Director of Operations

Join a high-end residential architecture studio as Director of Operations and play a central role in shaping the day-to-day success of a close-knit, design-driven team. This position is ideal for someone who thrives on building structure, managing people and processes, and ensuring a studio runs seamlessly—from HR and office operations to financial tracking and systems coordination. You’ll work closely with leadership and project teams, bringing clarity, organization, and operational rigor to a creative environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own and manage the day-to-day operations of the studio, ensuring the firm runs efficiently and cohesively.
• Lead HR functions, including onboarding, employee experience, policies, and compliance for a small, close-knit team.
• Oversee office management and administrative functions, maintaining a high-performing and organized studio environment.
• Establish, refine, and maintain systems, processes, and internal workflows to support a design-driven practice.
• Coordinate financial tracking across projects, working closely with Project Managers to monitor budgets, billing progress, and overall project performance.
• Support and review invoicing processes (prepared by PMs), ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with architectural billing practices.
• Partner with leadership to provide insight into financial performance, including budget tracking and reporting (no bookkeeping required).
• Update and maintain the firm’s office manual, ensuring clear and current operational standards.
• Oversee and manage insurance policies and compliance requirements.
• Act as a central point of coordination for the studio, helping align leadership, project teams, and administrative functions.
• Play a critical role in maintaining stability and continuity during a period of organizational transition.

Skills and Experience:

• Experience in an operations, office management, or administrative leadership role, ideally within a design firm, architecture practice, or boutique professional services environment.
• Strong organizational and operational instincts, with a track record of building and improving internal systems and processes.
• Experience owning or supporting HR responsibilities in a small to mid-size organization.
• Working knowledge of financial tracking, project budgets, and billing workflows, preferably within an architecture or design context.
• Familiarity with invoicing structures in professional services, with an understanding of how billing integrates with project delivery.
• Highly tech-savvy, comfortable implementing and managing tools that support operations and project tracking.
• Ability to work closely with a small senior team and demanding client base, with a collaborative and solutions-oriented mindset.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities across operational, administrative, and financial areas.
• Comfortable operating in a small, high-end residential practice environment, where flexibility, accountability, and hands-on involvement are essential.