Wine Auction Sales Director

Sotheby's; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Sotheby’s Wine seeks an experienced wine specialist to engage potential and current clients, grow the business, and oversee profitable consignments for auction and retail. You will provide guidance to buyers, inspect property, and manage client relationships across Americas.

The role involves attending events, cross-selling, leading wine specialists, and supporting marketing content creation. Domestic/international travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field or equivalent business experience.
• Strong understanding and experience in auction process and business model.
• WSET Diploma preferred.
• Exceptional knowledge of fine and rare wines and vintages relevant to the auction market with experience in valuation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral, and a commitment to an exemplary level of client service.
• High level of attention to detail is a must.
• Self‑starter with an ability to make commercial decisions independently.
• Strong ability to network and convert social connections into business opportunities.
• Experience networking and selling to high net worth and ultra‑high net worth individuals.
• Professional, discreet and commercial client service skills.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel and SAP preferred.
• Physical work moving cases of wine in warehouse and private cellars required.
• Domestic and potentially international travel required.
• Team‑player with a cooperative attitude and willingness to take on a wide variety of tasks.
• Work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Flexible and receptive to change.

Responsibilities

• Secure profitable consignments for auction, meeting individual revenue targets and the department’s annual plan.
• Provide advice to buyers across both auction & retail.
• Events management/participation to include client development and entertaining.
• Conduct property inspection for auction wines at warehouse and on-site at client’s premises to support the wine property team.
• Provide high level of customer service to all clients to 'sell the sales'.
• Manage with sale administration.
• In collaboration with marketing and sales management, host clients at wine auctions, tastings, dinners and related events.
• Cross‑sell the retail business to auction buyers.
• Lead and guide other auction wine specialists.
• Provide valuation to underpin the pipeline and for insurance purpose via research to support the wine property team.
• Catalogue and proof wines to the highest standard to support the wine property team.
• Provide elements needed for marketing content as requested by Marketing team including photos to support the wine property team.
• Liaise with Catalogue Production and Sale Creation teams as appropriate to prepare sales.
• Participate in local, regional and global Sotheby’s Wine projects as required.
• Provide support to other parts of the Sotheby’s Wine business as and when required.
• Demonstrate a consistent client‑first approach to business, ensuring active and timely communication with clients and ensuring that their needs are at the center of our decisions and actions while remaining compliant with Sotheby’s policies and code of conduct

Skills

Auction process knowledge

Client relationship management

Networking

Interpersonal communication

Self-starter

Travel flexibility

Education

Undergraduate degree

WSET Diploma

Tools

MS Word

Excel

SAP

Job description

Sotheby’s Wine seeks an experienced wine specialist to engage potential and current clients, grow the business, and oversee profitable consignments for auction and retail. You will provide guidance to buyers, inspect property, and manage client relationships across Americas.

The role involves attending events, cross-selling, leading wine specialists, and supporting marketing content creation. Domestic/international travel may be required.