The Role We're looking for a Chief of Staff to lead the strategic execution of our studio. This role sits between our Founder/Principal Designer and the broader team, taking full ownership of how the studio runs day-to-day, so that design leadership can stay focused on creative direction rather than internal operations. You'll oversee a team of 10 - 15+ across design, project management, and administrative functions. This is not a design leadership role, it's a business leadership role for someone who thrives on process, accountability, and making a creative business run efficiently and profitably. What You'll Own Team & Operations Leadership - Manage day-to-day operations across the studio, including staffing, workflow, and resource allocation across active projects - Directly manage project managers, coordinators, and administrative staff; provide performance feedback and professional development - Build and refine internal systems, processes, and studio standards (project management software, documentation, QA checkpoints) - Serve as the primary point of accountability for project timelines, budgets, and deliverable quality across the studio's active project roster Financial & Business Operations - Own studio-wide budgeting, project profitability tracking, and financial reporting to the Founder - Manage vendor and contractor relationships, procurement processes, and purchasing workflows - Oversee contracts, proposals, and client agreements in partnership with the Founder - Monitor studio KPIs and report regularly to leadership Process & Culture - Establish and maintain HR functions: hiring processes, onboarding, performance reviews, and studio policies - Champion studio culture and internal communication as the team scales - Identify operational bottlenecks and implement scalable solutions as the studio grows - Act as a trusted operational partner to the Founder/Principal, freeing them to focus on design vision, business development, and client relationships
