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
What We're Looking For
- 8-12 years of experience in operations, project management, or studio/practice management - ideally within an interior design, architecture, or creative studio environment
- Proven experience managing teams of 10+ people
- Strong financial acumen: budgeting, forecasting, and profitability analysis
- Deep familiarity with design-industry workflows (procurement, FF&E processes, project lifecycles) is a strong plus, even though this role is not design-facing
- Exceptional organizational and process-building skills - you see systems where others see chaos
- Confident, clear communicator who can manage up (to the Founder), across (to design leadership), and down (to the team)
- Experience with studio/project management software (ex. Studio Designer, Asana, Monday.com, or similar)
- A steady, calm operator's temperament - someone who brings order to a creative environment without dampening it
About the Studio
Wecselman Design is a Miami-based luxury interior design studio founded by Deborah Wecselman, a Parsons-trained designer and Ralph Lauren alum who spent over a decade shaping the brand's global store interiors before launching her own practice. The studio is known internationally for sophisticated, classically modern interiors across high-end residential projects - from waterfront estates to exclusive high-rises, and for the close, hands-on relationships it builds with clients.
