Project + Design Operations Manager

Emerald Design Works; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision

Paid Time Off

Paid Sick Time

9 Paid Company Holidays

Monthly Cell Phone Reimbursement

Professional Development Opportunities

Collaborative Culture

Job summary

Emerald Design Works is seeking a hands-on Project & Design Operations Manager to report to the CFO and partner with the VP of Design. You’ll drive EOS rollout, build visibility into projects, and keep schedules and capacity aligned with business goals.

You’ll manage Rocks, budgets, dashboards, and handoffs across Design and broader operations, spotting bottlenecks and helping teams deliver what they commit to, while guiding teams with practical, process-driven leadership.

Qualifications

• Organized, proactive, analytical; able to influence teams without direct management.
• 4–7 years of project management, PMO, resource management, 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; able to create useful dashboards.
• Hands-on EOS and Ninety.io experience is a plus.
• Experience in interior design, architecture, engineering, construction, or other project-based services is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the company-wide EOS rollout with the CFO, including milestones 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; flag capacity gaps and scheduling conflicts.
• Compare budgeted versus actual design hours, identify variances, and help improve future estimates and project delivery.
• Build project, capacity, and utilization reporting that supports timely decisions.
• Improve handoffs, workflows, and project-management discipline across Design and the broader business.

Skills

Organized

Analytical

Proactive

PMO experience

Stakeholder mgmt

EOS experience

Capacity planning

Excel dashboards

Tools

Excel

Ninety.io

Project management software

Dashboards

Job description

Project & Design Operations Manager

Help turn great design and big plans into consistent execution.

Emerald Design Works is looking for a hands-on project and operations leader to report to the CFO, help roll out our Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), and partner closely with the VP of Design to keep projects and people on track.

This is not a role where you simply update project schedules. You’ll build visibility, spot issues early, and help teams deliver what they commit to.

The Questions You’ll Help Answer

• Are our EOS priorities, Rocks, and action items moving forward?
• Which design projects are coming next, and when must the work happen?
• Who has the capacity and right skills to take on each project?
• Are projects on schedule, and where are the bottlenecks?
• How do actual design hours compare with estimated hours, and what should we change?

What You’ll Own

• 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; flag capacity gaps and scheduling conflicts
• Compare budgeted versus actual design hours, identify variances, and help improve future estimates and project delivery
• Build project, capacity, and utilization reporting that supports timely decisions
• Improve handoffs, workflows, and project-management discipline across Design and the broader business

What We’re Looking For

• You’re organized, proactive, analytical, and comfortable influencing teams without being their direct manager. You can bring structure without adding bureaucracy.
• 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; comfortable creating useful dashboards
• Hands-on experience with EOS and Ninety.io is a significant plus
• Experience in interior design, architecture, engineering, construction, or other project-based professional services is a plus

Why Emerald

We’re building a national commercial interiors company around one idea: exceptional design deserves exceptional delivery.

You’ll work directly with the CFO and closely with Design leadership to help shape how we plan work, measure performance, and execute as we grow.

The anticipated title is Project & Design Operations Manager, but we care more about fit and capability than a rigid title.

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage
  Supporting your health and well-being every step of the way.

• Paid Time Off
  Time to rest, recharge, and return inspired.

• Paid Sick Time
  Because taking care of yourself and your family matters.

• 9 Paid Company Holidays—Including Your Birthday
  We believe life's milestones deserve to be celebrated.

• Monthly Cell Phone Reimbursement
  Helping you stay connected wherever work takes you.

• Professional Development Opportunities
  Continuous learning, new experiences, and opportunities to grow alongside a team that values curiosity and excellence.
• A Collaborative Culture
  Work alongside talented professionals who value craftsmanship, trust, and white-glove service.