant ranges from $70 – 120K. Factors that command a higher salary include specific experience, education or training requirements, an ability to work/be on call outside of normal work hours, flexibility to travel or live-in and fluency in languages other than English. Components of a Family Assistant’s compensation may include:

Base salary

Fixed annual amount received for performing duties as agreed upon. A Family Assistant’s base salary varies depending on the size and location of the family they support, complexity of work they are asked to perform, as well as the experience and qualifications of the Family Assistant.

Discretionary bonus

A variable amount that is paid annually, based on an individual’s performance. A Family Assistant’s bonus is ultimately tied to the principal’s overall satisfaction and may fluctuate from year to year.

Living expenses

A principal may prefer that their Family Assistant lives in with them, either at their residence, at an adjoining accommodation on their property or within certain proximity of their residence. Reasons for this include the need for this person to be available off-hours, the importance of proximity to the residence or principal due to various duties associated with the role (e.g., child/pet care), or because the residence is located in a remote area. If a principal requires any of these living situations of their Family Assistant, housing and/or moving expenses are expected in the employee’s compensation package.

STANDARD BENEFITS

A Family Assistant will typically have access to the following corporate-style benefits (or receive a stipend to obtain such benefits themselves):

Medical, dental and vision

Standard health benefits help employees stay healthy, reduce absenteeism and ultimately increase productivity.

Retirement savings account

401k, thrift savings plan or simple IRA, especially with employer matched contributions, shows your employees your commitment to their future.

Paid time off

PTO allows your employees to take time off from work for various reasons, such as vacation, sickness, personal matters or holidays.

Travel/miscellaneous expenses

Expenses incurred when travelling or conducting business on behalf of the family, including transportation, accommodations, meals and other costs related to business travel. These expenses may be reimbursed or covered by a travel allowance or budget.

OTHER BENEFITS / "PERKS"

Additional benefits are often included to enhance the attractiveness of an employment offer, as well as encouraging long-term employment. Such benefits include:

Education

Tuition reimbursement, scholarships/savings plans for those with college-aged children

Professional development

Encouraging and covering an employee’s participation in training courses, workshops, seminars, conferences or professional certifications

Health and wellness

Healthy food, beverages or snacks offered
Paid or discounted gym memberships or fitness classes
Access to wellness programs with counseling services, health screenings, substance abuse treatment, etc.
Life and disability insurance

Employee assistance

Financial counseling
Legal advice
Transportation reimbursement or allowance

Charity

Volunteer opportunities
PTO days for community service
Charitable match program

Family benefits

On-site childcare or childcare reimbursements
Parental and family medical leave

Workplace

Remote work/flexible hours
Casual work attire
Employee recognition programs, awards or rewards

REPORT STRUCTURE

A Family Assistant generally reports:

Directly to the principal(s)
To another contact designated by the principal (e.g. Director of Operations or Administration of a family office, a principal’s Chief of Staff, etc.)
In some cases, to a House or Estate Manager

Family Assistants may be responsible for managing other household or administrative staff, or they may simply work alongside other support staff. This is entirely at the discretion of the principal.

Have Questions?

Keep Life Running Smoothly

A Family Assistant is the bridge between household management and family support, helping with childcare, scheduling, errands, and daily organization. They bring calm to chaos, ensuring everything from school drop-offs to home organization is handled seamlessly.

Looking for someone to bring structure and ease to your family’s daily life? Let us place a Family Assistant who fits seamlessly into your home.

“Our Family Assistants help our clients find balance by handling the details of daily life with the utmost care and efficiency.”

Adam Cook

Managing Director, Old State Staffing

A Helping Hand for Every Need

Why You Should Consider a Family Assistant

A Family Assistant is a dynamic household professional who helps manage everything from childcare to household errands, ensuring that busy families stay organized and stress-free. Their role is tailored to meet your family’s unique needs, blending childcare, scheduling, and personal assistance into one. A Family Assistant can help you: