A unique opportunity awaits an accomplished Executive Assistant (EA) to support a CEO with nearly two decades of expertise at a globally recognized industry leader and major player in its field. We are looking for an exceptional character—sharp and resourceful—who can distill complexity into clarity, demonstrating drive and natural authority. While we are open to candidates stepping up into a C-suite office, a solid track record remains essential. The ideal candidate blends intellect, common sense, and an intuitive working style. Over time, collaboration should evolve into an instinctive partnership. This is a high-impact support role without the strategic leadership scope of a Chief of Staff position.
The position is based in Basel and follows a hybrid work model, offering flexibility while requiring three days on-site per week, particularly when the CEO is in the office.
You will manage the complexities of executive administration, approaching every task—big or small—with precision and dedication. Your personality and your skills will be instrumental in facilitating interactions, coordinating meetings, and managing the daily operations of a fast-paced CEO office while filtering out distractions and structuring the workflow.
Your manager is an ambitious, results-driven leader who values focus and agility. Expectations are high, but the culture and those around you inspire motivation. With a passion for excellence, you flourish in high-performance settings and never hesitate to go above and beyond. You will be the organizational backbone—assessing and acting on potential needs and executing tasks independently. While maintaining regular touchpoints, you will also work autonomously, ensuring professional interactions with senior executives, the Board, and cross-functional teams.
Your Tasks and Responsibilities
- Manage a dynamic, multi-time-zone calendar, scheduling and prioritizing meetings to optimize the CEO's time.
- Act as a gatekeeper, triaging communications and ensuring requests are addressed promptly.
- Organize complex global travel arrangements and all associated logistics.
- Coordinate with the CEO's direct reports and stakeholders to track action items and ensure timely follow-ups.
- Prepare and compile documents, reports, and presentations ahead of key meetings, ensuring thorough preparation for decision-making and coordinating input.
- Assist with BoD reporting by managing document collation and distribution.
- Plan and execute events, workshops, off-sites, leadership meetings, and global management conferences—handling end-to-end administration, streamlining processes, and being present on-site to oversee logistics and coordination.
- Reconcile expenses, process vendor invoices, and maintain accurate financial documentation.
- Handle confidential and sensitive matters with the highest level of discretion and professionalism.
- Collaborate with other EAs to ensure seamless team coverage.
Your Profile | Education, Experience & Entry Qualifications
- High School Diploma, a commercial apprenticeship, ideally complemented by a Federal Executive Assistant Degree.
- 8–10 years of experience supporting executives in a multinational PLC with an understanding of corporate governance and matrix organizations.
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite, SharePoint, SAP, and virtual communication tools (Teams, Zoom, etc.).
- Business fluency in English and German (C2 level according to CEFR).
About You
The right personality makes all the difference—skills alone are not enough; your passion for the assistant profession must shine through in everything you do. At your core, you are energetic, adaptable, and solution-oriented, with a natural understanding of executive support. Beyond that, you bring:
- Top-notch organizational and time management skills, with a keen sense of task management.
- A proactive and self-driven mindset with a high sense of ownership.
- A positive attitude, maintaining composure in all situations, and embodying a service-minded approach.
- A high level of stamina and mental agility, always striving for peak performance with a sporting spirit that embraces challenges head-on.
- The ability to resolve roadblocks and maintain a "get-it-done" attitude.
- High EQ and sound judgment, enabling you to foster relationships across the executive's network while setting appropriate boundaries when necessary.
- A big-picture perspective allows you to anticipate and understand the impact of decisions.
- Flexibility to adapt to the executive's schedule, including occasional extended hours when needed.
This role presents a one-off opportunity to make a meaningful impact by supporting a top manager at the helm of an international organization. You will thrive in an environment that blends experience with innovation, driving solutions that influence people worldwide. In addition to a compelling compensation package, you will enjoy a range of additional benefits. Ready to take on this exciting challenge? Apply now and embark on the next step of your career. Please email your CV, references, and educational certificates as a one PDF toapply@barnickelfellows.ch, citing reference «EA-CEO-Hub».
We look forward to hearing from you!
?Barnickel & Fellows | Talstrasse 58 | CH-8001 Zurich | +41 44 243 86 68