Executive Assistant 100 % | Passionate Together

Barnickel & Fellows; Basel; On-site; CHF 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnickel & Fellows is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to support two EC members in Basel. The role focuses on filtering noise, anticipating needs, and keeping busy schedules organized with tact and professionalism.

You will interact with investors, external stakeholders, and board members, providing concise summaries, managing sensitive information, and ensuring smooth governance processes. Strong English, plus German and French are a plus, with MS Office and collaboration tools

Qualifications

• Six+ years of experience as an assistant supporting leadership in pharma/healthcare or life sciences.
• Fluency in written and spoken English; German and French are a plus.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaboration tools (Zoom, Teams, SharePoint).
• Structured, organized approach and confident communication with all levels.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex calendars, balancing priorities and aligning with business needs.
• Arrange travel and coordinate meeting logistics, anticipating requirements and managing changes.
• Prepare briefing materials, presentations, reports, and correspondence for meetings.
• Organize committee meetings and leadership off-sites, including agendas, materials, minutes and actions.
• Support cross-functional projects, track deadlines, and follow up on actions.

Skills

Calendar management

Executive communication

Relationship building

Fluent English

Education

Executive assistant qualification

Commercial vocational training

Tools

Microsoft Office

Zoom

Teams

SharePoint

Job description

About the company

The company fosters a culture of innovation and a shared commitment to improving health and people's lives. With a global workforce and research, development, and commercial activities across Europe, North America, and Asia, it is dedicated to delivering innovative medicines to patients worldwide. Momentum is building rapidly. Work moves quickly, and priorities evolve. The executives provide direct feedback and value people who take ownership and work independently. While expectations are high, there's a strong team spirit: people support one another, put their heart into their work, and share in the excitement of seeing their efforts move the company forward.

About the role

Your role is to support two EC members and their teams in performing at their best by filtering out the noise, anticipating their needs, and keeping their busy workdays organized from start to finish. You'll communicate confidently with investors, external stakeholders, and board members, bringing clarity, tact, and professionalism to every interaction. You enjoy a varied workload, bring a collegial spirit, and take pride in making life easier for others. There's plenty to keep you engaged, and priorities can shift. You'll find your feet quickly if you stay composed, learn quickly, and take a practical approach to getting things done. You'll also provide cover and support for the CEO's assistant when needed. You'll work closely together, sharing ideas, spotting what might otherwise be missed, and building a partnership you can both rely on. Creating that dependable support structure is an important part of the role; we're looking for someone who enjoys it and brings lasting value to the team.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to

• Manage complex calendars, balancing competing priorities while keeping schedules aligned with business needs.
• Arrange travel and coordinate meeting logistics, anticipating requirements and managing changes.
• Prepare briefing materials, presentations, reports, and correspondence for internal and external meetings.
• Organize committee meetings and leadership off-sites, including agendas, materials, minutes, and action items.
• Support cross-functional projects and initiatives, track deadlines, and follow up on outstanding actions.
• Act as a liaison between executives and stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and timely responses.
• Conduct research, compile data, and prepare concise summaries to support executive decision making.
• Assist with corporate governance requirements and handle sensitive information discreetly.
• Keep digital files and records well organized, and look for practical ways to improve administrative processes.
• Respond flexibly to ad hoc requests and provide support where needed.

About you | What you bring to the role

• A commercial vocational training, ideally complemented by a further qualification in executive assistance (Direktionsassistenz), a diploma from a renowned hotel management school (EHL, SHL), or a related qualification.
• At least six years of experience as an assistant supporting leadership (pharma/healthcare, or life sciences).
• Fluency in written and spoken English; German and French are considered a plus.Full proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaboration tools such as Zoom, Teams, and SharePoint.
• A structured, organized approach and the ability to communicate confidently with people at all levels.
• The judgment to understand what an assignment requires and follow it through with minimal supervision.
• The ability to read people and situations well, respond diplomatically, and build relationships; you see the bigger picture and help people work well together.

In short, we're looking for someone who loves being the person others can count on. An assistant who gets things done, brings positive energy, and enjoys helping the team succeed.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in Switzerland, hold a valid Swiss work permit, or be a Swiss, EU, or EFTA citizen. Selected candidates will be invited to an initial video interview, followed by an online assessment.

Barnickel & Fellows | Talstrasse 58 | 8001 Zurich Switzerland