Founder's Associate

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. 

What we need

The Founder's Associate will work directly with our co-founder and CEO as his trusted partner, extending his reach across the business. This is a highly trusted role at the heart of the company, combining excellent executive support with opportunities to contribute to strategic, operational, and cross-functional work.

We’re looking for a highly organised and motivated individual with exceptional attention to detail, strong written and verbal communication and a proactive mindset. You'll be based in London and report directly to our CEO.

Key responsibilities

1. Executive support and prioritisation. Making sure the CEO's time, focus and attention go to what matters most:

• Owning and optimising the CEO's complex diary, organising time around the highest priorities
• Coordinating internal and external meetings, across multiple time zones where required
• Preparing agendas and briefing notes, capturing actions and making sure they get done
• Managing sensitive and confidential communications with discretion
• Drafting, editing and proofreading communication on the CEO's behalf
• Planning and booking all work travel, preparing detailed itineraries and making sure the CEO is fully briefed before every trip
• Anticipating changes and resolving issues quickly when plans shift, so the CEO can work effectively wherever he is.

2. Executional leverage and operational efficiency. Acting as an extension of the CEO and taking on work he currently does himself:

• Building strong relationships across the business and representing the CEO with credibility
• Communicating priorities, decisions and updates clearly, and making sure they're understood and acted on
• Improving tools, processes and information flow, and spotting problems early so they're solved before they grow.

3. Strategy, objectives and leadership rhythms. Keeping the company's planning and leadership routines running to a high standard:

• Running the company-level OKR setting and performance tracking, and making sure each is completed on time and to the highest quality
• Leading SLT rhythms: workshops, agenda setting, notes and action tracking
• Making SLT an engaging forum for generating ideas and making decisions, and a source of motivation for the wider team.

4. Strategic projects and investor relations. Moving the CEO's priorities forward through high-impact initiatives:

• Owning investor reporting and coordinating investor relationship management
• Coordinating cross-functional projects from planning through to delivery
• Conducting research and preparing insights, summaries and reports to inform decisions
• Working with teams across the business on initiatives ranging from operations to strategy. 

The main skills we're looking for

• Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail 
• Ability to self-prioitise tasks, work independently and proactively solve problems 
• Excellent written communication: you can write in someone else's voice and turn a messy discussion into clear notes and actions
• Structured thinking: you're comfortable with planning processes and OKRs, and can turn information into insight
• Strong logistics skills to arrange travel and manage a complex diary
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams and projects at once and prioritise accordingly
• Proactive problem-solving and adaptability in a fast-moving environment.

We think you'll probably have

• 2-4+ years in consulting, strategy, start-ups, or a related role
• Confidence working with stakeholders at all levels, including senior leaders and investors
• A hands-on, proactive mindset and an appetite for broad responsibility.

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 and entrepreneurial environment 
• You get satisfaction from turning ambiguity into clarity – in calendars, inboxes, spreadsheets and Slack.

This role won't suit you if…

• You see diary and travel management as something to get through on the way to ‘real’ strategy work. 
• You need detailed briefs to do your best work. 
• You’re not comfortable multitasking and self-prioritising. 

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Generous equity allowance
• Private Healthcare (UK)
• Enhanced pension contributions and parental leave policies 
• 25 days of holiday plus four extra company wide days
• Supportive of Hybrid/Flexible Working
• L&D budget of €1000 per year per employee
• Regular company socials
• Art loan scheme for employees