Private Infant/Toddler Educator & Career Nanny - Waterford, VA

Western Loudoun County, Virginia | Full-Time | Long-Term

A family in western Loudoun County, Virginia is seeking an exceptional career nanny / private early-childhood educator to care for and help guide the development of their curious, active 9-month-old son.

This is an opportunity for someone who sees excellent childcare as more than supervision. We are looking for a warm, highly attentive caregiver who brings an educator's curiosity and intentionality to everyday life—someone who genuinely enjoys observing how a young child is developing, creating experiences that build on emerging skills and interests, and helping him discover the world around him.

The ideal candidate may come from a career-nanny background or from early-childhood education and be interested in bringing that expertise into a highly individualized home environment. Montessori, AMI/AMS 0–3, ECE, infant/toddler development, Reggio Emilia, RIE/Pikler, preschool teaching, child development, or related training would be especially valued. Substantial in-home infant experience and excellent practical caregiving judgment are essential.

The Child & Role

Our son is happy, social, physically active and intensely curious. He enjoys people, books, music, being outdoors, exploring objects and spaces, and learning how things work.

We want his nanny to be fully engaged in his day—getting on the floor with him, talking and reading throughout the day, supporting language development, creating opportunities for movement and fine-motor development, introducing music and sensory experiences, spending substantial time outdoors, visiting libraries and other age-appropriate destinations, and continually adapting activities as his abilities and interests evolve.

We value developmentally appropriate learning through play and exploration, not academic pressure or an overly programmed childhood.

Excellent basic care is equally important. The nanny will take ownership of his daily routine while working, including bottles/milk, meals, diapers, naps, hygiene, outdoor time, developmental activities and outings. We are looking for someone who notices the details without needing repeated reminders and who communicates naturally and professionally with us about his day.

The Family

We are a two-dad family and highly involved parents. One parent frequently works from home, but we want our nanny to have genuine ownership of the child's day rather than feeling as though a parent is constantly directing the work.

We value kindness, curiosity, science, nature, books, music, learning, healthy food and lots of outdoor experience. We want our home to be a warm and stimulating place without being chaotic or overly structured.

We respect professional childcare and early-childhood education as skilled work. We hope to develop a collaborative relationship in which our nanny brings ideas and expertise, while respecting that final parenting decisions remain with us.

We are seeking someone who would ideally become part of our family's life for several years, including as our family grows.

Ideal Candidate

The strongest candidate will bring:

• Significant professional infant and toddler experience, including independent full-day care in a private home
• Genuine enthusiasm for infant/toddler development and learning
• Strong observational skills and excellent judgment
• High energy and sustained engagement while the child is awake
• Warmth and affection paired with appropriate professional boundaries
• Creativity with developmental activities, outdoor exploration and outings
• Reliability, punctuality and meticulous attention to routine and basic care
• Strong communication skills and comfort collaborating with involved parents
• CPR/First Aid certification
• Excellent driving record and reliable transportation
• Ability and willingness to provide outstanding professional references
• A genuine desire for a stable, multi-year relationship with one family

Bilingual ability is welcome. 

Schedule & Compensation

Approximately 35–40 guaranteed hours per week, Monday–Friday, with some flexibility in establishing the final schedule.

Target compensation: approximately $30–38+ per hour, depending on professional experience, education, specialized credentials and overall fit. We are willing to consider compensation above this range for an extraordinary candidate.

The position will be paid legally through household payroll/W-2 employment and will include:

• Guaranteed weekly hours
• Paid vacation/PTO/Sick leave
• Paid holidays
• Annual compensation review
• Reimbursement for child-related activities and mileage as appropriate

Occasional evening or special-event availability would be welcomed but is not required.

Household Responsibilities

This is a childcare and child-development position, not a housekeeping or babysitting position.

The child's care, safety, engagement and development always come first. During naps or other appropriate downtime, responsibilities will include maintaining his bottles/feeding items, laundry, toys, supplies and spaces, preparing child meals and activities, and reasonable child-related organization. Some light household support may be mutually agreed upon, but the role is intentionally designed around the child.

Why This Role May Be Different

For an exceptional early-childhood educator accustomed to a classroom setting, this position offers the opportunity to bring your knowledge to one child, with the time, autonomy and resources to observe closely, individualize experiences, spend meaningful time outdoors and follow development in a way that classroom ratios rarely allow.

For an exceptional career nanny, it offers parents who genuinely value your professional judgment, developmental creativity and contribution—not simply your ability to keep a child safe until the workday ends.

We are looking for the person who arrives each morning thinking:

What is he curious about today, what is he working on developmentally, and what can we explore together next?

—and who is equally meticulous about whether he has eaten, had his milk, been changed, rested and cared for properly.

To Apply

Please send a résumé/CV and a brief introduction describing:

1. Your most relevant infant/toddler experience, including the ages of children when you began and how long you remained with those families.
2. Your education, training or professional credentials in early-childhood development or education.
3. What you would enjoy doing during a typical day with a curious, active 9-month-old.
4. What you are looking for in your next long-term family relationship.
5. Your desired schedule, compensation range and potential start date.

Professional references will be requested later in the process.

Qualified candidates will be invited through a staged process including conversation, reference verification, an in-person meeting and paid working trials before a final long-term commitment is made.