Travelling Director of Global Residences & Operations / Private Household Estate Manager
Location: Italy with regular travel to Switzerland and France
Salary: €110,000 p.a. (D.o.E)
Contract: Full-time, 12-Month FTC, Rolling & Renewable (Contractor/Freelance Structure)
Languages: English essential | French and Italian a strong advantage
Start Date: As soon as possible
An UHNW family is seeking an experienced Travelling Director of Residences & Operations, Private Household Manager, or Estate Manager to oversee a portfolio of private residences across Italy, Switzerland and France. This senior household management and private residence operations role includes multi-property management, household staff leadership, renovation project oversight, contractor management, and childcare team coordination.
The Opportunity | Senior Private Household & Estate Management Role
A warm, private, and highly respected international family are seeking their first dedicated Travelling Director of Residences & Operations. This is a newly created role, one that has been designed to bring professional structure, genuine calm, and consistent excellence to the management of a wonderful portfolio of private properties across Italy, Switzerland and France.
This is a growing family who are mobile, fast-paced, and deeply engaged with the way their homes are run. Both principals are warm, generous and very much hands-on, with high standards and a genuine appreciation for people who bring excellence to what they do. Their Chief of Staff handles the commercial and corporate side of the family's affairs; this role is its domestic counterpart.
The incoming Director will take ownership of everything from household operations, staff management and contractor relationships, to the oversight of active renovation projects and a childcare team of multiple nannies. Critically, the systems are currently fragmented, and one of the most exciting early tasks will be to build the operational bible from scratch. This is a rare chance for an experienced private household operator, estate manager, or director of residences to come in, make something their own, and grow with a family who genuinely values excellence.
Requirements | Private Household, Estate Management & Operations Experience
Must-Haves
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Proven multi-property private household management experience at Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) or equivalent level, such as Properties Manager, House Manager, Multi-Estate Manager, Estate Manager, Director of Residences or similar. This is not a step-up role; candidates must demonstrate a strong track record at this level.
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Experience managing dedicated housekeeping and household staff across multiple residences, comfortable setting standards, managing rotas and holding teams to account across different locations.
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Project management experience, ideally overseeing renovations, builds or large-scale property refurbishments, acting as the principal's representative with architects and contractors.
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EU passport holder or existing right to live and work in Italy, Switzerland and/or France.
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Genuinely mobile, comfortable travelling weekly with the family across three countries and adapting to an evolving schedule.
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English at a fluent or native level.
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24/7 mindset, responsive and available without the expectation of being physically on-call around the clock.
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Discreet, self-sufficient and solutions-focused, someone who brings calm and answers, not problems.
Strong Advantage
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French language, a significant advantage.
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Italian language, the majority of the role is based in Italy.
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Experience coordinating childcare teams or indirectly managing nannies.
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Background in building operational systems or a household manual from scratch.
Preferred Background
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Private household, family office or Royal household background at a senior level.
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Flair or genuine passion for interiors, design and the detail of beautifully run homes, formal qualifications are not required.
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Experience in a newly created or standalone role, comfortable with ambiguity and building from the ground up.
Why This Role
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A blank canvas, build the operational systems, processes and household manual from scratch in a newly created position.
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Principals who are warm, grounded, and genuinely appreciative of outstanding talent.
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A travel-rich lifestyle across beautiful properties in Italy, Switzerland and France.
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Real scope and autonomy, no micromanagement, an opportunity to work as part of a team.
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Accommodation provided in each location, at the private properties or arranged nearby, depending on candidate preference.
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Competitive contractor package, which is open to discussion for, and can be structured to suit, the right candidate.
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A rare opportunity for an experienced private household professional, estate manager or director of residences to shape a high-trust, multi-country residential operation.
Key Responsibilities | Household Operations, Estate Management & Renovation Oversight
Household Management
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Full ownership of all residences: utility payments, maintenance schedules, seasonal upkeep and property inspections across Italy, Switzerland and France.
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Day-to-day management of dedicated housekeeping staff based at each residence, as well as cleaning teams across all properties, including rotas, standards and performance.
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Contractor sourcing, briefing and management across all sites.
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Building and maintaining a centralised household manual and operational bible, codifying all systems and processes from scratch.
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Acting as the single point of accountability for anything property, operations or contractor-related across the estate.
Special Projects & Renovations
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Overseeing two active renovation projects across the estate, acting as the family's representative on the ground.
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Liaising with architects and project managers, translating progress into clear, confident updates for the principals.
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Coordinating furniture, art and specialist purchases as properties are developed and refreshed.
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A genuine flair for interiors, design and the detail of beautifully run homes is warmly welcomed; formal qualifications are not required.
Childcare Team Coordination
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Management and scheduling of three nannies, this is not a hands-on childcare role.
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Coordinating the childcare team's schedules in line with the family's weekly movements and travel calendar.
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Maintaining clear and proactive communication between the childcare team and the principals at all times.
Additional Information | Travel, Accommodation & Working Pattern
The family move between properties on an approximate weekly basis. This is a genuine travelling role. Time is split approximately 60% Italy, 20% Switzerland and 20% France, with up to 10% of the role workable remotely from a home base if desired. Working hours are Monday to Friday, with on-call availability and a 24/7 mindset expected. Accommodation is provided on-site at private properties or at a nearby hotel, based on candidate preference and property logistics.
Application Process
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within 14 days, please consider your application unsuccessful on this occasion.