Sale Coordinator & Cataloguer, Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art - Bonhams : Job Details

About the Role Bonhams is looking for a Sale Coordinator/Cataloguer to join the global Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art team in our New York, NY office. With a focus on fine sculpture and painting, Bonhams' Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art Department is the global market leader in the category. The department conducts auctions throughout the year in New York, Hong Kong, and Paris, with team members located at each venue. The Sale Coordinator/Cataloguer plays an integral role in the auction process, cataloguing incoming property, administering the department's US business, producing live and online auctions, and supporting the department's specialist research and business development. The position will also collaborate on a near-daily business with the department's Sale Coordinator/Cataloguer for Paris & Hong Kong, who is based in Paris. What you will be doing As Cataloguer:

• Cataloguing: catalogue incoming property for sale. Support Specialists in their research. Monitor and liaise with Business Getters to ensure a complete record of available provenance information is collected and organized prior to each auction's publication. Assist with the catalogue layout process, liaising with Digital Production. Proof the department's catalogues and other public-facing materials.
• Administer the global department's shared cataloguing process and software (OneNote, OneDrive) in collaboration with Specialists and the Sale Coordinator/Cataloguer for Paris & Hong Kong.
• Third-party liaison: liaise with department's Specialists and external expertise to ensure prompt advice and service to our customers and to support specialist research. Liaise with museums (etc.) to obtain photographic reproduction rights, as needed. Coordinate the transfer of images and information to consultants, institutions, and other third parties, as needed.
• Photography: following a period of training, oversee photography of each item, collaborating with photographers and making efficient use of their time.
• Condition reports: produce condition reports for the department's consignments to NY auctions, also for US consignments to overseas auctions, as needed. Take condition report photos. Spearhead the assemblage, organization, and dissemination of condition reports and images for the department and clients.
• Business/Client development: support and proof the department's production of proposals, marketing, and other public-facing materials, liaising with Specialists, Marketing, Proposals, and Digital Production, as appropriate. Maintain department client databases to help the Specialists make full use of client lists for business development and marketing. Support the collection of business intelligence and client research, maintaining databases. Manage client relationships as they develop organically or are assigned by the International Director. Proactively serve as a representative for the department during previews, internal company events, and external tri-state area events. Accompany specialists from time to time with visits to client's homes, in order to prepare large valuations and inventories. Keep exploring areas where your career can grow in terms of client development, expertise, and ultimately business getting.

As Sale Coordinator:

• You will be the Department's New York Sales Coordinator, responsible for all the pre- and post-sale administration of its US business and consignments. You will also collaborate with the Department's Sale Coordinator/Cataloguer for Paris & Hong Kong in support of those sales.
• You will closely support the Head of Sale, New York throughout the auction cycle.
• Property care: maintain control of all items/property for sale coming in and out of the New York office and departing overseas; maintain an orderly stock system and handle items with care. You will be working with very fragile and high value items.
• Sale contracts: ensure clients have all sale details, that sale contracts have been signed, and that important checks have been made, such as compliance with import and CITES regulations. Monitor contract special terms to ensure the department delivers on its client promises, elevating to Specialists where appropriate.
• Client service: liaise with clients in person, by telephone, and email; replying to client enquiries; liaise with regional and international representatives to ensure prompt advice of estimates, reserves, sale dates, and property status.
• Shipping: spearhead the delivery, packing, and return of consigned property to and from clients directly as well as liaising with Collections for transfers between Bonhams locations domestically and internationally.
• Auction specific administration: send pre-sale information letters and post-sale results letters to clients; manage re-offers, sold, and unsold items; assist with online and telephone bidding.
• Auction preview administration: proof and produce sale labels and lot numbers for all sale items; support pre-sale exhibition design, framing, cabinet. and pedestal rentals, etc., liaising with Operations and Marketing under the guidance of the Head of Sale, New York.
• Marketing; assist in compiling adverts and other marketing tasks; maintain a constant record of approved marketing materials for each US auction to be potentially used in future business proposals.
• Online presence: monitor the relevant department pages on Bonhams website to ensure sale information is up to date; monitor and curate sales online, which will include cropping digital images to enhance online presentation.
• Photography: liaise with photographers, ensuring that items are listed and moved to the studios with the prior completion of photography instructions.
• General administration: maintaining an efficient paper-based and cloud filing system, ordering stationery, typing of correspondence, valuations and other documents.
• Work in a collaborative and congenial manner with all colleagues and support departments such as Operations, Photography, Client Services, Shipping, Representatives, etc.

In addition to the tasks and responsibilities listed, you may be required to perform other duties as assigned by your manager and the Head of Sale, New York. Key Skills & Attributes

• One to three years demonstrated experience cataloguing Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art within a collections information system or research setting.
• Strong knowledge and passion for the field of Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art, or the study of Buddhism, Hinduism, and/or Jainism, or religious art more broadly.
• Strong time management and organizational ability.
• Ability to manage workflow and priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• Excellent people skills and communication in all modes with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Be comfortable in a public facing role.
• A flexible approach and a willingness to support Departments and teams outside of your core responsibilities.
• Solid administrative and time management skills and proficiency in Outlook/Word platforms.
• Affinity for discretion and confidentiality.
• Demonstrable written ability to a professional standard of Business English.
• 1-2 years in an administrative position (not necessarily from an auction background).

Addition Desired Qualities

• Foreign language skills are a plus, particularly Mandarin and South Asian languages.
• College degree or relevant coursework is preferred.
• Public presentation experience is a plus.

Extended Hours & Travel Expectations

• This is an in-person position and the expectation is to be in the office for all working hours.
• This position may require travel for previews, events, and appraisal clinics, and occasionally will require weekend or evening availability for said previews and cataloguing deadlines.
• Flexible hours: the department holds a meeting once a week with all its global team at 8:30am EST.

What We Offer In addition to an active and progressive work environment, Bonhams offers a competitive benefits package to encourage work/life balance, including:

• Excellent medical, dental and vision insurance - HMO, EPO, PPO with FSA and HSA

• 20 days paid time off (PTO)

• 12 paid holidays and holiday break from Christmas to New Years Day

• 16 weeks fully paid parental leave and flexible work arrangements

• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution

• Life insurance with AD&D

• Short- and long-term disability

• Tuition reimbursement

• Commuter benefits (transit and parking)

• Employee assistance program (EAP)

• Professional development: free online training and expansive content library

• Onboarding buddy: 90 day mentor to welcome and orient new joiners

• Employee resource groups: social club, diversity committee, mentorship program

• Sponsored socials: annual staff art exhibition, annual summer and holiday parties, monthly birthday treats, weekly breakfast

Bonhams participates in E-Verify. Applicants whobest match the position needs will be contacted.