Head of Administration & Operations

About the job

Head of Administration & Operations

Take responsibility. Shape collaboration. Ensure quality.

Kornfeld is the leading owner-managed auction house for fine art in Switzerland. Since 1864, we have accompanied our clients personally and across generations, handling the entrusted works with the utmost reliability, expertise, care, and appreciation.

We create the place where art connects people.

For this place to function every day, it needs people who take responsibility, act proactively, and ensure that everything works reliably behind the scenes. For this, we are looking for a personality to lead and actively develop our Administration & Operations department.

Your role

As Head of Administration & Operations, you will take on the personnel and professional leadership of the department and serve as a central hub within Kornfeld.

You will

• organise and be responsible for our administrative and operational processes and continuously develop them,
• be responsible for the organisational and operational preparation, execution, and follow-up of our auctions,
• coordinate bidder management, transport, shipping as well as VAT, import, and export processes,
• ensure attentive and professional support for our clients,
• work closely with the Head of Operations & Finance and the management team,
• maintain an overview even during intense auction phases and ensure reliable operations,
• drive process improvements and digitalisation together with us.

What you bring

We are looking for a personality who shows initiative, takes responsibility, recognises connections, and implements decisions reliably.

You have a commercial or comparable education, several years of experience in an administrative or operational leadership role, as well as leadership experience. You work in a structured, proactive, and solution-oriented manner, possess strong organisational and process competence, and impress with a high level of service orientation and a professional demeanour.

Very good German skills as well as good knowledge of English and French are required. Experience in the auction, transport, or service environment is an advantage. Knowledge of the art market is welcome but not a prerequisite.

How we work at Kornfeld

Personal responsibility, trust, attentiveness, and appreciation shape our actions. Reliability, collaboration, service orientation, and fascination determine how we live this attitude in everyday life.

You can expect a responsible key position in an extraordinary environment, short decision-making paths, a lot of independence, and the opportunity to directly shape processes, structures, and the further development of Kornfeld.

Where art makes history.

Contact & Application

We look forward to receiving your application documents via the application portal or by e-mail.

Christoph Kunz, Head of Operations & Finance, is happy to answer any questions you may have at 031 552 55 57 or by e-mail.