Head of Art Museum (80%)

About the job

Content

Head of Art Museum (80%)

Innovative, inspiring, and structured, you should be as the Head of the Art Museum of the municipality of the city of Olten.

The municipal art museum makes an important contribution in the canton of Solothurn to the preservation and mediation of cultural heritage. The original Disteli Museum today houses an impressive collection of Swiss works from the 19th century to the present. The museum presents these, among other things, in numerous temporary exhibitions to give visitors an insight into the holdings and beyond, and to tell the ideas and stories behind them.

Due to the poor infrastructure of the hosting building, the museum is to receive a new face. The planned development takes place in a dynamic environment. In March 2026, the city council presented its vision to revive the museum at a new location near the train station. As Head of the Art Museum, you will make a significant conceptual and operational contribution to the implementation of this project.

Due to the departure of the current position holder, we are looking for a new head of the Olten Art Museum as of September 1, 2026.

General information

• Workload
• 80%
• Start date
• September 1, 2026
• Employer
• Municipality of Olten
• Type of employment
• permanent
• Type
• Job offer

Tasks

As Head of the Art Museum and simultaneously department head of the municipal administration, you bear overall responsibility for the museum operation and thus ensure the operational business, organization, finances, and personnel management.

You take care of the collection and, in consultation with your supervisor, create the exhibition program. To continuously increase visibility and visitor numbers, you develop innovative mediation approaches, exhibition content, and communication measures. For this purpose, you exchange ideas with municipal partner institutions and maintain contact with other art institutions, public and private sponsors, as well as politics and authorities.

Expectations

• Museum experience in a leadership position, especially in exhibition design, collection care, mediation, public relations, and third-party funding acquisition
• University degree in art history or a related discipline; leadership and business management training are advantageous
• Structured, independent, and efficient working style
• Sound knowledge of (Swiss) art from the 19th century to the present
• High willingness to engage with the regional art scene and environment

We offer

• A demanding and versatile activity with high personal responsibility and many opportunities for design
• Freedom in designing an innovative operational concept as a basis for building the institution at a new address
• Personal and professional support from the responsible offices in the city presidency and a proven team of employees.
• Contemporary employment and salary conditions

Procedure

If we have aroused your interest, we look forward to your application!

Please send it with your CV and photo by no later than April 19, 2026, to the Personnel Service of the Municipality of Olten, bewerbungen@olten.ch.

Further information

We will be happy to provide you with further information at:

Ramon Christen, City Clerk, phone 062 206 13 29