THE OPPORTUNITY: Estate Director / Chief of Staff
A sophisticated international principal is establishing a primary U.S. base in Austin. With growing no current domestic infrastructure, this role is an opportunity to build and manage estate and family office operations from day one.
This is an execution-focused role blending estate operations, project coordination, and family-office support. You will oversee daily property readiness, vendor relationships, project activity, household logistics, and staff build-out. The principal values clear written communication, independent judgment, and someone who plans several steps ahead.
WHO YOU ARE
- Operational and Detail-Oriented: You run day-to-day operations smoothly and keep environments orderly and ready.
- Thinks Ahead: You anticipate what is needed next and prevent avoidable issues early.
- Judgment-Driven: You know what to escalate and what to handle independently.
- Domain-Fluid: You move easily between property oversight, vendors, logistics, purchasing, and coordination with the family office.
- Clear Written Communicator: You provide short, frequent written updates about what you plan to do next—keeping alignment without slowing progress.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Property Operations
– Maintain daily readiness, organization, and household standards.
– Track inventories, warranties, and maintenance schedules.
– Coordinate preventative maintenance and routine service.
– Monitor household systems (HVAC, electrical, AV/IT, lighting, security).
Vendor & Contractor Oversight
– Build and manage a reliable local vendor network.
– Enforce quality, documentation, and NDAs.
– Coordinate housekeeping and specialty service providers.
Project & Construction Coordination
– Walk sites, observe progress, and flag issues early.
– Interface with contractors, architects, and designers as needed.
– Review bids, proposals, and major expenditures.
Family Office & Administration
– Manage household purchasing and project expenses.
– Review invoices and maintain simple budget oversight.
– Support scheduling, logistics, and travel preparation.
– Coordinate with the family office for planning and alignment.
Communication
– Communicate primarily via Teams in concise, structured updates.
– Maintain frequent touch points on planned actions and next steps.
Staff Build-Out
– Hire and onboard additional staff as operations expand.
– Establish clear expectations and simple training materials.
QUALIFICATIONS
– 5+ years in estate operations, family office support, Chief-of-Staff roles, or similar high-judgment operational roles.
– Experience coordinating vendors or property projects.
– Ability to learn new domains quickly and adapt to shifting priorities.
– Strong written communication and ability to maintain alignment.
– High discretion and mature judgment.
– Valid driver’s license; U.S. work authorization.
THIS ROLE IS NOT FOR YOU IF
– You need frequent direction or reassurance.
– You prefer a strict routine with little variation.
– You dislike written communication throughout the day.
– You avoid hands-on execution or project environments.
– Ambiguity or evolving priorities make you uncomfortable.
WHY THIS ROLE IS DIFFERENT
? Single principal; no competing decision-makers
? Austin-based; no regular travel
? Real autonomy paired with clear communication loops
? Build operations from the ground up
? Lean, non-bureaucratic environment
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
- Salary: $150,000 – $175,000 depending on experience
- Location: Austin, TX (live-out; must be local — no relocation assistance available)
- Schedule: Full-time with flexibility for property needs; responsive availability expected
- Start Date: ASAP