Service and Systems Oriented Estate Manager / in San Francisco, California

A Bay Area family office is seeking an Estate Manager to oversee operations across multiple estates. This is a senior-level role for experienced operators with a strong sense of service, aesthetics and estate management background. The ideal candidate is the "tastemaker of the home." They bring elevated taste, deep systems thinking, and a genuine desire to create seamless, high-standard living environments. This person thrives in a fast-paced, minimalist, preference-driven household where excellence is the baseline and every detail matters. 

The role sits at the intersection of estate management and personal service, requiring someone who can build and standardize systems across properties while remaining highly attuned to the principal’s lifestyle and preferences. A background in PA work or high touch hospitality combined with estate management experience is the recipe for success.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all property operations across multiple estates, ensuring consistent standards of care and service
• Hire, train, schedule, and manage household staff and service vendors, including performance evaluations
• Build and manage operational budgets per property with independent authority to allocate and approve expenses
• Negotiate and manage vendor contracts, optimizing for cost, quality, and property goals
• Standardize procedures for inventory management, maintenance schedules, and household systems across all properties
• Anticipate operational needs and proactively solve for efficiency and readiness
• Partner with architects, designers, and contractors on property upgrades and special projects
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, insurance, and safety requirements
• Own all operational decision-making and problem resolution across properties
• Maintain accurate inventory systems tracking household items, clothing, and sports gear
• Travel to additional residences as needed

Qualifications

• Proven background in estate management, household operations, or senior PA/EM roles
• Experience managing multiple properties simultaneously
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to hire, train, and manage household staff and contracted vendors
• Budget management experience with confidence making independent financial decisions
• Proficiency with project and household management tools including Asana, Savant, Lutron, and similar platforms
• Highly organized with exceptional systems-thinking and ability to standardize operations across properties
• Elevated personal taste and strong aesthetic sensibility aligned with a preference-driven household
• Excellent communicator. Succinct, clear, and effective in fast-paced environments
• Discreet, professional, and deeply committed to confidentiality
• Flexible 24/7 mindset; available for on-call responsibilities as needed

Location: San Francisco, CA 

Compensation: $200,000 - $300,000 annually, DOE. Comprehensive benefits package including PTO, paid sick leave, and 401(k) with employer match.

Schedule: Full-time. Fast-paced environment with flexibility required outside of regular hours to meet on-call needs.

Pocketbook Agency is acting solely as a recruiting and placement firm for this position and is not the employer of record for this role unless otherwise explicitly stated. All hiring decisions, compensation, benefits, and employment terms are determined by the client employer. By applying, you acknowledge that submission of an application does not guarantee placement or employment.

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.