Design Specialist

at  Bonhams

ABOUT BONHAMS

Bonhams is a global auction house with an 18th century heritage poised for transformative change. Our global operations are based in London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong where we sell in over 60 categories, including motor cars, paintings, jewellery, and entertainment memorabilia.

KEY SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Knowledge and genuine interest for Design Department
• Good market and trend awareness
• Degree holder or equivalent
• A good level of specialist expertise achieved through a previous role
• Proven business acumen and valuation skills
• A network of contacts (or) willingness to build up such a portfolio
• Functional working knowledge of the whole auction process and related procedures (e.g. shipping regulations, VAT)
• Flexible and receptive to change
• Excellent time management and organisation skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills both written and oral
• Able to work as part of team, and independently
• Able to work to tight deadlines and under pressureExcellent attention to detail

In your role as Design Specialist, you will be required to carry out the following:

• Business getting for the department to fulfil the budgets set for the department sales
• Work with the Senior Specialists on strategies to encourage new business opportunities for the department
• Maintain and support the ongoing development of a database of customers – both buyers and sellers – for the department
• Maintain contact with established collectors to encourage further business with the company, either as buyers or sellers
• Maintain contact with established trade contacts to encourage further business with the company
• Assist the senior specialist on the production of an advertising and marketing campaign, within the budgets set, to promote the business getting and sales activities of the department
• Assist on the production of advertising and marketing campaigns, within the budgets set, to promote the business getting and sales activities of the department.
• To satisfactorily complete, as and when required, the valuation of customer’s property both in the office and at other venues.
• Prepare condition reports for works coming for sale.
• Prepare proposal documents and working with the senior specialist on pitches for business.
• Support the junior specialists of the team to encourage their development and knowledge of the market
• Researching artworks and collections and preparing academic texts to be published in the sale catalogues.
• As and when necessary support the team to produce the catalogues to ensure timely delivery to printers
• Assist on exhibition events worldwide as and when required

• Maintain an awareness of our competitors’ strategies to maintain the competitive position of this department in the marketMentoring the Junior Specialist, in accordance with the Head of Department guidelines