Contract-to-Perm | Salon Operations Manager | Competitive Comp + Performance Bonus | This Might Be Your Dream Job

🦄 If You're Obsessed With Operations, Lifting People Up, Building Community & the Beauty Industry... We Need to Talk

Contract-to-Perm | Salon Operations Manager | Competitive Comp Performance Bonus | This Might Be Your Dream Job

Are You This Person?

You get genuinely excited about: Watching a team perform at their best — because of the culture YOU help create Coaching someone to sell better and seeing their paycheck reflect it A floor that runs beautifully because everyone knows their role and owns it Building community where people genuinely want to show up and do great work The beauty industry — not just as a job, but as a lifestyle you live every day

You're the person who:

• Leads by example and brings others up with you
• Holds the standard not because you're the boss, but because you know the whole team wins when everyone does their part
• Can have a redirecting conversation that feels like coaching, not criticism
• Runs a team meeting that people actually leave feeling fired up
• Understands that consistency and structure aren't restrictive — they're what lets people thrive
• Invests in your own hair, skin, and style because you understand: in this industry, YOU are the brand
  
  

If you just nodded along to all of that... keep reading. We might be your people.

The Real Situation

Hi, I'm Anna. I run a $1.4M award-winning salon with an incredible team, and I'm going to be honest with you:

This role starts as a contract position — but let's be clear: we are NOT looking for a placeholder. We're looking for THE person. Someone so right for this that making it permanent is a no-brainer. We want us both to feel great about the fit before we fully commit. That's not a weakness — that's smart.

Here's the truth about my team: they are talented, they are good people, and they genuinely want to do well. They thrive with structure. They make more money, feel more connected, and are happier when there's a strong, consistent leader in their corner. They know that we are better together.

What they need — and what I need — is someone who shows up every day and keeps that energy alive. Someone who holds everyone to the same standard with warmth and consistency, so the whole team can win.

Here's what I'm AMAZING at: Vision. Mentoring. Making dreams happen. Inspiring confidence through beauty.

Here's what I should NOT be doing: Daily floor accountability. KPI check-ins. Making sure every client is being prebooked. Running the empowerment meetings that keep the team sharp and motivated.

That's where you come in.

The Job (In Plain English)

You'll split your time between the floor and back-office — present, energized, and invested in both the team and the business.

On the Floor, You'll Own:

• Daily team accountability — prebooking, product recommendations, social media, punctuality, charging correctly, supporting teammates, cleanliness — held consistently and with care
• In-the-moment coaching when standards slip — quick, kind, and done
• Sales coaching — teaching the team how to sell naturally, confidently, and in a way that serves the client
• Running empowerment meetings that inspire, educate, and move the needle
• Making sure every client hears about promotions, every time
• Front desk performance and client experience
• KPI check-ins that feel like partnership, not policing
  
  

In the Back Office, You'll Own:

• Monitoring existing systems and making sure they're followed
• Reporting on KPIs and getting ahead of issues before they become problems
• Scheduling, inventory oversight, and daily operational tasks
• Partnering with me twice a week to align, celebrate wins, and problem-solve
  
  

I'll Own:

• Vision and strategy
• Final decisions on big stuff
• Mentoring and culture development
  
  

Schedule Expectations

This is a salon — and that means our busiest times are evenings and Saturdays. That's the reality of this industry, and we need someone who embraces it.

• Saturdays are required — non-negotiable
• Minimum 2 evenings per week
• Morning shifts mixed in throughout the week
• Schedule varies week to week — flexibility is key
  
  

If a rigid Monday-Friday 9-to-5 is what you need, this isn't your role. If you thrive in a dynamic schedule and love being present when the energy is highest — welcome home.

