Estate Manager to a Confidential Family / in Palo Alto, California

A warm, entrepreneurial Peninsula-based family is seeking an experienced and hands-on Estate Manager to oversee operations across multiple properties. This high-trust role requires a proven leader who excels at building teams, creating household systems, and ensuring seamless day-to-day management. The ideal candidate is a natural “player-coach” who thrives in dynamic environments, demonstrates discretion and emotional intelligence, and delivers exceptional service for principals and their families.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the central point of contact and accountable leader across all household operations and properties.

• Lead and support a multi-disciplinary domestic team (Nannies, Housekeepers, Property Managers, Personal Assistants, Chefs, etc.), ensuring seamless service and high family satisfaction.

• Implement, refine, and oversee household systems, procedures, and service standards.

• Manage staffing functions: scheduling, coverage, hiring, onboarding, transitions, and performance oversight.

• Maintain household budgets, expenses, and vendor contracts; ensure cost-effective operations.

• Partner with HR/payroll vendors for compliance, reporting, and documentation.

• Manage construction, renovation, and special projects to completion on time and within budget.

• Oversee quality control across homes; anticipate issues, resolve gaps, and step in directly as needed to ensure continuity.

• Cultivate and manage vendor relationships; monitor performance across locations.

• Support household events, travel logistics, and occasional offsite needs.

• Communicate clearly and professionally with principals, family members, and staff.

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience managing teams in private households or estate settings.

• Proven expertise in multi-property oversight and operational management.

• Strong administrative, financial, and systems-building skills.

• High emotional intelligence and people leadership skills; able to lead up, down, and across teams with grace.

• Hands-on renovation and construction management experience.

• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.

• Strong financial acumen, including budget oversight and vendor negotiations.

• Tech-savvy; comfortable adopting new systems and applying to optimize operational efficiency.

• HR/payroll knowledge and compliance experience preferred.

• Flexible, proactive, and solution-oriented, with the ability to pivot as priorities evolve.

• Discreet, trustworthy, and respectful of family privacy.

Schedule: 5 days onsite, with flexibility to work occasional evenings/weekends as needed

Compensation: $275,000–$350,000 DOE + full benefits (medical, dental, vision) + 401(k) with employer match + discretionary bonus

Location: SF Bay Area Peninsula