Department Assistant, Decorative Arts London, England
Job description
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
To provide assistance to the European Decorative Arts Department, and to ensure the smooth running of the department and its facilities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Act as first point of contact for the department and consultants, communicating effectively with clients and colleagues, in person, on the telephone, by email and by letter, and provide day to day departmental support.
Marketing, Proposals, Valuations, and Loan Requests:
- Manage departmental marketing projects, liaising with the Marketing manager.
- Provide support to department cataloguers and senior specialists as necessary, including inputting valuations, management of the Phoenix Pricing Platform, typing auction estimate listings, managing follow up with valuations dept. etc.
- Assist in the Production and management of departmental proposals liaising with the Proposals department, as needed
- Facilitate loan requests from museums and institutions.
Data Management:
- Manage and update client data and keeping departmental spreadsheets (e.g. chase lists) up to date.
- Liaise with Client Strategy and Business Intelligence to gather client target lists for departmental outreach
Sale-related tasks, including:
- Assist with management of catalogue and/or online sale creation, overview pages, deadlines, assets for digital catalogues and editorial, including creating google spreadsheets to manage these tasks
- Assistance with shipping regulatory screens for lots within sales
- In conjunction with the specialists, manage the distribution of condition reports and additional images as well as maintenance of presale interest lists.
- Assist with managing the shoot list, webnative and image editing
- Liaising with restorers, arranging movement of property within Sotheby's and off-site.
- Assisting with department and sale related projects as required.
- Operating at all times in accordance with the company's rules on compliance and corporate governance.
- Providing support to the department specialists, including:
- Assisting with correspondence
- Implementing new office processes and procedures.
- Effective liaison with internal departments and international colleagues.
- Supporting the ceramics representative with valuations enquiries, receipting items and other ad hoc tasks as directed.
- Assisting with all aspects of general departmental duties.
IDEAL EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES
- Computer literate (excellent knowledge of Word and Excel, Outlook is essential).
- Knowledge of SAP and Sotheby's computer systems.
- Possess excellent communication skills (both written and spoken).
- Be reliable and capable of working well as part of a busy, highly pressurized team.
- Be well organized, with a good eye for detail and the ability to prioritize tasks.
- Be committed to helping run the department on a day-to-day basis.
- Be enthusiastic about Decorative Arts, with a flexible and proactive approach and a good problem solver
- Be a self-starter and a forward thinker.
- Commitment to an exemplary level of client service.
- Some understanding of Sotheby's and its culture and services, and of the auction process in general
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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.
