STUDIO NOIR

Private · Master Plan · v1.0
STUDIO NOIRKEY HIRES

STUDIO NOIR · Key Hires

Phase 1: no key hires. All Phase 1 roles are founder equity (Taj, Trill), cross-brand (Tia), or contractor (Studio Manager, instructors, cleaning, bookkeeper).

Phase 2: eight critical hires before flagship open. Preserved below.

Phase 1 (2027-2028): what we DO hire

Zero W-2 employees. Everything is contractor or founder equity.

Role Type Cost
Studio Manager Part-time contractor, ~10 hrs/week, $25/hr $12,000/year
Lead Contract Instructor 1099, per class $60/class × ~6 classes/week × 50 weeks = $18,000/year
Backup Contract Instructor 1099, per class $60/class × ~2 classes/week × 50 weeks = $6,000/year
Third Contract Instructor (bench, occasional) 1099, per class $60/class × ~1 class/week × 50 weeks = $3,000/year
Cleaning service Contract, weekly $400/month × 12 = $4,800/year
Bookkeeper Contract, monthly $200/month × 12 = $2,400/year
Total Phase 1 people cost ~$46,000/year

Founder compensation: - Taj: distributions after month 6 (see 05_FINANCE/07) - Trill: $0 Phase 1, equity + Phase 2 TWG production fees - Tia: cross-brand arrangement, no dedicated STUDIO NOIR salary

Phase 2 (2029-2030): the 8 critical hires (preserved from earlier planning)

Preview only. Full spec rebuilt in 2028.

1. General Manager (Phase 2)

  • Summary: Full property GM. Hospitality industry hire. See 01_GM_JOB_SPEC for detail.
  • Comp: $150K-$200K base, 15-25% bonus, 2% equity, sign-on + relocation, full benefits.
  • When: T-9 to 10 months before Phase 2 open.
  • Sourcing: Retained hospitality specialty search. NOT LinkedIn primary.

2. Head of Programming (Phase 2)

  • Summary: Owns class calendar, guest instructors, curation, seasonal drops. Reports to GM ops, direct line to Taj on creative.
  • Ideal profile: Prior Programming Director at Equinox flagship, Head of Studio at Forma Pilates, Head of Programming at Remedy Place, or Creative Director at Soho House gym.
  • Comp: $110K-$135K base, 10-15% bonus, 1% equity, full benefits, complimentary membership + $300/month F&B tab.
  • When: T-7 months.
  • Sourcing: Direct outreach through Taj + Trill networks. Instructor community referrals.

3. Director of Member Experience (Phase 2)

  • Summary: Owns concierge, arrival ritual, boutique, retail, spa attendants, locker room, and clienteling. Runs “how it feels to walk in.”
  • Ideal profile: Prior Front Office Manager or Director of Guest Experience at Four Seasons, Rosewood, or Aman. Or Client Experience Director at luxury retail (Nordstrom Crabtree, Louis Vuitton, or The Umstead front-of-house).
  • Comp: $95K-$115K base, 10% bonus, 1% equity, full benefits.
  • When: T-6 months.

4. Director of Finance and Ops (Phase 2)

  • Summary: Owns accounting, payroll, HR, facilities contracts, POS system, membership billing, vendor management, compliance. Frees the GM.
  • Ideal profile: Prior Controller or Director of Finance at private club, boutique hotel, or multi-unit hospitality group doing $10M+.
  • Comp: $105K-$130K base, 10% bonus, 0.5% equity, full benefits.
  • When: T-6 months.

5. Head of F&B (Phase 2)

  • Summary: Runs café, lounge, alcohol program, private events food service.
  • Ideal profile: Prior F&B Director at a lifestyle hotel, boutique members club, or high-end wellness resort.
  • Comp: $95K-$115K base, 10% bonus, 0.5% equity, full benefits.
  • When: T-5 months.

6. Head of Instructor Development (Phase 2)

  • Summary: Owns instructor pool, auditions, training, standards, retention, comp for 15-20 contractor instructors. Reports to Head of Programming.
  • Ideal profile: Prior Master Trainer, Instructor Development Lead, or Master Teacher at Equinox, SoulCycle, Barry’s, Body & Pole NYC, or Allure Dance and Fitness.
  • Comp: $85K-$105K base, 5-10% bonus, 0.25% equity, full benefits.
  • When: T-5 months.

7. Marketing Manager (Phase 2)

  • Summary: Runs local marketing, member events, waitlist campaigns. Reports to GM ops with dotted line to Tia for brand system.
  • Ideal profile: Prior Marketing Manager or Senior Associate at lifestyle brand, boutique hotel, or luxury retail.
  • Comp: $75K-$95K base, 5-10% bonus, no equity Y1, full benefits.
  • When: T-4 months.

8. Community Manager (Phase 2)

  • Summary: Face of member experience outside the walls. Runs member community, hosts monthly salons, coordinates member-of-the-month rituals, first point of contact for complaints.
  • Ideal profile: Triangle native or 5+ year resident. Deep social rolodex across the Triangle’s wellness, arts, and professional networks.
  • Comp: $65K-$80K base, 5% bonus, no equity Y1, full benefits.
  • When: T-3 months.

Phase 2 sequencing summary

Order Role Months before open
1 General Manager T-9 to 10
2 Head of Programming T-7
3 Director of Member Experience T-6
4 Director of Finance and Ops T-6
5 Head of F&B T-5
6 Head of Instructor Development T-5
7 Marketing Manager T-4
8 Community Manager T-3

Total Phase 2 leadership cash comp: roughly $780K-$970K base + bonuses.

Total Phase 2 leadership equity allocation: 5.25% of the 10% option pool.

Remaining 4.75% held for Phase 2 Year 2 promotions and future key hires (VP Franchise Development, Assistant GM, Retail Manager).

  • Phase 1 org chart: 06_ORG_HIRING/00
  • Phase 2 GM job spec: 06_ORG_HIRING/01
  • Phase 2 staffing model: 06_ORG_HIRING/03
  • Phase 2 compensation philosophy: 06_ORG_HIRING/04