Who You Are (The Real Requirements)

Experience:

• 5 years managing a fast-paced, customer-facing service team — salon/spa experience is a strong plus (you'll hit the ground running), but restaurant, hospitality, or fitness management absolutely counts
• Track record of building team culture and driving performance through coaching and consistency
• Experience leading team meetings and sales training — you've done it and people responded
• You've held a team to a standard and they respected you for it
  
  

Your Superpowers: 🌟 Community Builder — You create an environment where people want to show up and do their best 📊 Data-Driven — You track what matters and use it to coach, not just report 💬 Natural Coach — You can redirect someone and have them walk away feeling supported, not scolded 🎯 Consistent — The standard doesn't change based on who's watching 💰 Sales Mindset — You build a selling culture through education and confidence, not pressure Genuinely Invested — You care about each person's growth, income, and success 💅 Beauty Insider — You live the lifestyle. You invest in your own appearance. You can walk into a salon and know immediately if the work on the floor is excellent or just okay

Culture Fit: We value: Happy, Brave Leaders, Generous, Growth-Mindset, Life Harmony

One Thing I've Learned: The best person for this role doesn't hold the standard because they have to — they hold it because they genuinely believe that consistency is what allows everyone to grow, earn more, and feel proud of where they work. Structure here isn't a cage. It's what sets people free to do their best work.

Deal-Breakers: You let things slide because you don't want to rock the boat Your leadership style is "do it because I said so" rather than "let me show you why it matters" You're all back-office and uncomfortable on the floor You make decisions on vibes, not data Beauty is just a job to you — not something you genuinely live and love Sales feels pushy to you rather than a natural extension of great service Saturdays and evenings don't work for your schedule

What You'll Get

Money (Contract Phase):

• $60-65K base salary (annualized)
• Up to $25K performance bonus tied to metrics YOU control
• Total: $85K potential
  
  

Money (If/When You Convert to Permanent):

• $75-80K base salary
• Up to $25K performance bonus
• Total: $100K
  
  

Opportunity:

• Prove yourself and own this role permanently
• Be part of growing a $1.4M salon to $5M
• Help a talented team reach six-figure incomes — and be the reason they get there
• Real autonomy — the systems are in place, you lead them your way
• Work with a CEO who mentors and genuinely invests in her people
  
  

Your 90-Day Win

By Day 30: You know the team deeply, you understand the systems, and the team already feels your positive presence By Day 60: KPIs are moving, prebooking is consistent, empowerment meetings are something the team looks forward to By Day 90: The floor runs beautifully with or without me there, and making this permanent is an easy conversation By Month 6: You're running the show, the team is thriving, and I'm finally doing CEO work By Month 12: We're planning our second location, the team is hitting six figures, and your bonus is FAT

How To Apply

Respond to this job posting: "Operations Unicorn Here 🦄"

Include:

• Your resume
• Answers to these questions (real talk, no corporate BS):
• Which of our 5 values resonates most with you and why? (Happy, Brave Leaders, Generous, Growth-Mindset, Life Harmony)
• Tell me about a team you helped elevate. What was the culture like when you arrived and what did it look like because of your leadership?
• Tell me about a specific sales result you drove through coaching — not mandate. What did you do and what changed?
• How do you hold someone accountable in the moment without making it a big deal?
• You'll be working Saturdays and at least 2 evenings per week. Tell us why that works for you.
• Why THIS job, not just "a job"?
• Pick one: Your favorite productivity tool / the most ridiculous operational problem you've ever solved / a GIF that represents your feelings about a perfectly run salon floor
  

Don't bother applying if:

• You're sending a generic resume with no answers
• You didn't read this whole post
• You're "just testing the market"
• An AI wrote your cover letter (I can tell)
• Saturdays don't work for you
  
  

One Last Thing

I've hired for this role before. It didn't work out — not because they were bad people, but because they weren't the right fit. The team here is genuinely great. They want structure, they want consistency, and they respond beautifully to a leader who truly has their back.

If you're the kind of person who gets energized by lifting a team up and watching them win — this is your place.

Contract-to-perm means we both get to make sure this is right before we fully commit. I think that's how it should work.

If you're reading this thinking: "YES, this is literally me" → APPLY If you're thinking: "Maybe?" → DON'T APPLY If you're thinking: "She's intense but I respect it" → We're going to get along great.

Let's build something beautiful together.

Anna

📍 Location: Cambridge, MA 💰 Contract: $60-65K base performance bonus | Permanent: $75-80K base $25K bonus potential Timeline: Hiring in 30-45 days 📧 🔗 lolahairstudio.com

• @lola.hair.studio
  
  

P.S. — Know someone perfect for this? Tag them. The best people are found through referrals.

P.P.S. — Yes, I want a unicorn. But unicorns are real — they're just warm, consistent, beauty-obsessed leaders who bring out the best in every person around them. That's you, right?