ABOUT THE ROLE
We are a creative, fast-growing interior design studio with a 10+ person team. Our work is exceptional, but the operational engine behind it has not kept pace. Proposals slip through the cracks, invoices go out late, project handoffs stall, and the Principal Designer is too often pulled into triage instead of creative leadership.
We are hiring a Head of Operations who can change that, for good. This is not an administrative role. You will architect the systems that let a design studio of this caliber operate at the level its talent deserves.
The ideal candidate thinks like a Chief of Staff and executes like an operator. You know interior design from the inside: project phases, consultant coordination, FF&E timelines, client milestones, and you bring that fluency to every process you build.
WHAT YOU WILL OWN
Project Pipeline & Workflow Architecture
– Design and enforce end-to-end project workflows, from intake through to closeout
– Own the master project pipeline and ensure every active project has clear status, next actions, and accountable owners
– Eliminate the bottlenecks that force the Principal Designer to become the de facto project manager
– Build and maintain project templates, briefing standards, and stage-gate checkpoints
Billing & Financial Operations
– Overhaul the billing cycle; establish reliable invoicing triggers, retainer schedules, and payment tracking
– Ensure no invoice is late, missed, or undocumented
– Partner with the bookkeeper or finance lead on cash flow visibility and financial reporting
– Build client billing communications that reinforce the studio's professionalism
Team Operations & Delegation Structure
– Manage workload distribution across Project Managers and design staff
– Create clear delegation frameworks so the Principal Designer stays at the creative helm
– Run weekly operations meetings that are structured, efficient, and decision-driving
– Develop capacity planning tools to anticipate resourcing needs before they become crises
Process & Studio Infrastructure
– Audit existing tools and processes; consolidate where appropriate, build where absent
– Develop and maintain the studio's operational playbook; onboarding, project protocols, communication standards
– Act as the connective tissue between the Principal Designer, Senior Designer, and Project Managers
– Drive adoption of new systems with genuine buy-in, not top-down mandates
WHO YOU WORK CLOSELY WITH
Principal Designer
Your primary partner. You free them from operational noise so they can focus on design leadership and client relationships. You are their right hand, not their assistant.
Senior Designer
A key voice on project timelines, resource needs, and quality thresholds. You align with them on what is realistic before committing to clients or the principal.
Project Managers
You are their operational lead. You set the systems they work within, troubleshoot escalations, and develop their capacity to own their projects fully.
WHAT YOU BRING
Non-Negotiable
– Direct experience in the interior design industry; you understand project phases, procurement cycles, consultant coordination, and design fees
– Demonstrated track record of building or fixing operational systems in a creative or project-based environment
– Experience managing or coordinating teams of 8+ people
– Billing and financial operations fluency; you know how to structure retainers, progress invoicing, and change orders
– Strong written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting to ownership and managing upward
Strongly Preferred
– Experience in a Chief of Staff, Operations Director, or Studio Manager role at a design, architecture, or interior design firm
– Familiarity with project management platforms used in design studios
– Exposure to procurement logistics, trade accounts, and vendor management in an interior design context
HOW SUCCESS IS MEASURED
In your first 90 days, we will consider this role a success if:
– The project pipeline is visible, current, and owned; no project falls through the cracks
– Invoicing is no longer reactive; a reliable billing calendar is in place and followed
– The Principal Designer has been removed from at least three categories of operational triage they currently own
– The team has a recurring ops meeting format that people actually find useful
– You have mapped the gaps and presented a 6-month operations roadmap
This is a senior leadership role. We are looking for someone who will stay, grow, and help shape where this studio goes next. If you have been waiting for a studio that needs exactly what you bring — this is it.
Pay: $75,000.00-$85,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
