Family living in Lincoln Park of Chicago, Illinois with 4, 10, and 12 year old children is seeking an educated, experienced, professional, organized, and detail oriented rotational full-time nanny / family assistant. Schedule will be spilt between two full-time nanny / family assistants to ensure the family has seven day per week coverage. Schedule on days working will be a combination of 6:00 – 9:00am to 6:00 – 9:00pm or later. When working at main residence in Chicago, nannies should expect to work on three to five days per week. This schedule will ensure that each nanny works half the time (26.5 weeks per year), receives approximately two weekends off per month, and travel is split annually. Nannies will create monthly schedules at least two to three months in advance. Nannies should be comfortable working many days consecutively (e.g., if traveling for two or four weeks at a time, only one nanny will travel with family and the other nanny is off work). Family spends at least 10-12+ weeks of summer months in Nantucket, Massachusetts. The position requires extreme flexibility as family’s schedule changes at various times in the year (e.g., school holidays, summer, travel, etc.). Approximately 10-15+ weeks of international and domestic travel per year is required (in addition to summer months in Nantucket) and approximately 4-6+ weeks of overnights at residence when principals are traveling without children. Applicants need to be honest, trustworthy, understand the importance of maintaining discretion, collaborative and experienced working with domestic staff (estate manager, housekeeper, nanny), experienced working with stay-at-home mom and principals that are at residence often (discreet and staying out of the way is important). Children are enrolled in private school, which is short driving distance from the family’s residence. Staff vehicle is provided for transporting children. Family is open to local candidates in Chicago and domestic relocations. Start date is flexible for the right candidate.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Play-based learning and creating educational activities (e.g., planned engaging activities at home, developmentally appropriate games and activities, engaging projects and crafts, scheduled outings, etc.)
• Provide developmentally appropriate games and activities, engaging projects and crafts at home and schedule/plan fun outings and events
• Knowledgeable about child development (e.g., firm when necessary and capable of teaching children manners and etiquette, but also capable of being laid back and fun)
• Support teaching and reinforcement of manners and other social skills
• Assist children with homework, school projects, studying for tests, etc. and keep parents informed of progress and needs
• Transport children to and from school, activities, play dates, camps, etc.
• Fresh and healthy meal planning and preparation for family (collaboratively working with estate manager)
• Pack children’s healthy lunches and bags for the following day (e.g., ensure all school work is completed, pack gear for sports and activities, etc.)
• Pack and unpack children for trips / travel (create pack lists in advance to ensure children have everything needed prior to travel)
• Inventory checklists for household items, food, children’s essentials, principals’ essentials, etc. and ordering through Amazon, Instacart, etc.
• Run errands (e.g., shopping for home supplies, returns, purchasing school supplies for beginning of school year and needed throughout the year, purchasing gifts for birthday parties children are attending, and other requested items)
• Handle things around the home (e.g., receiving deliveries, service providers, contractors, sending emails, going through mail and sorting bills and junk, etc.)
• Organizational projects (e.g., children’s bedrooms, playrooms (toys, crafts, etc.), closets, rotating clothes seasonally, getting rid of outgrown toys and clothing, taking things for donation, etc.)
• Ensure pantry, refrigerator and wine cellar are properly stocked in accordance with the principals’ and children’s travel and entertaining schedules
• Manage family and household schedules and calendars
• Schedule and maintain calendars for children, registering for activities/camps/etc. (principal will be scheduling majority of children’s activities), planning play dates/outings with friends, etc.
• Manage submission of house credit card purchases and receipts
• Assistance with travel arrangements and ensuring all logistics are planned in advance (e.g., calling in advance to ensure adequate food is available for children’s allergies, equipment for sports and activities, etc.)
• Schedule meetings with principal(s) and estate manager as needed to discuss principals’ schedules, children’s schedules, travel plans, upcoming events, special projects, etc.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Capable of building rapport with similar aged children (toddlers, school aged, tweens, teenagers, etc.)
• Ability to travel internationally and domestically whenever necessary
• Highly organized, detail oriented, proactive, excellent time management, efficient and service focused
• Attentive to principals’ preferences and style (intuitive to their needs)
• Observant to the needs of family and home to anticipate their needs
• Ability to maintain discretion (confidentiality agreement is required)
• Ability to be discreet with respect for employer’s privacy
• Professional presentation of self and great personality
• Ability to easily take direction
• Strong ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with principals (extension of parents and consistent childcare philosophies) and domestic staff (estate manager, housekeeper, nanny)
• Strong technology skills and experienced working with Macintosh
• Positive attitude and ability to handle residences and staff with ease and calm demeanor
• Active and fit (e.g., swimming, snow ski, etc.)
• Non-Smoker
REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor’s degree and/or Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education or Early Childhood Development is most ideal, but bachelor’s degree is required
• Experienced working with at least three children in nanny position
• 5-10+ years of consistent and recent domestic experience working as a full-time nanny
• 2-3+ references from domestic positions
• Seeking longevity / long term commitment (e.g., at least 2-5+ years)
• Live a close proximity to family’s residence in Lincoln Park or willingness to relocate within a commutable distance
• Experienced working with severe allergies (e.g., dogs, pollen, tomatoes, jalapeños, shrimp, shellfish, etc.), asthma and reactive airway
• Ability to complete extensive background checks, motor vehicle checks, drug tests, and psychological evaluation
• Vaccinations (e.g., COVID-19, MMR, TDap, Flu Shot)
• Driver’s license and clean driving record
• Pediatric CPR Certification
COMPENSATION:
• $95K+ gross annual salary (based on experience and qualifications)
• $500 gross per month health insurance stipend
• PTO
• Discretionary annual bonus and raise (performance evaluation required)
Please read the job description carefully and kindly apply with your cover letter, resume, references (email address and phone number), letter(s) of recommendation, and professional photo if you meet all of the requirements. We look forward to hearing from you!