Chef and House Manager

Pocketbook Agency; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

A discrete private couple is seeking an experienced Chef/House Manager for their non-primary multi-structure estate in Bel Air, California. The right person is a talented private chef with a natural service gene, a calm disposition and a strong operational mindset.

Duties include preparing all daily meals, sourcing ingredients, managing the household staff and vendors, and maintaining the estate with confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a private chef in a fine home.
• Culinary degree or equivalent professional training.
• Experience managing a private residence, staff, and vendors.
• Legally able to work in the United States, with a valid driver's license.
• Discreet, trustworthy, and respectful of the Principals' privacy.

Responsibilities

• Prepare all daily meals and snacks to a high standard for residence days.
• Source ingredients, shop for supplies, and stock refrigeration/pantry.
• Lead and coordinate housekeeping and vendors; manage staff for visits.
• Oversee estate operations, finances, and confidentiality.

Skills

Private chef

Fine dining

Discretion

Hospitality intuition

Education

Culinary degree or training

Job description

A discrete private couple is seeking an experienced Chef/House Manager for their non-primary multi-structure estate in Bel Air, California. The right person is a talented private chef with a natural service gene, a calm disposition and a strong operational mindset. Your culinary style centers on a clean, health conscious approach to cooking with elegant touches. Operationally, you thrive on maintaining a structured seamless daily flow within the home and collaborative approach with other team members. Service is quiet, discreet, and unobtrusive. This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a kind couple with a history of long-term, stable relationships with their team.

Chef Duties

• Prepare all daily meals and snacks to a high standard when the family is in residence, breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Cook healthy and clean with flair, using fresh ingredients and homemade, classic home cooked meals with elegant touches
• Work comfortably across cuisines: Mediterranean, Mexican, Southern, French, Italian, Thai, and Indian.
• Source high quality ingredients, shop for food and household supplies, and keep the refrigerator and pantries stocked
• Provide casual formal service, course out meals, and clear only after both Principals finish

House Management Duties

• Take responsibility for the orderly operation and meticulous appearance of the residence and grounds
• Lead and coordinate the housekeeping team and outside vendors, and add temporary staff for family visits
• Handle minor repairs and vendor scheduling, and route major repairs through the family office property team with the Principal's approval
• Keep the estate's digital house manual current, covering operations, warranties, inventories, entertaining protocols, recipes, and recurring tasks
• Oversee care of fine furnishings, manage house accounts and receipts, handle deliveries, run errands, and manage seasonal projects
• Take feedback and direction through the family office contacts and adjust quickly
• Maintain strict confidentiality and privacy at all times

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a private chef in a fine home
• Culinary degree or equivalent professional training
• Experience managing a private residence, staff, and vendors
• Polished appearance with a quiet, warm, low-key demeanor, and comfortable working quietly in an open, central kitchen for a noise sensitive Principal
• Discreet, trustworthy, and respectful of the Principals' privacy, including in personal living spaces
• Meticulous, organized, and detail driven, with a strong hospitality instinct
• Comfortable receiving feedback and incorporating to adjust to principals preferences
• Legally able to work in the United States, with a valid driver's license
• Uniform: professional trousers in navy, black, khaki, or cream with a chef coat, hair pulled back, no large accessories

Location:

Bel Air, California

Compensation:

175-220K Commensurate with experience, plus comprehensive benefits package

Schedule:

When principals are in residence (about 60-70 days annually) schedule is 6 days per week with full service (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); when Principals are not in residence, work will be Monday-Friday with more traditional schedule and flexibility as needed

Pocketbook Agency is an equal opportunity recruiting firm and does not discriminate in its recruiting, screening, or placement practices based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.