Estate Manager (2026)

Location: Atherton, CA, 94027 (On-site)
Job Type: Full-Time 

Availability: Typically 9 am - 5:30 pm M-F. As a salaried exempt position, the role is based on responsibilities and results, with reasonable availability for on-call support as needed to fulfill management duties.

COMPENSATION:
•    $180,000 - up to $300,000/year (DOE)
•    Discretionary year-end bonus (up to 20%)
•    Health insurance
•    Paid vacation, holidays, sick days

Position Overview
A private ultra-high-net-worth household in Atherton, California is seeking an experienced Estate Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of a high-end private residence.
The Estate Manager is a salaried exempt management employee responsible for directing and overseeing the operations of the estate and associated properties.
 
Key Responsibilities
Estate Operations
•    Oversee daily operations of a high-end private estate in Atherton.
•    Ensure the property is maintained to an exceptional standard at all times.
•    Manage household readiness, maintenance schedules, service quality, and operational priorities.
•    Identify issues early and resolve them proactively before they require principal involvement.
•    Maintain a structured system for property operations, follow-ups, issue tracking, and closure.
Staff Management
•    Direct, supervise, and evaluate household staff and onsite service personnel.
•    Set clear expectations, workflows, standards, and accountability.
•    Monitor staff performance, service quality, punctuality, professionalism, and execution.
•    Support training, corrective follow-up, and continuous improvement of household operations.
•    Reduce repeated mistakes and low-level operational issues through structured management systems.
Vendor Management
•    Manage vendors and service providers, including maintenance, landscaping, pool, HVAC, security, repairs, specialty contractors, and other estate-related vendors.
•    Coordinate vendor schedules, access, service quality, follow-up, and issue resolution.
•    Ensure vendors meet household standards and complete work properly and on time.
•    Maintain vendor records, service history, and recurring maintenance schedules.
SOP, Systems & Quality Control
•    Build, improve, and enforce SOPs, checklists, inspection routines, communication protocols, and escalation standards.
•    Create practical systems that improve consistency, reduce mistakes, and make daily operations easier to manage.
•    Conduct regular quality checks and ensure issues are documented, assigned, followed up, and closed.
•    Help create a household operation that is structured, reliable, and not dependent on principals’ daily involvement.
Project Management
•    Manage estate-related projects, repairs, upgrades, maintenance tasks, and operational improvements.
•    Track timelines, owners, vendors, costs, risks, and completion status.
•    Ensure projects are completed properly, efficiently, and with minimal disruption to the household.
Communication & Reporting
•    Provide concise, organized, and solution-oriented updates to management and principals when needed. 
•    Exercise discretion in determining when and how to escalate household issues.  Escalate appropriately with clear options and recommendations.
•    Maintain discretion and professionalism in all communication.
•    Protect the privacy, confidentiality, and preferences of the household.
Emergency Response
The Estate Manager serves as the primary operational decision-maker during emergencies and is expected to:
•    Assess risks
•    Direct response efforts
•    Coordinate vendors
•    Protect principals and assets
•    Implement contingency plans
•    Document actions and outcomes

 Requirements
•    Bachelor’s degree preferred.
•    7+ years of experience managing large, high-end private residences, private estates, UHNW households, family office residences, or comparable luxury residential environments.
•    Proven experience managing household staff, vendors, maintenance, service standards, and daily estate operations.
•    Strong project management and people management skills.
•    Proven ability to build or operate SOPs, checklists, quality control systems, vendor logs, staff schedules, trackers, and escalation protocols.
•    Flexibility for a 24/7 on-call lifestyle, adapting to the dynamic needs of the estate.
•    Exceptional communication skills in English, both written and verbal.
•    Technologically  proficient, including Google Workspace / G-Suite, iPhone, MacBook, shared calendars, trackers, task management tools, and practical AI tools.
•    Strong analytical, learning, communication, prioritization, multitasking, and problem-solving skills.
•    Highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and able to anticipate issues before they escalate.
•    Strict adherence to confidentiality and privacy.
•    Must be legally authorized to work in the United States and able to pass extensive background checks.
•    Ready for pre-employment health screenings, including physical, psychological exams, and drug tests; annual flu vaccination required.
•    Valid driver's license with a clean record; reliable transportation for daily commute to Atherton, CA.
•    Seeking a long-term commitment.
 
Preferred Qualifications
•    Experience working in UHNW private households, luxury residences, family office residences, or similar high-standard private environments.
•    Experience managing large estates, multiple residences, vacation homes, or multi-state household operations.
•    Experience stabilizing household operations, improving service quality, and reducing operational friction.
•    Experience building household systems from the ground up.
•    Prior experience in Atherton, the San Francisco Bay Area, or similar UHNW markets is a plus.