Project Manager (Interior Design)

Emerald Design Works • Chicago, IL

7h

About The Position

Emerald Design Works is seeking a hands-on project and operations leader to report to the CFO and coordinate the rollout of its Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). The role partners closely with the VP of Design to keep projects and people on track, improve visibility, identify issues early, and help teams deliver on their commitments. It focuses on execution and operational discipline rather than simply maintaining project schedules.

The position maintains visibility into EOS priorities, Rocks, scorecards, commitments, and leadership action items; plans design project schedules and assignments; monitors designer workload, availability, and future demand; and reports on project capacity, utilization, and budgeted versus actual design hours. It also improves handoffs, workflows, estimates, and project-management practices across Design and the broader business. The anticipated title is Project & Design Operations Manager, though the company emphasizes fit and capability over a rigid title.

Requirements

• Approximately 4–7 years of project management, PMO, resource management, strategic planning, or related experience.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, dependencies, and stakeholders.
• Experience with resource and capacity planning, time tracking, and budget-versus-actual reporting.
• Strong Excel and project-management systems skills, including comfort creating useful dashboards.
• Organized, proactive, and analytical, with the ability to influence teams without being their direct manager.
• Ability to bring structure without adding bureaucracy.

Nice To Haves

• Hands-on experience with EOS and Ninety.io.
• Experience in interior design, architecture, engineering, construction, or other project-based professional services.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the company-wide EOS rollout with the CFO, including milestones, follow-through, and adoption of Ninety.io.
• Maintain visibility into Rocks, scorecards, priorities, commitments, and leadership action items.
• Partner with the VP of Design to create and maintain project schedules, milestones, and assignments.
• Track designer workload, availability, and upcoming demand, and flag capacity gaps and scheduling conflicts.
• Compare budgeted and actual design hours, identify variances, and help improve future estimates and project delivery.
• Build project, capacity, and utilization reporting to support timely decisions.
• Improve handoffs, workflows, and project-management discipline across Design and the broader business.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid time off.
• Paid sick time.
• 9 paid company holidays, including your birthday.
• Monthly cell phone reimbursement.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Collaborative culture.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed