A Personal Assistant is responsible for handling personal and confidential requests for their employer. They will draft correspondences, schedule appointments, arrange travel and prepare itineraries, purchase household supplies and gifts, liaise with other staff, and run errands. A Personal Assistant will be highly organized, detail oriented, discreet, and have high emotional intelligence. Personal Assistants may have had a career as a corporate executive assistant, an event or travel planner, a personal shopper, or as a family assistant.

An Administrative Assistant provides general support to an office team, either directly to team members or under the supervision of an Executive Assistant or Office Manager. They can also provide more direct support to an executive, with an emphasis on managing calendars, drafting correspondence, and receiving and routing calls. Administrative assistants also complete office projects, assist with overall office communication, and purchase office supplies. An administrative assistant is usually organized, tech savvy, and adaptable. An administrative assistant can be an entry-level position, or it can be a more robust role encompassing more office management responsibilities. Many administrative assistants move on to roles as executive assistants, office managers, or other support roles. If this person is expected to provide direct support for a single executive or principal, the job title can be amended to Executive Administrative Assistant.

The Chief of Staff will support an executive and act as the single point of contact and liaison to the executive’s business, civic, and personal contacts to facilitate the smooth running of an executive office. This person acts as the “eyes and ears” of the executive, a trusted gatekeeper and advisor who foresees possible issues and works to prevent them. The Chief of Staff also oversees the executive office staff, including hiring, managing workloads and work flow, and conducting performance reviews. A Chief of Staff may have been promoted from a high level executive assistant position and may have a political or military background.

The term Aide de Camp is used in the military to describe someone who is a personal assistant to a high-ranking officer. In private service, aides de camp attend to the comfort and safety of one principal. This person will accompany a principal to meetings and events, drive, perform administrative tasks (such as travel, correspondence, etc.), run errands, keep the residence tidy, prepare light meals, and will care for the principal’s wardrobe. Many aides de camp have served in a similar capacity in the military before entering private service; some have worked as butlers or companions.

A housekeeper is responsible for the overall cleanliness of the home and performing daily graces. They generally do not have supervisory responsibilities. A housekeeper understands cleaning and caring for fine furnishings and surfaces, antiques, silver, and artwork. They are also proficient in the care of general laundry and delicate fabrics, including steaming and pressing. A private housekeeper may have worked for a cleaning service or in a fine hotel as part of a larger team.

A houseman participates in the hands-on running of the home on a daily basis. The houseman assists and fills in for other staff as needed. This person will perform a wide range of tasks, including running errands, heavy cleaning, exterior property maintenance, serving, driving and vehicle care, and assisting with events and guests. A houseman may have worked in a fine hotel, in a private cleaning service, or may have transitioned from a high-end hotel cleaning position or a similar role in hospitality

A laundress is responsible for the care of clothing and fine linens in a private home. This will entail laundry functions, ironing, steaming, and the knowledge of caring, storing, and handling fabrics. A laundress will do basic mending, pack and unpack the principal for travel, maintain the dry cleaning log, inspect clothes upon their return, and care for shoes, purses, and belts. A laundress may also maintain a log of dates and events when garments were worn. A laundress may have worked in a fine hotel, retailer, or upscale dry cleaners.

A Domestic Couple is two individuals who work together as a team at a home or property providing all aspects of personal service and care of the residence. Together, they are often responsible for the routine cleaning of the interior home, meal preparation, laundry, stocking of supplies and general errands. The couple also often maintains and manages the exterior of the home, including lawn care, landscaping, snow removal, pool maintenance, and vehicle maintenance. Each member of the couple may have had an independent background in private service in housekeeping or property care.

An Estate Manager is in charge of a large property and ensures the smooth operation of the household. An Estate Manager is responsible for managing staff (hiring, training, and supervising), establishing household procedures and standards, creating and/or maintaining a household manual, and managing projects, large purchases, and renovations. This individual should be knowledgeable in personnel and home management, property and grounds care, basic accounting, and also possess an understanding of high-tech security systems and appliances. An Estate Manager often has a college degree and may have worked their way up through other roles in the private service industry. This individual may also have a household management or estate management certification.

