Operations Manager - Design
Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid (Minimum 3 days in-office/on-site in NYC)
Salary: $70,000 - $85,000 + annual bonus
Variegated NYC is a growing interior landscaping company that designs, installs, and maintains stunning interior plantscapes and provides exquisite floral arrangements for a diverse clientele across New York City. Our mission is to create vibrant, healthy environments that elevate the spaces where people live and work. We’re looking for an Operations Manager - Design to run our design pipeline from end to end. We need someone who can take ownership of the entire project lifecycle from client walkthrough through proposal delivery, manage the design team, and make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
This role is equal parts operational leadership and design expertise. You’ll build and manage the systems that keep projects moving: scheduling walkthroughs, tracking proposals, managing timelines, coordinating handoffs to our install team, while also being hands-on with design work. You’ll need enough plant knowledge to make smart selections, create quality proposals, and guide our other designers.
Responsibilities
Pipeline & Process Management
Own the design pipeline: track every project from initial inquiry through proposal delivery, ensuring nothing stalls or gets lost.
Build and maintain a scheduling system for walkthroughs, proposal deadlines, and project handoffs so the team always knows what’s coming and what’s due.
Develop and refine templates, standards, and workflows that improve proposal quality and reduce turnaround time.
Report on pipeline status, proposal volume, and project timelines to leadership.
Prioritize projects and opportunities based on revenue potential, timing, and team capacity.
Design & Proposals
Lead client walkthroughs to assess spaces, understand needs, and develop project concepts for interior plantscaping projects.
Create polished, detailed proposals including scope, specifications, layouts, and pricing. You’ll learn plant selections on the job with support from our team.
Review and optimize pricing on all proposals to protect and improve margins.
Collaborate with other designers and the Plant Care team to ensure designs are appropriate for each environment.
Stay current on trends in interior landscaping, containers, and design approaches.
Cross-Functional Coordination
Ensure smooth, complete handoff of sold projects to the Studio & Install team with clear specs, plant lists, and installation notes. No ambiguity.
Review completed installations for design accuracy and quality before final client walkthrough.
Coordinate with the Plant Care team when ongoing maintenance contracts are part of a project, ensuring care plans align with plant selections.
Proactively flag capacity, timeline, or material issues before they become problems.
Team Leadership
Manage and mentor a small team of Greenery Designers: assign work, set priorities, review output, and hold them accountable to quality and deadlines.
Set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and complete performance reviews to guide the development of the team.
Delegate walkthroughs, proposal drafting, and client communication as designers grow in capability.
Run regular team meetings and syncs to review pipeline, upcoming walkthroughs, and project status.
Requirements
3+ years of experience managing projects, teams, or operations in a service-based or design-driven business. You know how to keep a pipeline moving and a team on track.
Strong organizational skills and a process-oriented mindset. You build systems, track details, and don’t let things fall through the cracks.
Experience managing or supervising a small team: assigning work, reviewing output, giving direct feedback, and holding people accountable.
Comfort with client-facing work: leading walkthroughs, presenting proposals, and communicating confidently with commercial clients.
A genuine interest in plants, design, or how physical spaces come together. You don’t need to walk in as a plant expert. We’ll train you on species, selections, and what works where. But you should be someone who’s curious about it and picks things up quickly.
Ability to manage multiple projects at different stages simultaneously without losing track of deadlines or details.
Must be comfortable traveling to various client sites across NYC for walkthroughs, and the ability to occasionally assist with on-site styling or plant placement during high-profile installations including occasionally heavy lifting and getting your hands dirty.
Nice To Haves
Any existing knowledge of plants, horticulture, or landscape design. This will accelerate your ramp-up but is not required. We have a strong team that can teach you the plant side.
Direct experience in interior landscaping or interiorscaping. If you’re coming from exterior landscape, floral, or a related design field and want to transition to interiors, we’re very open to that.
Strong creative or design eye with the ability to assess a space and recommend appropriate plant selections, containers, and layouts.
Horticultural knowledge, including the ability to assess plant health, diagnose issues, and recommend care strategies is a huge plus.
Benefits
Generous PTO: Holiday, Vacation, & Sick Pay
Health Coverage: Company-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance
Employee Discount: Discounts on plants and planters for personal use.
Team Culture: Frequent team dinners, happy hours, fun events, and an annual holiday party.
Work Environment: Hybrid role with high flexibility, this role requires being in-office or at client locations in New York City at least 3 days per week to lead walkthroughs, assess spaces, and collaborate with the design team