House Rupert is a full-service interior design studio based in Montecito, working with a select number of residential and boutique commercial clients across the Central Coast and beyond. Founded by Principal Designer Bailee Roberts and recognized in LUXE NEXT 2026 by Luxe Interiors + Design.

The studio is hiring a Project Manager to manage the execution phase of every project — procurement, vendor coordination, contractor management, deliveries, installation, and closeout. The role works alongside Bailee Roberts and the design team, pulling designers in as collaborators where needed and acting as the operational engine behind every finished home.

This is a mid-career role for someone who knows the work that turns a designed scheme into a finished home — and who wants to help shape how the studio runs that work over the coming years.

What You'll Do

Project Leadership & Delivery

Lead the execution phase across every active project — Phase Three in the studio's three-phase process of Discovery, Design, Execution
Develop and maintain detailed project schedules across discovery, design, procurement, construction, and installation
Coordinate with architects, contractors, consultants, and specialist trades to ensure design intent is fully realised on site
Conduct site visits and attend construction meetings to monitor progress, resolve issues, and protect design integrity

Client Experience & Communication

Meet with clients and on-site personnel throughout execution; Principal Designer Bailee Roberts remains the principal point of contact
Communicate project updates, timelines, and decisions clearly and proactively
Manage client expectations with discretion and care

Budget & Procurement

Track and manage project budgets across all active projects, surfacing issues early
Review vendor proposals, pricing, and invoices to ensure alignment with scope and design intent
Manage procurement end to end: place and track orders, oversee purchase orders, lead times, and delivery schedules for FF&E and custom pieces
Proactively manage long-lead items, custom furnishings, and specialty materials

Technical & Design Documentation

Maintain and update schedules, specifications, finish selections, and project documentation to a high standard
Coordinate RFIs and design clarifications between contractors and the design team
Run all active projects through the studio's project management software (currently Studio Designer; the studio may transition tools, so adaptability is part of the brief)

Vendor, Installation & Site Oversight

Oversee receiving and warehouse logistics — inspection, assembly, damage management, scheduling deliveries to site
Liaise with artisans, makers, and trade vendors to confirm production timelines and delivery expectations
Troubleshoot delays, damages, substitutions, and installation challenges as they arise
Coordinate installation days — delivery, placement, lighting, dressing, styling, final walkthrough, and punch list completion

Studio Support

Pull designers in as collaborators on execution decisions where their input is needed
Contribute to internal processes that improve clarity, efficiency, and studio standards

What We're Looking For

A background that genuinely overlaps with execution at House Rupert — interior design project management, residential construction, architectural project management, custom homebuilding, millwork or furniture trade, hospitality build-out, or similar. Strong project management skills alone are not enough; the role needs working knowledge of how design and construction projects actually get built
A minimum of 5 years managing projects in a residential or design-adjacent environment
Ability to read and interpret architectural drawings, schedules, and specifications confidently
Comfort running projects through software, and the inquisitiveness to learn new tools well
Proficiency in Excel
Strong organisation across many moving parts. The studio expects to be running multiple concurrent projects across all three phases at any one time
Confident communication with clients, contractors, vendors, and craftspeople — the studio holds the complexity so clients don't have to
An eye for quality and proportion. Enough design sensibility to recognise when something is wrong on site, without being a designer
Calm, accountable, and clear under pressure

Nice to Haves

Studio Designer experience
Experience working in a boutique residential design studio
Familiarity with the Central Coast trade network — local makers, contractors, fabricators, and receiving partners
Working knowledge of FF&E sourcing, vendor lead times, and the realities of custom and imported orders
Familiarity with construction documentation and basic building codes
Experience selecting or specifying lighting, plumbing, hardware, and finishes
A relevant credential — PMP, NCIDQ, contractor's license, or an interior design or construction management degree
A point of view on how project management tools should serve a small studio

Role Logistics

Full-time, contract
Compensation: $50–$65 per hour, depending on experience
Office-based in Santa Barbara, with some flexibility for remote work during the week
Primarily Central Coast projects, with occasional travel further afield
Reports to Principal Designer Bailee Roberts

Pay: $50.00 - $65.00 per hour

Experience:

Project management: 5 years (Required)

Location:

Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (Required)

Work Location: In person

House Rupert

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