Interior Design Project Manager OR Studio Director

Higher People•San Francisco, CA

7d•$150,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Atelier Oleana is a San Francisco based luxury residential interior design studio creating richly layered, deeply personal homes. The work blends contemporary clarity with timeless materials, sculptural forms, quiet contrast, and a sense of comfortable luxury. The studio is growing and needs a right hand who can run the day to day so Anu can stay focused on creative vision, key relationships, and where the studio goes next. Title is flexible and will be calibrated to the experience level of the person we hire. This is a hybrid role, with about 65% project leadership and team management, and 35% design development and quality control. The role involves managing multiple high-end residential projects at once, from design development through construction, installation, and closeout, and overseeing a team including designers at different levels, with real mentorship responsibility. The annual salary is $150,000, including bonus and health stipend if needed.

Requirements

Managed complex, high end residential projects before
Real design chops, not just PM chops
Know your way around furnishings, materials, lighting, and construction
Led or mentored other designers
Know the difference between a decision you can make and one that needs to go to the principal, and you're not afraid to make the call
Calm under pressure, meticulous without spiraling into perfectionism, warm with clients, and direct with your team
Can take a creative direction and run with it without needing constant re-briefing

Nice To Haves

8 to 12+ years in luxury residential interior design, architecture, or a related field
Proven track record independently managing multiple complex residential projects
Strong understanding of residential construction, custom millwork, drawings, specs, procurement, and installation
Comfortable presenting to and building trust with discerning clients, architects, and consultants
Proficiency with relevant design, documentation, and project management software

Responsibilities

Own project schedules, deliverable lists, budgets, action items, and internal deadlines
Set clear weekly priorities per project so the team always knows what's needed and when
Lead internal PM meetings and keep follow through tight
Track open decisions, approvals, client requests, revisions, and procurement milestones
Monitor scope, design hours, staffing needs, and financial health, and flag out of scope work before the team proceeds
Coordinate with architects, contractors, vendors, fabricators, and installers
Serve as senior day to day contact for assigned clients, leading updates, scheduling, and meetings when Anu's attendance isn't required
Review the team's design work before it reaches Anu, ensuring it's cohesive, technically accurate, and on brand
Help develop schemes, layouts, materials, furnishings, and lighting under Anu's direction
Oversee installations end to end