A House Manager is responsible for the oversight and management of one private residence and household staff. They ensure the smooth operation of home, manage vendors, formulate schedules, and hire, train, and supervise staff. They have a broad knowledge and understanding of all aspects of housekeeping, household maintenance, and event execution. A House Manager often has a background as a housekeeper, houseman, or personal assistant in private service or management experience in hospitality.

A Property Manager is responsible for the overall operation, systems, and maintenance of a residence and grounds. This person serves as the main point of contact for the property. They will open and close seasonal properties, oversee contractors and vendors, perform hands-on maintenance, and arrange all service calls and upkeep for appliances and other household systems. A standard set of skills includes some trades experience, such as in plumbing or electrical work, an eye for detail, and the ability to operate independently. A Property Manager will often have a background in construction, maintenance, or project work for high-end properties or private homes. Housemen and caretakers can also become a Property Manager after taking on a greater level of responsibility or moving into a more significant role.

A Butler is a trained professional who sees to and anticipates the needs of their employer while providing the highest standard of service. A Butler’s skill set includes social etiquette as well as formal service and table setting, care of silver and crystal, knowledge of wines and spirits, and wardrobe management. Most often, a Butler has completed a formal certification program and their earlier work history includes experience in the hospitality industry or as an executive housekeeper or houseman for a private family.

A gardener is responsible for the maintenance of the lawn, gardens, and grounds for a private residence. A gardener has specialized knowledge in the care and planting of flowers, trees, and other plants. A gardener understands plant life cycles, plant hardiness zones, pruning techniques and timing, how to identify pests and diseases, and how to apply fertilizers and herbicides. A gardener may also perform caretaking or landscaping tasks, such as fence repairs, equipment and path maintenance, and installations. Professional gardeners have formal training or certifications and will likely have a degree in horticulture and experience working for a private high-end landscaping company.

A Property Manager is responsible for the overall operation, systems, and maintenance of a residence and grounds. This person serves as the main point of contact for the property. They will open and close seasonal properties, oversee contractors and vendors, perform hands-on maintenance, and arrange all service calls and upkeep for appliances and other household systems. A standard set of skills includes some trades experience, such as in plumbing or electrical work, an eye for detail, and the ability to operate independently. A Property Manager will often have a background in construction, maintenance, or project work for high-end properties or private homes. Housemen and caretakers can also become a Property Manager after taking on a greater level of responsibility or moving into a more significant role.

Ranch Staff can include ranch managers and caretakers and often live on the property and work as a team of two. Depending on the nature of the property, Ranch Staff may be responsible for livestock management, husbandry, maintenance of exterior grounds and outbuildings, fencing, and mechanical equipment. Ranch managers may have financial responsibilities, including staff and project budgets as well as income from livestock. Other Ranch Staff may have domestic duties, including meal preparation and housekeeping. Many Ranch Staff have an educational background in husbandry or livestock management; some come from traditional domestic positions, such as property management.

A director of security will manage a full staff of security personnel to ensure around-the-clock protection for the person and property of the principal and family members. They will lead security details, formulate schedules, identify and solve potential security issues, and oversee preventative cyber-security measures. The director will also coordinate with other staff to ensure the family is safe while traveling. A director of security will often be a former police officer, military veteran, or former Secret Service member, with additional private security experience in providing personal protection to executives or principals.

An Executive Protection specialist will ensure the physical safety of the principal and family. They will oversee security shifts, deal with potential issues, operate property security systems, and potentially drive the principal or travel with the family as needed. This person must be diligent, vigilant, and well-versed in security protocol. Former police officers, military veterans, or former Secret Service officers are often executive and personal protection specialists as well as those with past experience providing private security.

This professional works in a family office or foundation and assists the director to meet the goals of the office or foundation. There are many variations on these positions, depending on the organizational structure. The family office professional will be sophisticated and will represent the family or foundation at the highest level. Family office or foundation staff will need to possess some of the following skill sets and experience: financial acumen (may be a CPA), human resources (to maintain employee files, administer benefits and payroll, etc.), administrative skills, and non-profit administration.

A cook prepares simple meals in the home or for delivery and does not have formal culinary training. A cook is also responsible for meal planning, shopping, preparation, and kitchen clean up. The work history of a cook might include basic restaurant or bakery experience. A cook may have also worked in a multi-faceted role in private service, such as an executive housekeeper position, where they were required to clean and prepare meals.