Head of Auction Sales, Wine, Americas

The role

You will engage potential and current clients to grow the wine business in the Americas. The role involves cultivating new clients, providing auction estimates, negotiating consignments, and advising buyers on drinking and investment.

What you will do

• Secure profitable consignments for auction
• Provide advice to buyers across both auction and retail
• Events management and participation including client development and entertaining
• Conduct property inspection for auction wines at warehouse and on-site
• Provide high level of customer service to all clients
• Manage sale administration
• Host clients at wine auctions, tastings, dinners and related events
• Cross-sell the retail business to auction buyers
• Lead and guide other auction wine specialists
• Provide valuation, catalogue and proof wines, and provide marketing content

Required qualifications

• Undergraduate degree relevant field or equivalent business experience
• Strong understanding and experience in auction process and business model
• Exceptional knowledge of fine and rare wines and vintages relevant to the auction market with experience in valuation
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• High level of attention to detail
• Self-starter with an ability to make commercial decisions independently
• Strong ability to network and convert social connections into business opportunities
• Experience networking and selling to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals
• Professional, discreet and commercial client service skills
• Significant amount of physical work moving cases of wine in our warehouse and private cellars
• Be a team player with a co-operative attitude
• Be able to work well under pressure and to meet deadlines

Nice to have

• WSET Diploma
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel and SAP

Benefits

• competitive benefits package

About the company

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s promotes access and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions, private sales and retail. The company has a global network of specialists spanning 40 countries.