ABOUT AVANT ARTE
Avant Arte is a curated platform connecting the world’s leading artists and public arts institutions with a new generation of enthusiasts, collectors and patrons. We collaborate with the most exciting contemporary artists such as Ai Weiwei, Mickalene Thomas, Maurizio Cattelan and Jenny Holzer to create limited editions of the highest quality, from prints and sculptures to digital works.
Our global community of over 4 million collectors and art enthusiasts reflects the growing energy and curiosity of a new generation transforming how art is discovered and supported. Together with leading museums and institutions, we develop fundraising collaborations that strengthen public access to art and engage the new generation of patrons who will shape its future. Make-Ready, our North London print studio, is the largest fine art silkscreen printmaker in the world.
Our mission is to make discovering and collecting art more accessible, connecting artists, institutions and audiences in meaningful ways that expand art’s reach and impact.
OUR CULTURE
We’re a small team with really big ambitions, both for what we want to achieve and also the environment we’re building. We want to create a company that remains thoughtful as we scale and tries to be genuinely progressive in how we operate. We want people to really own what they do and be given the autonomy and freedom to make mistakes, learn, and create something meaningful.
We all work incredibly hard because we really care about what Avant Arte is here to do – we’re looking for exceptional people who are proactive, hungry to learn, and want to put their pride in our collective achievements.
We know that creating an inclusive environment that promotes and values diversity is critical if we want to build something with impact and meaning. We believe that having diversity in age, background, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective will make us an infinitely better company. We were shortlisted for Women in Tech’s Best Employer - Small Company and Best Benefits, and Otta’s top 100 startups to work at.
THE ROLE
As our Founder’s Associate, you’ll work directly with our co-founder and CEO as a trusted partner, extending his reach across the business. It’s a highly trusted role at the heart of the company: excellent executive support combined with real ownership of strategic, operational and cross-functional work. You’ll report to the CEO.
WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING
Executive support and prioritisation: making sure the CEO’s time goes to what matters most
Own and optimise a complex diary, including meetings across time zones
Prepare agendas and briefing notes, capture actions and make sure they get done
Draft and edit communications in the CEO’s voice, handling confidential matters with discretion
Plan all work travel and itineraries, and fix things fast when plans change
Track the CEO’s actions on his artist and institution relationships and keep them moving
Executional leverage: taking on work the CEO currently does himself
Represent the CEO with credibility and build strong relationships across the business
Communicate priorities and decisions clearly and make sure they’re acted on
Improve tools, processes and information flow, spotting problems early
Be the CEO’s eyes and ears in the office: build relationships across the team, raise concerns early and celebrate wins
Prepare the CEO for 1:1s with his direct reports
Strategy and leadership rhythms
Run company OKR setting and tracking, on time and to a high standard
Lead SLT rhythms: agendas, notes, action tracking and decks for leadership offsites
Brief the CEO ahead of monthly OKR reviews with each team
Make SLT a forum where good ideas surface and decisions get made
Strategic projects and investor relations
Lead the monthly investor update (data pack and narrative) and keep the investor CRM up to date
Run cross-functional projects from planning to delivery
Research and turn information into clear insights and recommendations
EXPERIENCE YOU’LL HAVE
Exceptional organisation and attention to detail
Excellent writing: you can write in someone else’s voice and turn a messy discussion into clear notes and actions
Structured thinking: comfortable with planning processes and OKRs
Strong logistics skills for complex diaries and travel
You self-prioritise, work independently and manage multiple work streams at once
Start-up experience: you’re used to a fast pace and shifting priorities
Hands-on experience of executive support (diary, travel, inbox), whether or not you’ve held an EA title
Confidence with stakeholders at all levels, including senior leaders and investors, and the ability to hold your ground kindly when someone pushes back
This role will suit you if…
You want a front-row seat to how decisions get made: at SLT, with investors and across a high-growth business
You value a low-ego, entrepreneurial environment
You get satisfaction from turning ambiguity into clarity, in calendars, inboxes, spreadsheets and Slack
WHAT THIS ROLE IS NOT
A pure strategy role – diary and travel management are core to the job, not something to get through on the way to “real” strategy work
A role with detailed briefs – you’ll often need to work out what good looks like yourself
A role with an always-available manager or regular structured check-ins – our CEO travels often, so you’ll make many calls on your own judgement
THE DETAILS
Location: London, hybrid (3 days in office)
Hours: Monday to Friday, full time
Contract: Permanent
BENEFITS
Generous equity allowance (EMI share option scheme)
Private healthcare (with AXA)
29 days holiday including: 25 day allowance plus 1 company-wide day for King’s Day (national holiday in the Netherlands which falls in April) and 3 company-wide days for winter office closure between 25th December and 1st January
L&D budget of €1,000 per year per employee
Enhanced pension contributions (5% employer contribution)
Company laptop (MacBook) + €200 budget for WFH set up
Cycle to work scheme
Regular socials & team events
Art loan scheme
Office perks in our London office include membership discounts for restaurants, wellness services and hotels in the area as well as free fitness classes
Work from anywhere for 4 weeks a year policy (up to 2 weeks consecutively)
Enhanced parental leave policies
INTERVIEW PROCESS
30-min call with Talent Acquisition
Short take-home exercise
Interview with the CEO’s office
Final interview with the CEO, including a short task
We aim to complete the process within 3 weeks and will give you feedback at every stage.
We welcome applications from everyone and are happy to make adjustments at any stage – just let us know.
Avant Arte London, England Office
London, United Kingdom
