(Senior) Specialist, Jewelry

Job Description

Sotheby's Hong Kong office is seeking a GIA qualified Jewelry Specialist to join. As part of our growing Asia Jewelry team, you will be responsible for new business generation and for the sourcing, authentication, evaluation and sale of property to meet sales and profit targets. You will also play an active role in general day-to-day functioning of the department and promotion of the department within the worldwide corporation.

Job Responsibilities
• Develop business opportunities with High-Net-Worth clients
• Business getting and negotiations, operating as part of a team to meet sales and net profit targets for Hong Kong sales. This will involve sweeps for regional and Asian locations.
• Help organise the preview exhibitions in Hong Kong and Asia travelling exhibitions
• Setting an example of scholarship providing expertise, researching and cataloguing objects to the highest standard, according to client service and sale deadlines
• Involvement in all aspects of catalogue production including:
• Research and cataloguing of items to the highest standard according to scheduled deadlines
• Ensuring that all photography for catalogues are complete in a timely manner
• Dealing with paste-ups and layouts
• Liaising with Catalogue Production and other support departments
• Writing condition reports and responding to photo forms, estimate enquiries and general correspondence
• Help prepare proposals and valuations
• Dealing with day-to-day client enquiries at the counter, by email and on the telephone
• Act as key client contact for select clients
• Ensure personal focus on continuous improvement of the overall quality of expertise and levels of client service offered and set an example of professionalism to more junior colleagues. Mentor and help train those less experienced colleagues
• Provide proactive input into improvement of departmental systems/practices
• Build strong relationships with international colleagues and work with clients to actively sell Sotheby’s international jewellery sales
• Be of support to Sotheby’s Diamonds by growing awareness of private-sale capabilities and Sotheby’s Diamonds inventory
• Maintain an exceptionally high level of client service, both internally and externally
• Maintain general knowledge of policies and procedures as related to compliance, property shipments, and post-sale services
• Participate in ad-hoc duties as requested, not limited to additional main and mid-season auction-based duties which may include, but are not limited to, telephone bidding for multiple departments
• Operating at all-times in accordance with the company’s rules on compliance and corporate governance
• Work closely with marketing communication and editorial teams on social media promotion and cross-category events

Qualifications
• Degree educated or equivalent
• GIA qualified, with multiple years of experience in the gemological field
• Proven experience with business getting and jewellery expertise
• Expert knowledge of specialty should include:
• Current in-depth market knowledge and awareness
• Archives and Reference sources
• Understanding of the appropriate craft and restoration techniques
• Network of contacts within the jewellery market
• Strong research skills and exceptional attention to detail
• Proven commitment to excellence in Client Service, professional and discreet
• Functional working knowledge of the complete auction process and related procedures (e.g. shipping regulations, taxation, compliance)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese required (spoken and written)
• Self-motivated; able to work independently and as part of a busy team
• Able to work well under pressure, to multiple deadlines and be prepared to “pitch in” when required
• Flexible approach to a wide range of tasks
• Able to maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and discretion
• Flexible to travel at certain times of the year to undertake sweeps, support sales, traveling exhibitions and client visits as and when required