Ambras Castle opens search for new scientific director

Schloss Ambras in Innsbruck is seeking a new scientific managing director, ORF reported on Wednesday. Applications to succeed Veronika Sandbichler can be submitted until September 13.

The position is described as offering responsibility and scope to further develop the cultural programme at the castle. Thomas Kuster has served as interim director since August 3. The advertised gross annual salary is about 85,000 euros.

The vacancy follows the KHM Museums Association’s separation from Sandbichler. At the same time, the association published a summary of an expert report examining allegations of mobbing and bullying by management.

Report links disputes to restructuring

The eight-page report by employment law expert Sieglinde Gahleitner describes the disputes between management and the former Ambras director as resulting from management and restructuring measures. Sandbichler reportedly perceived some of those measures as a demotion.

However, the report found no evidence of systematic attacks by management against Sandbichler over an extended period with the aim or effect of forcing her out of her employment. It cited the planned appointment of a commercially trained visitor-services manager as one example of changes that were found to be objectively justified organisational measures.

The conflicts eventually led Sandbichler to seek a mutually agreed termination of her contract. In March, she accused KHM management of a “toxic leadership culture” and was subsequently placed on leave.

Majority of interviewees reported positive cooperation

More than 30 people were interviewed for the report, and three written statements were submitted. The summary said the participants had been assured confidentiality, so their statements were presented only in general terms.

The “vast majority” of those interviewed spoke positively about communication, working methods and cooperation with the two managing directors. According to the report, criticism focused mainly on communication with and the treatment of managers who had left the organisation after Jonathan Fine took office.

The report concluded that, under Austrian Supreme Court case law on mobbing and bullying by superiors, the findings could not be classified as mobbing or such abuse by management.