‘Bonkers’ job ad’s eyebrow-raising list of duties to make ‘high-profile art world’ family’s life easier

A job ad for an assistant to make a wealthy couple’s “life easier” lists duties so bizarre and onerous people have questioned if it’s real.

An anonymous, self-proclaimed “high-profile art world family” posted a job ad for an executive assistant with a unending list of duties that has industry insiders both amused and appalled.

“The ideal candidate must be dedicated to a simple goal: Make life easier for the couple in every way possible,” the executive assistant job posting said, reported the New York Post.

The listing was highlighted by the blog Filthy Dreams.

Some have said the onerous task list was “bonkers” and was essentially “three jobs” in one.

The since-deleted post listed tasks like serving as, “the central point of communication to household staff (includes chef, nannies, landscapers, dog walkers, housekeeper, contractors and building managers)”.

The job was with a ‘high-profile art world family’. Picture: Thinkstock

Available, basically, all the time

Candidates would need to “co-ordinate all cleaning, repairs and guests stays” as well as tend to a rooftop garden and create “detailed travel itineraries for family to follow” on domestic and international trips.

The family also expected the executive assistant to “manage dog systems” – meaning ensuring “potty breaks, food, daycare, dog walkers, vet appointments”.

Other duties included, “drop-off/pick-up clothing from high end stores” and “help studio assistant with in-studio cats”.

They would have to be “comfortable with children” because there was a four-year-old in the house and, alongside everything else, “you will sometimes be left with the child alone”.

While the normal day would last from 10am to 6pm, the successful candidate should be prepared to, “answer messages and take care of tasks before and after work,” and unsurprisingly on weekends too.

A “knowledge of the art and fashion world is a plus” states the ad cheerily. Because there will be so much time to enjoy those worlds alongside assisting with cats, dogs and kids, nannies, gardeners, dog walkers and contractors.

Naturally, you’d have to lend a hand with the ‘in-studio cats’.

‘Worst art job listing ever created’

Emily Colucci, a freelance art writer who runs Filthy Dreams, titled her article about the ad: “I found it: The worst art job listing ever created.”

“It’s just a total lack of self-awareness,” she told The New York Times. “So of course I saw it and I laughed, ’cause it’s hilarious.”

In her blog post, she wrote that the ad was a “perfect unintentional parody”.

“It also reads like a genius piece of satire about the complete disassociation of the rich from everyone else’s everyday life and viewing the rest of us peons as servants to make their lives simpler.”

Emily Colucci’s blog post on the job summed it up.

Painter Emily Mae Smith, who employs her own studio assistants, said the ad was “completely bonkers” in an interview with the Times.

“‘We want you to be a personal assistant, we want you to be an executive assistant, but we also want you to do all kinds of liaising with our staff,’ which sounds to me like three jobs. Oh, and babysitting?” Ms Smith said.

Some believed the posting was a well-written joke.

“Many people thought it was an art world parody,” Whitehot art magazine publisher Noah Becker told the Times.

Several former assistants said the job duties aren’t that far off from reality.

“The tasks aren’t that uncommon for what someone of a high-calibre financial situation would want,” said film producer Rebecca Greene, who was formerly employed as a Hollywood A-lister’s assistant.

“It’s just not typically written out that way, which is sort of intense.”

The job listing offered a salary range of $US65,000 to $US95,000 ($A96,500 to $A126,000).

It’s not known who the “high-profile art world family” is.

This story appeared in the New York Post and is reproduced with permission

Originally published as ‘Bonkers’ job ad’s eyebrow-raising list of duties to make ‘high-profile art world’ family’s life easier