Deputy Director, HR Business Partner Switzerland & Italy - #10546707

About Sotheby's

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.

THE ROLE

This is an exciting opportunity for a well-rounded Human Resources professional willing to conduct and develop all people related activities for the Swiss offices (located in Geneva and Zurich) and Italy. As stand-alone HR based in Switzerland, the successful incumbent will fulfil a broad role in a very independent way, including HR advice & strategy, employee management, HR processes, payroll coordination, etc for over 50 people. The role also requires working on specific projects with the wider HR team based in New York and London.

Responsibilities

• Carry out and manage the daily HR operations and the employee’s lifecycle from A-Z
• Manage and coordinate local payrolls, social security and social insurances
• Maintain the HR system and produce reports as required
• Owner of Absence management: accident/illness reporting
• Maintain an ongoing awareness of employment law changes and market best practice, and work closely with the Managing Director to design and implement HR policies and procedures aligned with the company's strategy
• Collaborate closely with managers and teams to understand operational challenges and develop tailored HR solutions, identify optimization areas, propose and implement appropriate changes based on the company’s strategy
• Answer queries from managers and employees on employee relations issues such as attendance management, discipline, grievance, maternity/paternity, flexible working requests, etc.
• Provide guidance to the wider HR team and ensure compliance with employment law
• Manage the recruitment processes for entry level positions, including drafting job descriptions, posting vacancies internally and externally, sourcing of candidates, shortlist and organize interviews
• Manage and supervise the local Internship program
• Periodic visits to the Zurich and Milan offices
  
  

Ideal Experience & Competencies

• Higher education in HR or relevant field, HR Brevet Federal holder preferred
• Minimum 6-year experience in a multicultural, matrix and fast-paced environment
• Absolute fluency in English and French a must (written and spoken), German and Italian would be a strong asset
• Solid knowledge of Swiss labour law, social security systems, immigration rules and payroll a must
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office tools, SAP knowledge would be a strong asset
• Discrete and trustworthy managing confidential information
• Ability to prioritize workload and solve problems independently
• Well-organized and confident to work independently, self-motivation and team player
• Resilience and ability to deal with challenges whilst taking a proactive and flexible approach to ensure exceptional standards of service are always maintained.
• Strong interpersonal/communication skills with a proven ability to build relationships and gain credibility among stakeholders
  
  

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The Company is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race (including, without limitation, traits historically associated with race, such as natural hair, hair texture, and protective and treated or untreated hairstyles), color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership/union status, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic predisposition, genetic information, reproductive health decision, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, alienage or citizenship status, domestic violence victim status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province or local law. The Company complies with applicable state and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it operates.