Hiring the right private staff is one of the most important decisions a high-net-worth or ultra-high-net-worth household can make. Whether you’re seeking a private chef, an executive housekeeper, or an estate manager, this hiring guide ensures the right fit and requires more than just reviewing a résumé. It involves assessing experience, discretion, temperament, and alignment with your household’s values and lifestyle.
This guide outlines what to look for in each of these essential roles and how to structure the hiring process for long-term success.
Why These Roles Are Critical
Private Chefs
A private chef does more than cook—they manage nutrition, support wellness, and create experiences around food. The right chef understands your preferences, dietary needs, and lifestyle demands. For families who entertain frequently or travel often, a chef who can scale service from daily meals to formal dinners is indispensable.
Executive Housekeepers
Housekeepers in UHNW households are expected to maintain museum-quality cleanliness, manage luxury materials, coordinate vendors, and oversee other domestic staff. They are the backbone of the home’s appearance, flow, and organization, often working behind the scenes with extreme discretion and precision.
Estate Managers
The estate manager is the chief operating officer of the household. They supervise staff, manage vendors and contractors, oversee budgets, and ensure the smooth operation of every element of the property. For households with multiple residences or a full staff, the estate manager is the strategic leader who brings everything together.
Hiring Guide: What to Look for in Each Role
Experience in Similar Environments
Look for candidates who have worked in comparable settings—whether luxury estates, yachts, family offices, or five-star hospitality. Prior experience with high-value art, couture, or formal entertaining is a strong indicator of readiness for your home.
Long-Term Placements
The most desirable candidates show consistency and loyalty in previous roles. Staff who have stayed with a household for five years or more have demonstrated trustworthiness and long-term compatibility.
Discretion and Confidentiality
Every member of your private team must be trusted with sensitive information and personal access. Look for a proven track record of confidentiality, with references who will speak to the candidate’s integrity.
Cultural Fit
Skills can be trained. Fit cannot. Choose candidates whose demeanor, values, and energy match your household. A chef who aligns with your wellness philosophy or a housekeeper who values structure and detail will likely become an indispensable member of your team.
Hiring Guide: Best Practices for the Hiring Process
Define the Role Clearly
With the hiring guide you can create a detailed job description outlining responsibilities, schedule, travel requirements, expectations for discretion, and household values. Clear communication from the beginning prevents mismatches later on.
Use a Specialized Placement Agency
Work with a staffing firm that specializes in UHNW households. The Estate Agency, for example, understands the nuances of luxury living and presents only vetted, high-caliber professionals.
Conduct Working Trials
After interviews, schedule a working trial. For chefs, this might include preparing a full day of meals. For housekeepers and estate managers, consider a multi-day trial to assess how they perform under real conditions.
Verify References Thoroughly
Speak directly with former employers and ask focused questions. What was their greatest strength? Were there any challenges? Would you hire them again?
Ensure Proper Background Checks
Your staffing agency should run full background checks, verify credentials, and provide clear reports. These steps are essential to protecting your home and your peace of mind.
Hiring Guide: How The Estate Agency Ensures the Right Fit
At The Estate Agency, we specialize in placing private chefs, housekeepers, and estate managers in some of the most prestigious households in the world. We understand that long-term success depends on precision, alignment, and trust.
Hiring Guide: Our Process Includes
- In-depth consultation with the principal or estate manager
- Detailed role definition and household profiling
- Access to a discreet, pre-vetted network of candidates
- Coordinated interviews and working trials
- Ongoing post-placement support
Our goal is not just to fill a role—but to build a long-term match that enhances the quality of life for both client and candidate.
Final Thoughts
Hiring the right private chef, housekeeper, or estate manager is not a quick task—it’s a curated process that requires clarity, strategy, and the right partners. The best staff become trusted extensions of your household, helping you maintain excellence in every corner of your life.
To begin the search for your next essential hire, visit theestateagency.com and let us help you find the perfect fit.