PT Operations Assistant

Phillips Auctioneers LLC; New York (NY); On-site; USD 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Phillips Auctioneers LLC is seeking an Installation/Auction Assistant to support the operations at the 432 Park Avenue Gallery and Southampton Gallery. You will assist with installation, packing, and event setup to ensure exhibitions run smoothly.

Applicants should have gallery or museum experience, basic carpentry/electrical skills, and the ability to lift heavy items. Flexibility for weekend/evening work is required.

Qualifications

• Experience in auction houses, internationally recognized galleries or museums.
• Knowledge of packing methods for varied media materials.
• Experience with art gallery and event installation methods.

Responsibilities

• Install gallery walls, light touch-ups, and lighting per curator.
• Deinstall hanging hardware, wrap plinths, and prepare items for transport.
• Set up auction room with furniture, layout chairs, and ensure clean spaces.
• Wrap and move furniture during takedown and return galleries to default.
• Assist Event Technician with carpet, sound, lighting, and AV setup.

Skills

3 years experience

Packing methods

Gallery/event installation

Audio/Visual skills

Basic electrical

Basic carpentry

Wall repair

Education

Bachelor of Arts

Fine Arts background

Tools

Power tools

Job description

PRIMARY FUNCTION

To assist the operations department at the 432 Park Avenue Gallery and as needed at the Southampton Gallery with exhibitions, auctions and events.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Install – Light spackling and sanding of all gallery and office walls, touch up painted walls, paint and place plinths per curator direction, chase cabling and electrical wires, focus exhibition lighting, move exhibition cases , maintain a clear and risk-free gallery at beginning and end of each day.

Deinstall - Remove hanging hardware and lot cards from wall, patch, sand and touchup walls, remove and wrap plinths, wrap exhibition cases for trucking transport, remove and install gallery window banners, remove vinyl on windows and walls.

Auction Setup - Move auction furniture from storage to Auction Room and place following installation maps and guidelines, install carpet, layout chairs, hang TVs and cameras, focus lighting, patch and touchup, put away ladders and carts, bring catalogues to registration desk, distribute water bottles and glasses to phone bank, chase cabling, remove packing material and other debris from gallery.

Auction Takedown – Wrap and move auction furniture from Auction room to storage, remove carpet, remove TVs and cameras, remove vinyl. Return all galleries to default setting: freshly painted cleared gallery with even washed lighting.

Event Install – Assist the Event Technician with installation of carpeting, sound system, lighting, furniture, bars, signage, AV/IT equipment, on-call throughout event.

Event Deinstall – Return gallery to default setting or to exhibition setting under the direction of the Event Technician.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• 3 years’ experience in an auction house, internationally recognized gallery or museum, required.
• Working knowledge of and experience with various packing methods suitable to a wide range of media, required
• Working knowledge of and experience with art gallery and event installation methods suitable to a wide range of media, required
• Audio/Visual skills, preferred
• Basic electrical skills including wiring, preferred
• Basic carpentry skills and knowledge of basic power tools, required
• Basic knowledge of painting and wall repair, required
• Specific carpentry and wall preparation skill, preferred

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Bachelor of Arts, preferred.
• Fine Arts background, preferred

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Ability to work professionally and responsibly with all other areas within the business including an office setting.
• Ability to lift 50-70 pounds
• Punctual and proactive with excellent organizational skills.

• High degree of time and resource management skills with the ability to work under pressure and prioritize to meet strict deadlines.
• Ability to deal effectively and efficiently with multiple tasks

• Ability to problem solve with a large group and work as a team under direction of a manager.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is undertaken in our Park Avenue gallery with flexibility to work in the Southampton gallery as may be required
• Weekend and evening work as required
  

ADDITONAL INFORMATION

• The hourly pay range for the role is $20.00-23.00 per hour.