Shape
Together, we define the responsibilities, reporting line, schedule, compensation, travel, and working arrangement.
Ellery
Agency — Private Household Staffing
Meet Ellery.
Ellery recruits and places experienced professionals for private homes.
Why Ellery
Founder-ledThe founder oversees every search from the first conversation through placement.
Checked at the sourceEmployment history and professional references are confirmed directly.
DiscretionClient searches are never disclosed. Candidates learn which household it is only when an introduction is agreed.
Terms in writingFees, screening, and replacement terms are confirmed before the search begins.
Ellery CareReachable 24/7, by phone or message, throughout the search and the early weeks of a placement.
Household Staffing
First, we shape the role with you
Every search begins with the home: how it runs, who is already there, the schedule, and where support is needed. From there, we shape the role and search for the experience, judgment, and working style to fit.
Roles
Household roles
Our work covers six areas of household staffing.
Household Leadership
House Managers · Estate Managers · Directors of Residences
For homes that need one person to coordinate staff, vendors, projects, travel, and day-to-day operations.Household Service
Butlers · Executive Housekeepers · Housekeepers · Domestic Couples
Housekeeping, service, wardrobe, guest care, and the routines that keep a home ready.Childcare
Nannies · Newborn Care Specialists · Travel Nannies
Care matched to the children, schedule, travel, and family preferences.Family & Personal Support
Family Assistants · Personal Assistants
Calendars, travel, errands, appointments, household coordination, and personal administration.Culinary
Private Chefs · Household Cooks
Daily meals, dietary needs, provisioning, entertaining, and travel.Transport
Chauffeurs · Family Drivers
Safe, reliable transport, vehicle care, route planning, and discretion.
Verification
Checked at the source
We confirm identity and speak directly with former employers and references.
Depending on the role and jurisdiction, screening may also include criminal background checks, driving records, education or credential verification, and international employment checks.
Process
How the search works
Search
We search through referrals, existing relationships, professional networks, and direct outreach.
Verify
We interview candidates and complete role-specific verification.
Introduce & support
We present a considered short list, support interviews and selection, and stay involved through the early weeks.
Search approach
How the role shapes the search
Illustrative examples. Client searches remain confidential.
Executive Housekeeper
Park City private residence
A residence used for part of the year that must be ready whenever the family arrives and carefully maintained between visits. The search turns on housekeeping standards, consistency, discretion, and the ability to work without close supervision.
House Manager
New York principal residence
Day-to-day responsibility for staff, vendors, maintenance, and the running of the house. The search looks for candidates who have held comparable responsibility, with references that confirm it.
Private Chef
Multi-residence family
A family that moves between residences throughout the year. The search weighs culinary range, dietary requirements, provisioning, willingness to travel, and a record of cooking in private homes.
Director of Residences
Multi-residence household
Oversight of several residences, their teams, vendors, and projects. The search calls for experience leading across several residences, sound judgment, and references that confirm the scope of responsibility.
Coverage
Searches across the United States
Ellery conducts private household staffing searches across the United States, including in these principal markets. It also works with families based overseas who are seeking staff for a US residence.
- New York
- The Hamptons
- Greenwich
- Chicago
- Palm Beach
- Miami
- Dallas
- Aspen
- Park City
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Los Angeles
- Montecito
Leadership
Household staffing experience since 2009
Amanda Safra defines each brief, reviews every candidate and approves every introduction. That experience includes MaidProvider.ph, the licensed Philippine household staffing firm she co-founded and continues to lead, and earlier work on the client side of luxury.
About the founderProfessional Standards
Membership and accreditation
Ellery’s membership and accreditation may be verified through the organizations that issued them.
For Professionals
For household professionals
Ellery works with experienced household professionals across the United States. We look for verifiable experience, strong references, sound judgment, and the ability to work well in a private home.
Professionals never pay Ellery. We describe roles clearly, protect confidentiality, and communicate directly.
Work with ElleryNotes
On private household staffing
Latest note · Household staffing
What a Private Household Should Expect From a Staffing Firm
What families should expect from a staffing firm: discretion, selective candidates, checked references, clear terms and support after placement.
Read the note →
How to Hire a House ManagerHousehold leadership
Live-In vs. Live-Out Household StaffWorking arrangements
All notes
Inquiries
Start a household search
Tell us about the household and the role. We can help shape it and the next steps. Every inquiry is answered personally and held in confidence.
Phone+1 (415) 416‑7474