Live Online Auction Host

Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago; Racine (WI); On-site; USD 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive plan

Competitive benefits package (medical,

Paid time off

Job summary

Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago seeks a Live Online Auction Host to present products and engage audiences on Whatnot and eBay, driving bidding activity during live events.

The role includes pre-show prep, livestream setup, and post-show follow-up while continuing to develop hosting skills. Ideal candidates are comfortable on camera, communicate clearly, and can work the Wed–Sat 7:00am–5:30pm schedule.

Qualifications

• Comfortable on camera with clear communication and strong on-air presence.
• Experience in live selling or product demonstrations is preferred.
• Ability to engage viewers, drive bids, and manage show pacing.

Responsibilities

• Host live online auctions on Whatnot and eBay, presenting products clearly and confidently.
• Engage viewers via live chat and verbal interaction to encourage bidding.
• Prepare products, curate assortments, and build show outlines or scripts.
• Test livestream setup (camera, audio, lighting, connectivity) and troubleshoot issues.
• Monitor bids and platform prompts to ensure smooth auction flow and accurate listings.

Skills

On-camera presentation

Live selling

Customer engagement

Adaptability

Tools

Whatnot platform

eBay platform

Livestream setup

Job description

The Live Online Auction Host supports and leads live online auction events across digital platforms such as Whatnot and eBay. This role is responsible for presenting products, engaging live audiences, and driving bidding activity in a fast-paced, interactive environment.

The required scheduled for this role will be working Wednesday through Saturday 7:00am-5:30pm

Responsibility Level

The Live Online Auction Host supports and leads live online auction events across digital platforms such as Whatnot and eBay. This role is responsible for presenting products, engaging live audiences, and driving bidding activity in a fast-paced, interactive environment. The position also supports pre-show preparation, platform operations, and post-show follow-up, while continuously building hosting and live selling skills. Typically works on projects and tasks that span 1 day - 3 months.

Principal Duties

• Assist with and host live online auctions on platforms such as Whatnot and eBay.
• Present products clearly, accurately, and confidently during live broadcasts.
• Engage viewers through live chat and verbal interaction to create an interactive experience and encourage bidding.
• Highlight product value, key features, and urgency to drive bidding activity.
• Monitor bids, countdowns, and platform prompts in real time to ensure a smooth auction flow.
• Select, organize, and prepare products for live auction events.
• Curate auction assortments to maximize audience engagement and sales potential.
• Build and manage inventory listings and ensure all product details, pricing, and sequencing are accurate.
• Assist in developing show outlines or basic scripts to support live events.
• Test and troubleshoot livestream setup, including camera, microphone, lighting, and internet connectivity.
• Ensure all platform listings and systems are accurate, complete, and ready for broadcast.
• Learn and apply platform-specific tools, rules, and best practices.
• Support chat moderation, elevate issues, and assist in verifying winning bids and post-show documentation.
• Track and report basic performance metrics, including sell-through rate, viewer count, and engagement.
• Participate in coaching and apply feedback to build live selling techniques, on-camera presence, and audience engagement skills.
• Project and Change Management: Effectively plans and manages own work to reliably complete routine job responsibilities. Follows through on learning, skill building, and practice necessary to adapt to change.
• Problem Solving: Close supervision for completion of routine work, which is regularly reviewed by manager or senior coworker. Work that exceeds “routine” comes with detailed instructions.
• Technical Skill: Basic knowledge of discipline’s procedures and methods. Understands and applies the fundamentals of customer service. Able to respond to routine requests.
• Community Engagement: Serves as an ambassador for Goodwill in the wider community. Participates in volunteer opportunities as schedule and interest permit.
• Responsible for completing other duties/responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Comfortable on camera with strong communication skills.
• Organized with the ability to perform in fast-paced, live environments.
• Willingness to learn auction platforms and live selling techniques.
• Valid driver’s license with ability to travel (evening and weekends as needed)
• Experience with live streaming, social media, or online selling (preferred).
• Familiarity with platforms such as Whatnot, eBay, or similar marketplaces (preferred).
• Background in Retail, customer service, sales, or content creation (preferred).

Core Cultural Competencies

• Customer Focus: Independently anticipate and meet customer needs, while searching for ways to improve customer service. Internalize customer feedback, and follow up with customer to ensure problems are solved by providing innovative ideas to meet their future needs.
• Values Differences: Seeks out the diverse perspectives and talents of others, striving to work effectively with others who have different perspectives, backgrounds or styles. Behave with sensitivity towards differences in cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating. Challenge stereotyping or offensive comments.
• Communicates Effectively: Shares information and updates with others, while ensuring a clear, concise and professional communication through reports, documentation, written and other communications. Listens with interest to what others have to say.
• Situational Adaptability: Demonstrates flexibility of responses to different situations through adapting to the changing needs, conditions, priorities or opportunities. Monitors how well an approach is working to see if a change is needed, recognizing cues that suggest a change in approach or behavior is needed.
• Drives Results: Demonstrates a strong drive to achieve meaningful results, through driving tasks to successful completion and closure. Sets high standards for own performance, showing determination in the face of obstacles and setbacks.
• Ensures Accountability: Takes responsibility and ownership for successes and failures in own work. Monitors progress of performance and changes approach accordingly, following through on commitments.

Physical/Sensory Demands

Able to stand and/or sit for extended periods of time. Able to bend and reach to work with merchandise. Able to lift, push or pull a maximum of 75 pounds. Able to work independently. Ability to remain on camera and actively engaged for extended periods.

When determining placement within the salary range for this position Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago considers education, experience, internal equity, market demands and other qualifying criteria. It is not typical for individuals to be hired at or near the top of the rage for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on facts and circumstances of the case.

Certain roles are eligible to participate in an incentive plan. Participation in this plan does not guarantee an incentive payment and is subject to the terms and conditions of the plan, which are subject to change.

In addition to compensation, we offer a competitive benefit program that may include medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, retirement plan, paid time off (PTO) and more. The specifics of each benefit package will vary depending on factors such as full or part time jobs, contracted, temporary, or other job categories.

Equal Opportunity Employer

(SEW)

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.