Chief Operations Officer

Location: Singapore
Company: Art Works Group
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Type: Full-time, executive leadership

About Art Works

Art Works is a Singapore-based fine art business with two established divisions and one future development project.

• Art Works Gallery : Contemporary works for the home from emerging and mid-career artists.
• Art Works Advisory : Portfolio building and client service for high net worth collectors.
• Art Works X (in development) : A digital platform designed to enable fractional ownership of blue-chip art, now in build and pre-launch planning.

The Role

You will oversee operations across Gallery and Advisory, and prepare the organisation for the launch of Art Works X. The brief is straightforward. Ensure the machine runs smoothly, scales with control, and keeps us compliant in Singapore and the markets we serve.

Responsibilities

Operations

• Run day-to-day operations across sales support, client onboarding, fulfilment, logistics, inventory, and after-sales service.
• Build and maintain SOPs, playbooks, and service standards across both divisions.
• Drive operational reporting. Define KPIs, build dashboards, and drive weekly cadence.

Risk, Legal, and Compliance

• Partner with internal legal counsel on contracts, consumer protection, IP, data privacy, and cross border considerations.
• Own the risk register and internal controls. Lead incident and continuity planning.
• Ensure documentation quality for provenance, valuation, storage, and insurance.

Commercial Enablement

• Operational readiness for exhibitions, launches, and campaigns.
• Vendor management and procurement for framing, shipping, storage, and installation.
• Support pricing discipline, margin tracking, and cost control with Finance.

People and Culture

• Structure the team for scale. Clarify roles, goals, and review cycles.
• Hire, onboard, and coach high performers.
• Promote a clean, accountable, client-first culture.

Data and Systems

• Select and implement the core stack for CRM, inventory, ticketing, and workflow.
• Improve data quality and process automation.
• Establish audit trails and access controls.

Future Product: Art Works X

• Translate the product vision into operational design.
• Map investor onboarding, KYC/AML, custody, settlement, and support workflows.
• Coordinate with technology partners and legal on readiness for market entry.

What You’ve Done

• 10+ years in operations leadership with recent time in an executive role.
• Built and scaled teams in a multi unit or multi country organisation.
• Installed systems, metrics, and controls that improved speed and reliability.
• Worked in one or more of these environments: luxury, galleries, financial services, wealth, or technology enabled services.
• Comfortable with regulated workflows and the operational implications of digital products.

How You Work

• Clear thinker. Strong on structure, details, and follow-through.
• Commercial. Confident with budgets, contract terms, and vendor negotiations.
• Calm under pressure. Will roll up sleeves when needed.
• High integrity. Direct communicator.

Success in 12 Months looks like

• Gallery and Advisory running on defined SOPs with visible KPIs.
• Faster fulfilment and cleaner documentation with fewer errors.
• A stable core stack and accurate data across CRM and inventory.
• A staffed operations team with clear ownership and review rhythms.
• Art Works X through operational design, core policies approved, and a tested end-to-end onboarding and fulfilment flow ready for launch.

What We Offer

• A central role shaping the next phase of a growing fine art group in Asia.
• Ownership, autonomy, and a direct line to the CEO.
• Competitive compensation with performance incentives.

Apply: Send your CV and a concise cover note to [email protected] with subject: Application – COO, Art Works Group.