Personal Assistant/Household Manager

Personal Assistant

$25-$30/hour

Expected hours: 10-25 hours per week, with flexible schedule. 10 hours pay per week guaranteed. Some weeks 25+ hours. Some days will involve overtime.

Location: Solvang, CA

We are a married LGBT couple that run a family-owned heavy manufacturing company in Compton. One of us is also a litigation partner at a large Los Angeles law firm, and the other is an entrepreneur and musician. We split our time between three residences in Studio City, Long Beach, and Solvang. No kids, just us and two cats – but we are busy and want to hand off as much of life’s to-do list as possible.

You need to be trustworthy, outgoing, highly organized and detail oriented, able to carry out instructions correctly, ready to jump in and help with whatever is needed, proactively anticipate and address issues, and work with very limited supervision.

A big part of this job is handling administrative things like mail, packages, various contractors, bills, etc. and scanning and organizing documents and files. Another big part is maintaining our residence: ensuring it is stocked with provisions and ready for us, finding/supervising contractors and tradespeople for repairs and remodeling, etc. The rest is a mix of running errands, driving us to/from dinner on occasion, handling car upkeep, lending a hand with the cats, and whatever else needs to be done.

This position requires occasional driving between our residences using your personal vehicle, or occasionally one of ours. You will spend some of your work time at our residences, some on the road, and some remote. We will provide a laptop, a cell phone stipend and mileage reimbursement for miles driven in your personal vehicle in excess of your commute to our Solvang residence, which will be your primary work location.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Retrieve and sort all incoming mail, unbox incoming packages, break down boxes, and handle outgoing mail/packages.

- Grocery shopping/supervise Instacart shoppers; make sure staples are stocked in refrigerator and pantry upon our arrival

- Interface with gardeners, and contractors/tradespeople to maintain residences, oversee remodeling/construction, complete any needed repairs, etc.; find/supervise additional helpers when needed (e.g., plumbing, electrical, piano tuner, arborist, septic tank maintenance)

- Help decorate for holidays and change décor seasonally.

- Make sure waste/recycling/green bins residence are taken to curb and back as needed

- Run errands (e.g., hardware store, groceries, dispensary, pick up prescriptions)

- Occasional housekeeping (e.g., tidying, dishes, cat food/water/litter, vacuuming laundry)

- Miscellaneous organization projects

- Ensure cars are clean and fueled, take in for scheduled maintenance and any needed repairs

- Drive us in our car when needed – occasionally to dinner and back, sometimes other trips

- Make sure cat food/water/clean litter boxes are ready when we arrive, schedule vet visits, do pop-in visits for the cats daily when we are traveling.

- Must love animals and be familiar with the care and feeding of cats.

Skills:

- Domestic and administrative organization, detail oriented

- Basic knowledge of construction – enough to supervise contractors to exacting specifications

- Strong communication and supervisory skills

- Excellent time management to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines

- Excellent computer skills including Mac and Windows, Microsoft Office Suite and Cozi, as well as internet research

- Able to handle confidential information discreetly; must sign confidentiality agreement

- Reliable transportation and clean DMV, pass background check

- Able to lift 30 pounds

- Knowledge of different fabrics and how to clean them (don’t shrink my laundry!)

- Knowledge of what does and doesn’t go in the dishwasher

Not required, but helpful:

- Able to lift 50 pounds

- Basic knowledge of guitars

- Basic knowledge of different genres of music and artists

- Bilingual English/Spanish

- Basic knowledge of wine, grapes

- Basic knowledge of accounting

This position can eventually grow into “Chief of Household Staff” as more help is hired and we develop our Solvang property with vineyards, guest house, barn, caretakers’ quarters and a professional recording studio. More time may be required as time goes on, as we hope to spend the majority of our time there within 5 years. This is a perfect opportunity for artists, writers, musicians, designers and other creative people to gain a steady source of income with flexible hours on top of your creative pursuits.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10 – 25 per week

Benefits:

Schedule:

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Solvang, CA 93463