Design studio Operations & Project Manager

Location: Hyderabad | Full-time About Nolwa Nolwa is a contemporary design studio working at the intersection of material exploration, craft, and refined functional objects. We are entering a structured growth phase and building stronger systems around product development and execution. This role forms the operational backbone of the studio. Role Objective Within 6 months, you will ensure: • All projects have visible timelines and milestones • Vendor follow-ups do not depend on the founder • Product development follows structured stages • Technical material research is documented and comparable • Weekly status summaries are generated proactively • Execution stress reduces through clarity and systems This is an execution leadership role — not a design role. Key Responsibilities 1. Project & Timeline Management • Build and maintain structured trackers • Break concepts into milestones and track dependencies • Flag risks and delays early • Align parallel workflows 2. Vendor & Production Coordination • Coordinate artisans, fabricators, and finish suppliers • Track prototypes, revisions, and approvals • Maintain documentation of iterations 3. New Product Development Coordination • Structure development phases: research → prototyping → refinement → costing → readiness • Coordinate product engineer, crafts liaison, and vendors • Maintain decision logs and timelines 4. Technical Research Coordination (In collaboration with Product Engineer) • Define research briefs (materials, coatings, finishes) • Coordinate samples and testing cycles • Create comparative summaries (cost, durability, application, lead time) • Maintain organised material archives 5. Studio Systems • Run weekly project reviews • Circulate clear action summaries • Improve workflow discipline over time Ideal Profile • 3–7 years in operations, project management, or production coordination • Experience in design studios, architecture, manufacturing, or product environments • Strong structuring and documentation ability • Calm, assertive, and execution-focused Reporting Reports directly to the Founder. Works closely with Product Engineer, Crafts Liaison, and vendors. Compensation Market to slightly above market, depending on experience and ownership capability.