Job #28040

A private family in Zurich is seeking an experienced career nanny to work as the rota counterpart to an established nanny, on a two-weeks-on / two-weeks-off basis.
The role covers a toddler, currently approaching twelve months, and in due course a newborn sibling. It will suit a calm, developmentally informed professional who enjoys working in close partnership with hands-on parents and alongside other household staff.

The Family & Household
• Two children: a toddler approaching twelve months, and a newborn.
• Two teenagers in the household, who are not part of the nanny’s remit except as noted below.
• A maternity nurse is responsible for the newborn from birth to approximately four to five months, after which the newborn moves into the nannies’ care.
• Two family dogs.
• The household is partially staffed and requires a high standard of discretion, privacy and security awareness.

Schedule & Accommodation
• Rota. Two weeks on, two weeks off, alternating with the counterpart nanny. Handover normally on Mondays, midday or early afternoon.

• Service periods. Twelve-hour or twenty-four-hour service periods as scheduled.

• Accommodation. Private accommodation is provided by the family, either within the family home or nearby, at the family’s discretion. The arrangement may change as the family’s housing does, and candidates should be comfortable with either.

• Overnight availability. Where a service period extends beyond 9.00 p.m., or where the family otherwise requires overnight cover, the nanny stays overnight in accommodation designated by the family. This may be requested at short notice, and the flexibility to accommodate it is a core part of the role.

• Travel. The nanny may be required to travel with the family during rota periods. Travel time forms part of the role; travel and accommodation are arranged and paid for by the family.

• Vacation. Statutory paid vacation of a minimum four weeks per calendar year, pro rata, ordinarily scheduled and designated within non-working rota periods.

Core Responsibilities
Toddler care
• Age-appropriate meals, structured routines, and support through transitions
• Nap and sleep management, including nap transitions
• Language development, early learning, and independent play
• Gentle boundary-setting and support with emotional regulation
• Safe, attentive supervision indoors and on outings
Infant care, from approximately month five of the newborn’s life
• Bottle preparation, feeding, sterilisation and logging
• Safe sleep practices and wake-window management
• Diapering, bathing, hygiene, and confident infant handling
• Support for early motor, sensory and language development
Child-related household duties
• Preparation of the children’s meals, with associated clearing and cleaning
• Children’s laundry and wardrobe management, including hand-washing, steaming and ironing of delicate fabrics
• Nursery and child-space organisation; toy, book and supply organisation
• Inventory tracking of children’s supplies
• Packing and preparation for family travel
Ancillary support (limited, non-housekeeping)
• Assisting with preparation of family meals; simple family meals on occasion
• Occasional simple errands, such as grocery shopping
• Walking the family dogs
The role does not include general housekeeping or domestic cleaning.
Occasional older-child supervision may be requested during parental travel only, and is limited to overnight presence in the home, simple meals, bedtime supervision, morning school departure, and curfew oversight.

Working Style
• Both parents, and particularly the mother, are closely involved in day-to-day care, including naps and bedtimes. The nanny works in partnership with them, stepping in as needed and supporting parental lead and bonding time.
• During periods of direct parental care, the nanny moves to supportive tasks — children’s laundry, nursery organisation, preparation of children’s items, dog walking — so the household continues to run smoothly.
• Calm, consistent and unflappable across busy periods, travel and disrupted routines.
• Organised and methodical, particularly in packing, travel preparation and managing children’s supplies.
• Collaborative with the rota counterpart and other household staff.
• Discreet at all times. A formal confidentiality undertaking forms part of the employment agreement.
Requirements
• Substantial professional experience with infants and toddlers, ideally including two children under two
• Formal childcare qualification and/or long-form references from comparable private households
• Experience of rota work and shared-charge arrangements
• Comfortable in a high-privacy household and with international travel
• EU/EFTA passport, or an existing right to live and work in Switzerland
• English essential; German an advantage
• Paediatric first aid certification
• Non-smoker
Process
Candidates will be asked to complete a paid working trial day with the family in Zurich before any offer is made