Specialist, Design

New York Foundation for the Arts; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Annual performance bonus

401(k) with company contribution

Paid parental leave

Employee Assistance Program

Commuter Benefits

Job summary

Rago/Wright is seeking a full-time Specialist, Design to join our New York City based team. The role requires prior auction experience and deep knowledge of design and decorative arts, with client-facing responsibilities and a passion for the market.

The Consignment Team leads outreach, evaluation, pricing, and storytelling for consignments across multiple brands and locations. The position offers comprehensive benefits and the opportunity to travel between company locations as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum of Bachelor's degree.
• Extensive knowledge of design and decorative arts.
• Ideal candidate will have prior auction or related experience.
• Attention to detail and ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and organizational skills.
• Comfortable using communication tools such as Slack and email for effective collaboration and communication.
• Team-oriented with a positive, flexible, and proactive mindset.
• Ability and willingness to travel between company locations as needed.

Responsibilities

• Develop new client relationships and executing client outreach, for both the buying and selling side of the business.
• Work specifically with the Design team to build and cover our core collecting areas.
• Manage consignments and the consignor relationship throughout the consignment process.
• Work with a team of specialists to field, price and negotiate consignment inquiries.
• Answer auction related inquiries; create and distribute auction related materials, including condition reports, and targeted selling outreach.
• Address and answer select inquiries as directed from the consignment team or received in the consignment inbox.
• Enter all inventory taken in to inventory database program, and work with sellers to complete descriptions and provenance details as well as potential additional content on any given item or groups of items consigned.
• Support the Consignment Team on larger consignments and proposals as needed.
• Assist with local area consignment visits and auction day tasks as needed.

Job description

We are seeking a full-time Specialist, Design to join our New York City based team. The position requires prior auction experience and of design and decorative arts, client-facing experience, and a genuine enthusiasm for the market. The ideal candidate is a passionate and hard-working individual with the ability to handle multiple responsibilities, collaboration, and meet deadlines.

Rago/Wright is a network of auction houses specializing in fine art, design, decorative arts, jewelry and watches, and pop culture. Comprised of six industry-leading brands - Rago, Wright, LA Modern Auctions, Toomey & Co., Poster Auctions International, and Landry Pop Auctions – we represent a powerful force in the marketplace. With galleries in Lambertville, NJ, Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA, and New York City, NY, our teams collaborate across departments and locations, working closely together to support the company leading up to and during auctions and exhibitions in a fast-paced and creatively driven environment.

Consignment Team Responsibilities

• Develop new client relationships and executing client outreach, for both the buying and selling side of the business
• Work specifically with the Design team to build and cover our core collecting areas
• Manage consignments and the consignor relationship throughout the consignment process
• Work with a team of specialists to field, price and negotiate consignment inquiries
• Answer auction related inquiries; create and distribute auction related materials, including condition reports, and targeted selling outreach
• Address and answer select inquiries as directed from the consignment team or received in the consignment inbox
• Enter all inventory taken in to inventory database program, and work with sellers to complete descriptions and provenance details as well as potential additional content on any given item or groups of items consigned
• Support the Consignment Team on larger consignments and proposals as needed
• Assist with local area consignment visits and auction day tasks as needed

Client Service Responsibilities

• Customer service in a wide range of areas, including general and auction related inquiries via phone, web chat and client visits
• Assist with local area consignment visits
• Assist with auction day tasks as needed
• Assist with pre-auction exhibition staffing, as necessary, and speak with clients about property either in person, or remotely

Cataloguing Responsibilities

• Review cataloguing and condition reports prior to publication
• Assist the teams in the warehouse with physical cataloguing and conditioning when needed
• Work with other internal teams, including research, cataloguing, and marketing, and retail to produce content, scholarship and expand marketing possibilities

Experience required

• Minimum of Bachelor's degree
• Extensive knowledge of design and decorative arts
• Ideal candidate will have prior auction or related experience
• Attention to detail and ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines
• Excellent negotiation, communication and organizational skills
• Comfortable using communication tools such as Slack and email for effective collaboration and communication
• Team-oriented with a positive, flexible, and proactive mindset
• Ability and willingness to travel between company locations as needed

Compensation & Benefits

Salary: $75,000–$100,000 annually, depending on location, experience and skillset

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision insurance
• Eligible for annual performance bonus
• Safe Harbor 401(k) with 3% company contribution
• Basic life insurance (covered by us)
• 18 days of paid personal time off and about 10 company holidays per year, including a holiday break between Christmas and New Year's Day
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Commuter Benefits Program