Chief of Staff

Mickalene Thomas Studio; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental and vis​

401(k) plan

Job summary

Mickalene Thomas Studio is seeking a Chief of Staff & Office Manager to serve as a strategic partner, ensuring priorities, time and decisions advance smoothly. This role runs the studio’s office operations, processes and administrative team, partnering with HR and accounting for a cohesive operation.

You will own Mickalene's day-to-day rhythm—calendars, meetings and travel—while leading special projects and safeguarding the artist's schedule and discretion.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in chief of staff, office manager, executive assistant, or gallery/studio operations.
• Experience supporting a founder, artist or senior executive directly.
• Experience supervising a small team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience managing budgets, vendors and multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Manage calendar across studio time, meetings, travel, press and appearances and protect time for practice.
• Run the studio's operating cadence with weekly priorities, team meetings, agendas and notes.
• Prepare briefs and recommendations for meetings and decisions.
• Act as the main relay between the artist and team for questions, approvals and information.
• Lead special projects from planning through completion.
• Review work before it reaches the artist or studio, ensuring proper sign-off.
• Draft correspondence and updates on the artist's behalf with discretion.
• Oversee office operations, facilities, vendors, equipment, storage, and supplies.
• Write and maintain studio procedures, keep files and systems organized and secure.
• Supervise the administrative team and support growth.
• Partner with HR on onboarding and studio policies; support staff.
• Collaborate with accounting on budgets, invoices and expense reporting.
• Plan and run studio visits and events with guest prep and logistics.
• Coordinate travel for artist and staff, domestic and international.
• Support external projects with galleries and partners; manage contracts and insurance.

Skills

Calendar management

Operating cadence

Briefing preparation

Discretion & confidentiality

Team supervision

Budgeting & vendor mgmt

Google Workspace

Asana

ArtBinder familiarity

Tools

Asana

Google Workspace

ArtBinder

QuickBooks

Adobe Creative Cloud

Canva

Mailchimp

Job description

The Chief of Staff & Office Manager is Mickalene Thomas's closest operating partner, responsible for keeping her priorities, time and decisions moving, and for running the office and administrative side of the studio. We are looking for an organized, discreet and proactive leader who is interested in a long term commitment to the artist and the studio.

This candidate will own the operating rhythm behind Mickalene's day: her calendar, meetings, priorities and follow through, along with special projects she hands off. In addition, the Chief of Staff & Office Manager runs the office: facilities, vendors, systems, procedures and the administrative team. This role reports directly to Mickalene Thomas and works cross functionally with the Director of Production, the studio's HR and accounting partners, and external partners.

Your role:

• Manage Mickalene's calendar across studio time, meetings, travel, press and public appearances, and protect time for her practice
• Run the studio's operating cadence, including weekly priorities, team meetings, agendas, notes and decision tracking, and follow up until each item is closed
• Prepare Mickalene for meetings and decisions with briefs, background, options and recommendations
• Act as the point of contact between Mickalene and the team, so questions, approvals and information reach her in the right order and at the right time
• Lead special projects and new initiatives Mickalene hands off, from planning through completion
• Ensure work reaching Mickalene or leaving the studio has been reviewed by the right person first
• Draft correspondence, memos and updates on Mickalene's behalf with discretion and accuracy
• Run office operations: facilities, building relationships, vendors, equipment, offsite storage, and office and kitchen supplies within budget
• Write, maintain and improve studio procedures, and keep files, records and systems (Asana, Google Drive, studio calendar) organized and secure
• Supervise the administrative team, including the Office Coordinator and interns: assign priorities, review work and support their growth
• Partner with HR on onboarding, scheduling and studio policies, and act as a resource and advocate for staff
• Work with accounting on the operating budget, invoices, expense tracking and reporting
• Plan and run studio visits and events, including guest preparation, waivers and hospitality
• Coordinate travel for Mickalene and staff, domestic and international
• Support external projects with galleries, museums and partners by coordinating schedules, contracts, certificates of insurance and logistics with the project leads
• Support registrar work, including shipping and receiving coordination and keeping ArtBinder current

What excites us about you:

• You anticipate what Mickalene needs before she asks and follow through until the work is done
• You think in systems and enjoy building processes that make a small team run more smoothly
• You bring sound judgment and discretion to confidential information, unreleased work and a principal's schedule
• You are comfortable moving between a strategic priority and a supply order in the same hour
• You lead people with clear direction and real support
• You write clearly and represent the studio well, inside and out
• You have a passion for contemporary art and familiarity with Mickalene's work

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience as a chief of staff, office manager, executive assistant to a principal, or in studio or gallery operations, or equivalent experience
• Experience supporting a founder, artist or senior executive directly
• Experience supervising a small team
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience managing budgets, vendors and multiple priorities at the same time
• Competent with Google Workspace and Asana; ArtBinder, QuickBooks, Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva or Mailchimp a plus
• Willing and able to work fully on site at our studio at 42 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with occasional evening or weekend events
• Willing to travel occasionally with or on behalf of the artist

Compensation:

• $70,000 to $115,000 annual salary depending upon experience
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance plans
• 401(k) plan

Mickalene Thomas Studio is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, alienage or citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, pregnancy, sexual and reproductive health decisions, marital or partnership status, familial status, caregiver status, height, weight, genetic information, status as a victim of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, unemployment status, veteran or military status, arrest or conviction record, credit history, or any other status protected by federal, New York State or New York City law. We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with the New York City Fair Chance Act. We do not ask about salary history. If you need a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the application process, please contact us at [e-mail].