Wine Specialist, Property 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
As a part of the Sotheby's Wine team supporting the Auction business, you will have the core responsibilities of inspecting, pricing and valuing property, as well as assisting with all aspects of pre-sale activities including: packing cellars, supporting property movement and overseeing photography. In addition, your role will also support other Sotheby's Wine activities including, cataloguing and receipting.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Expertise – Valuation and Cataloguing
Providing valuation support to underpin the pipeline for the Sotheby's Wine sales channels
- Use expertise to research and catalogue wines to the highest standard
- Provide auction/retail/fair market/insurance values
- Prioritize lists based on deadlines, client profile and value
- Provide consistency in pricing
- Maintain proper data information such as LWIN, images and reviewer scores
- Provide elements needed for marketing content as requested by Marketing team
- Proof digital catalogues and listings
Expertise - Inspection
Project lead for inspections of wine at both private and professional cellars
- Perform property inspection for Wine and Spirits (at Sotheby's Wine warehouses and on-site at client's premises or professional storage facilities)
- Supervise the receiving and unpacking of arriving property
Property Movement
- Work with Wine Administration, to facilitate compliant inbound shipments to meet sale deadlines
- Verify property being collected against Shipping Lists for the shippers
- Be the onsite contact/coordinator for collection/shipment of wine from cellars to Sotheby's Wine warehouses and third-party warehouses
Property Receipting
- Receipt property destined for sale into SAP/Viking/Virtual Cellar
- 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 Auction Specialist team to meet sale production and deadlines:
- Ensure that all photography is completed in a timely manner
- Researching and writing catalogue entries
- Proof reading
- Liaising with Catalogue Production and Sale Creation teams as appropriate
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
- Demonstrate a consistent 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
IDEAL EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES
- Wine knowledge/valuation experience with a minimum of WSET level 3
- Commitment to Client Service
- Super detail-oriented
- 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
- Timely and responsive communication skills with other team members
- Problem-solving and a bias to action.
- Microsoft Office especially Excel/Google Sheet
- Spirits knowledge/valuation experience a plus
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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.
