International Specialist, Private Sales, Old Master Paintings

00170 Christie's Inc Company; New York (NY); Sur place; USD 120 000 - 140 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Health insurance

401(k) matching up to 5%

Discretionary bonus program

Paid time off

Résumé du poste

Christie’s is seeking an International Specialist for Private Sales in Old Master Paintings. The role leads the global private sales channel, shaping strategy across regions and collaborating with research, client strategy, and regional teams to grow profitability.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in the art market with Old Masters experience, strong client management, and proven negotiation and leadership abilities. A student-focused approach to expanding the business is required.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years in art market experience, preferably in secondary market.
• Educational background in Art History and experience with Old Masters.
• Auction and Private Sales experience is preferred.
• Strong financial acumen and sales experience.
• Excellent negotiation and client service skills.

Responsabilités

• Lead the Old Master Paintings private sales channel globally.
• Develop and sustain a long-term Private Sale strategy across regions.
• Source, grow, close and maintain profitability for Old Masters works.
• Collaborate with Private Sales researcher, Client Strategy and Object Intelligence teams.
• Drive sales growth by developing pipelines, managing inventory and opportunities.

Connaissances

Art market sales

Client management

Negotiation

Financial acumen

Strategic thinking

Presentation skills

People management

Communication

Relationship building

Market knowledge

Formation

Art History degree

Description du poste

International Specialist, Private Sales, Old Master Paintings

Gooding Christie’s is the market-leading automotive auction house owned by Christie’s. Gooding Christie’s combines Gooding & Company’s longstanding expertise in the collector car market with Christie’s global platform, international network and client base. The business conducts premier automotive auctions and private sales in the United States and internationally and is continuing to expand and integrate into Christie’s global infrastructure. Christie’s is a world-leading art and luxury business, providing clients with exceptional service and expertise through its international network of salerooms and offices. Gooding Christie’s colleagues work closely with teams across Christie’s to deliver exceptional client service and support the continued growth of the automotive business.

Why this role matters

This position is responsible for leading the Old Master Paintings private sales channel for Christie’s with a specialist’s perspective. In conjunction with the Private Sales Business Director, this role will formulate and sustain a long- term global Private Sale strategy for Old Master Paintings, ensuring that it is effectively delivered across all regions. The role will work closely with all members of the global Old Masters department to encourage business getting, selling and to make maximum use of art expertise and client relationships. They will be ultimately responsible for supporting specialists on all the works that come in through Private Sales including sourcing, growing, closing and maintaining profitability on behalf of the Old Master’s Department. They will spearhead and proactively collaborate with the Private sales researcher, Client Strategy and Object Intelligence team to match objects to clients and close Private Sale transactions.

How you will make an impact

Drive sales, both individually and as a key facilitator amongst the global Christie’s team, identifying and connecting opportunities across the organization to increase transactions

Focus on continuing private sales growth within the cluster by developing a robust pipeline and managing inventory and opportunities; drive and organize private sale hilling sessions and pricing meetings internationally with the relevant teams

Maintain margins on private sale deals to ensure profitability targets are met and in line with the overall budget

Engage as an active leader, working with the GMD, Global Head and Business Director in setting and implementing the global Private Sales strategy

Partner effectively with EMEA, Americas and APAC colleagues to develop a global approach to the Old Masters Private Sales business and leverage opportunities across regions

Increase collaboration between departments, chairman’s office and regions to optimize private sales (both for consignments and sales), working to review key clients and regions for activation of private sale opportunities

Oversee the cataloguing, research and note-writing for private sale works, ensuring that all due diligence checks are carried out relating to attribution, provenance, exhibition history and literature. To include contacting experts directly and writing on works. Liaise with the Restitution team to verify war-time provenance. Review condition reports prepared by external restorers for private sale works.

Regularly review top clients with colleagues ensuring appropriate Private Sales strategies are in place, particularly during post-auction reviews

Participate in forums such as masterpiece reviews, regional client reviews to drive private sales

Assist and advise on business getting proposals as well as taking part in client discussions and presentations to win business

Provide oversight of the strategy, sourcing and selling of private sales exhibitions

Project manage key private sales projects and initiatives

Work with the Business Director and Private Sales team to identify and address process improvements, resource needs and business efficiencies to eliminate roadblocks and catalyze growth

Work with the Marketing, PR and private sales teams on related PR & marketing initiatives

In conjunction with the Business Director, oversee the monitoring and measuring of sales and profitability targets

Provide support for the departments Auctions, working collaboratively with the Head of Departments and Head of Sales.

Other duties as assigned by manager

What you will bring to the team

Minimum of 10 years of art market experience, preferably in the secondary market with significant client management and sales experience.

An educational background in Art History and professional experience in Old Masters

Strong understanding of our business; Auction and Private Sales experience preferred

Financial acumen and sales experience

Strong negotiation skills

Strong client service skills

Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from colleagues and clients

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists

Effective people manager

Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills

Marketing savvy

What’s great about working for us

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision care plans for employees and dependents (On average, Christie’s pays 80% of total premiums)
• 401(k) Savings Plan – Christie’s provides a matching contribution up to 5% (subject to IRS limits)
• Life Insurance - 3x base salary up to $400k (100% paid by Christie’s)
• Disability Insurance (100% paid by Christie’s)
• Generous time-off and leave policies; including 100% Paid Family Leave up to 16 weeks.
• Fitness Reimbursement Program: reimbursement of eligible fitness fees and memberships up to $600 per year
• Annual Discretionary Performance Bonus Plan
• Commuter Benefits - Pre-tax money towards your daily commute with a Christie’s contribution of $21 per month
• Back Up Child & Elder Care – up to 10 days of back-up Child or Elder Care through Bright Horizons CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)
• Day- Each employee receives one paid day per year to dedicate their time to a charity of their choice.
• Perks and Discounts through Zo and Plum Benefits

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 bonus compensation and overtime pay.

Closing date: November 8th, 2026 Compensation Range Salary: $120,000.00 - $140,000.00

Christie’s is the world’s leading art business. Since 1766, we are known for our extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Every year, we offer around 350 live and online auctions in over 80 specialist categories – including all areas of fine and decorative arts, Asian art and luxury collectables – as well as a long and successful history of private sales. Contact us in 46 countries, or visit one of our 10 international salerooms in London, New York, Hong Kong, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich and Shanghai.

Our Recruitment Privacy Notice can be found here