Part-Time Head of Operations

Studio Sabat is a boutique architecture and interior design practice based in Sydney, specialising in high end private residential projects from concept through completion. We are small, growing, and intentionally so.

Our pipeline is full. Our Director is at capacity. We are hiring our first dedicated operations hire to change that.

Why this role exists

Right now, too many hours of our Director's week go to inbox triage, calendar logistics, sample chases, consultant follow-ups, and the small operational fires that keep a busy practice running.

Your job is simple: take all of that off her plate.

You are the multiplier. Every hour you buy back for her, she invests in design, clients, and growth.

Outcomes you'll own

These are the things that will be true if you are winning:

• The Director's inbox hits zero by the end of each morning. No client message waits more than 24 hours.
• Every active project moves forward without operational drag. No stalls because of missing docs, unfiled approvals, or unanswered consultant questions.
• DA and CC submissions are coordinated clearly, with consultant documents tracked, deadlines visible, and avoidable rework reduced.
• The materials and finishes library is always current, organised, and ready for design decisions.
• The Director's calendar reflects deep design and client work, not chaos.
• We will measure you on these outcomes. We will celebrate them with you.

What you'll do

To deliver on those outcomes, the work spans:

• Daily inbox triage, drafting responses, surfacing what needs the Director's personal attention
• Calendar ownership: scheduling client, consultant, and showroom appointments
• Project administration across all active jobs: documentation, contracts, records, email filing
• DA and CC submission coordination, including consultant document collation and council liaison
• Tracking approval conditions and consultant deliverables across the pipeline
• Materials and finishes library: ordering, organising, returning samples; showroom and supplier liaison
• Proposals, presentations, and submission coordination
• Client and consultant agreements; PI insurance renewals; architectural registration compliance
• Lead intake and business development follow-up
• You will have real autonomy to help choose systems, build playbooks, and shape how the practice runs, in close collaboration with the Director.

Your first 90 days

• Days 1 to 30: Take over the Director's inbox and calendar. Audit current systems. Get the sample library in order. By the end of month one, the Director has not opened a logistical email in two weeks.
• Days 31 to 60: Own project administration across all active jobs. Build the playbooks for DA submissions, consultant onboarding, and sample workflows. Director hasn't chased a consultant in a month.
• Days 61 to 90: Studio Sabat runs smoother than it ever has. You have a clear point of view on what is broken, what is working, and what we should build next. We are talking about expanding your hours.