Department Assistant, Design (Temporary)

Christie's; New York (NY); On-site; USD 30,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

Christie’s Department Assistant, Design (Temporary) in New York is a role supporting the Specialist team with art research for upcoming auctions. You will work in a fast-paced, arts-focused environment gaining hands-on experience across research, cataloging, and client-facing tasks.

You will research works using Christie’s onsite libraries and NYC public libraries, assist with provenance and exhibition history, and help with image editing, captioning, and database input while maintaining

Qualifications

• Must be undergraduate student, master's student, or within one year of graduation from University.
• Strong research skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and spoken communication.
• Proficiency with Excel is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Research works for upcoming sales using Christie’s onsite libraries and NYC public libraries.
• Assist with provenance, exhibition history and literary research.
• Assist cataloguers at Rockefeller Center and Red Hook Brooklyn warehouses.
• Input information and edits to Christie’s databases.
• Assist with installation for auction previews.
• General administrative tasks as assigned.

Skills

Research

Communication

Multi-tasking

Attention to detail

Excel proficiency

Education

Undergraduate or Master’s student (within 1 year of graduation)

Tools

Excel

Job description

Department Assistant, Design (Temporary)

The Company

Christie’s, the world’s largest Art Business, is an incredibly exciting & enriching place to start or continue your career. Whether you work within one of our Specialist Art Departments or in our more Operational focused teams we are all working together with one common goal in mind: to continue the success of this over 250 year old company, steeped in history, bringing constant innovation whilst not forgetting our age old values; Respect, Passionate Expertise, Exceptional Client Service, Teamwork, Integrity, Business Judgement & Innovation. Colleagues across all departments are passionate about what they do and it is constantly inspiring to work with industry leaders across all segments of the business.

Why this role matters

The primary function of this role is to support the Specialist team with researching the artists and the artworks that will be sold at auctions. Responsibilities vary and follow the sale calendar. We are looking for an enthusiastic, ambitious person who has an appetite to learn in a fast paced, arts focused environment.

How you will make an impact

• Research works for upcoming sales – including both traditional research, using Christie’s onsite libraries, as well as venturing to public libraries in New York City. Forms of online research using auction databases and other internet resources relevant as well

• Assist with provenance, exhibition history and literary research

• Assist cataloguers at our Rockefeller Center warehouse and Red Hook Brooklyn warehouse

• Responsible for copyright clearance of images as they relate to sales and catlog production

• Input information and edits to Christie’s databases

• Support the proposal preparation process

• Assit with collection and delivery of bespoke items to clients homes – this requires ability to handle items with care and discretion of Christie’s top patrons

• Assist with installing for auction previews

• Maintain the department library and consignor files

• Respond to inquiries from clients for condition reports, images and fact sheets

• Assist with the general auction production process by editing images, writing short texts as needed, formatting detailed caption documents for designers

• Manage scheduling including meetings and offsite travel on behalf of specialists

• Reconcile and submit corporate card expenses for approval using internal systems

• Compose and edit client communications as required

• Assist specialists with managinging client relationships including meeting arrangements, mailing, correspondence and action point for follow-up visits

• Answer and screen incoming telephone calls

• Greet clients on behalf of business getter

• General administrative tasks as assigned by line manager

What you’ll bring to the team

• Hard-working, energetic, and intellectually curious self-starter who can thrive in a high-pressure environment

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including superior written and spoken communication

• Multi-tasks and manages several projects at a given time

• Priotizes and meets all deadlines

• Works collaboratively across multiple groups and sites

• Remains calm in stressful situations and creatively problem solves

• Strong follow-up and attention to detail

• Proficiency in Excel, including familiarity with Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, match formulas, and macros are a plus

• Additional language skills are desirable, however not mandatory

• Candidates must be undergraduate students, master’s students, or within one year of graduation from University; either undergraduate or masters

Christie’s, Inc. is committed to principles of equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, and to compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, Christie’s Inc. ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants, regardless of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status or liability status for service in the United States Armed Forces.

*Posted salary range does not include discretionary overtime pay.

Closing Date: November 18th, 2026

Compensation Range

Hourly: $22.00 - $24.00