Department Assistant, Design (Temporary)

About the Role

The Department Assistant, Design (Temporary) role at Christie's supports the Specialist team with researching artists and artworks for upcoming auctions. This position is ideal for an enthusiastic, ambitious individual eager to learn in a fast-paced, arts-focused environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Research works for upcoming sales using Christie’s onsite libraries, public libraries in New York City, auction databases, and other internet resources.
• Assist with provenance, exhibition history, and literary research.
• Assist cataloguers at warehouses.
• Responsible for copyright clearance of images for sales and catalog production.
• Input information and edits into Christie's databases.
• Support the proposal preparation process.
• Assist with the collection and delivery of bespoke items to clients' homes, requiring careful handling and discretion.
• Assist with installing for auction previews.
• Maintain the department library and consignor files.
• Respond to client inquiries for condition reports, images, and fact sheets.
• Assist with general auction production by editing images, writing short texts, and formatting detailed caption documents for designers.
• Manage scheduling, including meetings and offsite travel for specialists.
• Reconcile and submit corporate card expenses for approval using internal systems.
• Compose and edit client communications.
• Assist specialists with managing client relationships, including meeting arrangements, mailing, correspondence, and action points for follow-up visits.
• Answer and screen incoming telephone calls.
• Greet clients on behalf of business getters.
• Perform general administrative tasks as assigned by the line manager.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Excel proficiency, including familiarity with Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, match formulas, and macros (a plus).
• Additional language skills (desirable, but not mandatory).

Qualifications

• Hard-working, energetic, and intellectually curious self-starter.
• Ability to thrive in a high-pressure environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including superior written and spoken communication.
• Ability to multi-task and manage several projects simultaneously.
• Ability to prioritize and meet all deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple groups and sites.
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations and creatively problem-solve.
• Strong follow-up skills and attention to detail.
• Candidates must be undergraduate students, master’s students, or within one year of graduation from University (undergraduate or master’s).