ABOUT SOTHEBY'S
Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Synonymous with innovation, Sotheby’s promotes access, connoisseurship and preservation of fine art and rare objects through auctions, private sales and retail locations. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 50 categories, which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Interiors, among many others.
THE ROLE
This is an important role in the Sotheby’s Wine team, working as part of the Specialist team to provide inspection, pricing, presentation and client support to the European Sotheby’s Wine team. In addition to you core responsibilities, your role within the Sotheby’s Wine team will also support other Sotheby’s Wine activities including (but not limited to) sale attendance and support, inspection, packing, cataloguing and receipting, as well as liaising with clients with regard to logistics and shipping. This role is focused on providing vital operational support to ensure that we can maximize the efficient flow of property from consignment through the sale process.
RESPONSIBLITIES
Expertise – Valuation and Cataloguing
Providing valuation support to underpin the pipeline for the Sotheby’s Wine sales channels
- Set an example of scholarship providing expertise, researching and cataloguing wines to the highest standard
- Value property to provide auction/retail/fair market/insurance estimates as required by the client and as agreed by Sotheby’s
- Manage the traffic of incoming client wine and/or spirit lists
- Prioritise lists based on sale deadline, client profile and value
- Provide consistency in pricing
- To ensure more accurate valuation, maintain proper data information such as LWIN and reviewer scores
- Create elements needed for presenting sales and provide marketing content to promote sales
- Proof digital catalogues and listings
Expertise - Inspection
Project lead for inspections of wine at both private and professional cellars in France and Europe
- Perform property inspection for Wine at Sotheby’s Wine warehouses and on-site at client’s premise
- Assist with inspection and research/cataloguing of wines for sale in London, New York and Hong Kong when required
- Record the condition of property received
- Supervise the receiving and unpacking of arriving property
Property Movement
- Work with Wine Administration to facilitate compliant inbound shipments to meet sale deadlines
- Produce Shipping Lists in SAP
- Work with Wine Administration to organise collection/shipment of wine from cellars to Sotheby’s Wine warehouses and third-party warehouses
- Liaise with warehouses and delivery companies to ensure delivery is carried out as economically as possible whilst maintaining an excellent level of client service
Property Receipting
- Receipt property destined for sale into SAP/ADM
- Liaise with Specialist team to schedule the recording of required compliance attributes and ensuring its completion
- With the warehouse staff, carry out photography and completing wine “passport information” of wine coming into Sotheby’s Wine Storage for use on Sotheby’s Wine Virtual Cellar
Inventory
- Conduct inventory reviews in conjunction with department administration for auction, retail and storage
- Confirm stock in conjunction with the Shipping and Warehouse Coordinator
Sale Production
- Work with the Specialist team to meet sale production and deadlines
- Ensure that all photography is completed in a timely manner
- Researching and writing catalogue entries
- Proofreading
- Liaising with Catalogue Production and Sale Creation teams as appropriate
Selling
Proactively sell all Sotheby’s Wine sales (both auction and fixed price offerings) to Sotheby’s global database of clients and actively engage in the growth of the global Sotheby’s Wine audience
- Act as an ambassador for the Wine business within Sotheby’s, promoting its services, products and expertise to internal stakeholders, cross selling the Sotheby’s Wine business to all Sotheby’s clients
- Provide advice to buyers across Sotheby’s Wine global auction and fixed price opportunities
- Sell wine to clients via telephone, email, in-person and at events
Other
- Participate in local, regional and global Sotheby’s Wine projects as required
- Provide support to other parts of the Sotheby’s Wine business as and when required
- Consistently seek opportunities to promote and sell other Sotheby’s categories to own client base
- Demonstrate a consistently client first approach to business, ensuring active and timely communication with clients and ensuring that their needs are at the center of our decisions and actions while remaining compliant with Sotheby’s policies and code of conduct
- Demonstrate a “One Sotheby’s” approach to the business, working to build the most effective worldwide business
- Look for innovative solutions to make our business better
IDEAL EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES
- Commitment to Client Service
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral, and a commitment to an exemplary level of client service
- Be able to demonstrate the capacity to take on multiple projects at once and multi-task
- Be self-motivated with a proactive approach and enthusiasm to learn
- Be a team player with a co-operative attitude and a willingness to take on a wide variety of tasks
- Be able to work well under pressure and to meet deadlines
- Flexible and receptive to change
- Microsoft Office especially Excel
- Wine knowledge/valuation experience with a minimum of WSET level 3
- Spirits knowledge/valuation experience a plus
To view our Candidate Privacy Notice for the US, please click here.
To view our Candidate Privacy Notice for the UK, Hong Kong, France and Switzerland, please click here.
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.
