Christie's Private Sales Specialist, Old Master Paintings

About Christie's

Founded in London in 1766 by James Christie, Christie’s is a leading international auction house whose heritage spans fine art, decorative arts, jewellery and exceptional collectibles. Through auctions, private sales and digital platforms, it connects collectors with remarkable objects and the expertise that brings their histories to life. As an employer, Christie’s offers career paths across specialist departments, client services, marketing, technology and operations within a global, culturally rich environment. Its work calls for intellectual curiosity, discretion and meticulous attention to detail, appealing to professionals who value scholarship, commercial acumen and the exacting standards of the international art and luxury markets.

Role & Responsibilities

• Lead Christie’s Old Master Paintings private sales channel and, with the Private Sales Business Director, formulate and sustain a long-term global strategy, ensuring delivery across all regions.
• Work with the global Old Masters department to generate business and sales and maximise the use of art expertise and client relationships.
• Support specialists on all private sale works, including sourcing, growing, closing and maintaining profitability for the Old Masters department.
• Collaborate proactively with the Private Sales Researcher, Client Strategy and Object Intelligence team to match objects with clients and close private sale transactions.
• Drive sales individually and as a facilitator across the global Christie’s team, identifying and connecting opportunities across the organisation to increase transactions.
• Grow private sales within the cluster by developing a robust pipeline and managing inventory and opportunities; organise and drive private sale “hilling” sessions and international pricing meetings with relevant teams.
• Maintain margins on private sale deals to meet profitability targets and align with the overall budget.
• Act as a leader with the GMD, Global Head and Business Director to set and implement the global Private Sales strategy.
• Partner with EMEA, Americas and APAC colleagues to develop a global approach to Old Masters Private Sales and leverage opportunities across regions.
• Increase collaboration between departments, the chairman’s office and regions to optimise private sales for both consignments and sales; review key clients and regions to activate private sale opportunities.
• Oversee cataloguing, research and note-writing for private sale works, ensuring due diligence checks on attribution, provenance, exhibition history and literature; contact experts directly and write on works.
• Liaise with the Restitution team to verify wartime provenance.
• Review condition reports prepared by external restorers for private sale works.
• Regularly review top clients with colleagues and ensure appropriate Private Sales strategies are in place, particularly during post-auction reviews.
• Participate in forums such as masterpiece reviews and regional client reviews to drive private sales.
• Assist with and advise on business-getting proposals, and take part in client discussions and presentations to win business.
• Oversee the strategy, sourcing and selling of private sales exhibitions.
• Project-manage key private sales projects and initiatives.
• Work with the Business Director and Private Sales team to identify and address process improvements, resource needs and business efficiencies, removing roadblocks and catalysing growth.
• Work with the Marketing, PR and Private Sales teams on related PR and marketing initiatives.
• With the Business Director, oversee the monitoring and measurement of sales and profitability targets.
• Support the department’s auctions, collaborating with Heads of Department and the Head of Sales.
• Carry out other duties assigned by the manager.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of art market experience, preferably in the secondary market, with significant client management and sales experience.
• Educational background in Art History and professional experience in Old Masters.
• Strong understanding of the business; auction and private sales experience preferred.
• Financial acumen and sales experience.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Strong client service skills.
• Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from colleagues and clients.
• Ability to solve practical problems and manage varied concrete variables where standardisation is limited.
• Effective people manager.
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills.
• Marketing savvy.

Skills

Experience

At least 10 years of art market experience, preferably in the secondary market, with significant client management and sales experience.

Education

Educational background in Art History.

Benefits

25 days of annual leave plus one birthday leave day; Christie’s Christmas office closure from 25 December to 2 January in addition to annual leave; an additional week of annual leave in the year of each five-year work anniversary; one annual volunteering leave day; donation matching up to £500 per year; a taxable Flexible Fitness Fund expense allowance of £400 per year; access to gallery exhibitions and specialist-led tours; discretionary bonus dependent on business and employee performance, payable each March; pension contributions double-matched up to 5% of basic salary, with a maximum 10% contribution from Christie’s; private health insurance with no employee contribution and subsidised cover for family members; dental insurance, which may be extended at personal cost; income protection insurance after 12 months; life insurance from the first day; Employee Assistance Programme including counselling; annual eyecare vouchers; Cycle to Work scheme; Christie’s Extras discounts; Seniorcare by Lottie; 16 weeks’ full pay on maternity leave; a four-day week at full pay for eight weeks on return from maternity leave; 10 sessions or days of dependent childcare or eldercare per year; and access to the Stork Club parent community.

Culture

Christie’s workplace culture centres on specialist expertise, intellectual curiosity and a shared appreciation for art and exceptional objects, with discretion and attentive client service shaping its professional environment. Its international auction business brings together specialists and colleagues across disciplines, combining a distinguished heritage with an evolving approach to digital engagement and the global art market.

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