About Sotheby's
Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.
THE ROLE
At Sotheby’s, we proudly present for sale the most beautiful objects in the history of humankind. Now we need a world-class editor to help us tell their stories. Through the power of essays, interviews, collecting guides, and trend stories, you will bring to life the entire Sotheby’s ecosystem – from Monets and Picassos to fine wine, vintage cars, royal jewels, and grail-tier sneakers. As the Head of Editorial for North America & Europe, you will join a Content team loaded with alumni from blue-chip media and culture brands: Vogue, Apple, GQ, Turner Broadcasting, the Royal Academy of Art. We aspire to tell our stories at a comparable scale. And with a surpassing level of quality. The Head of Editorial reports to the Global Head of Content and is based in our New York office.
Responsibilities
- Assign, edit, and publish articles appearing on Sothebys.com. Our goal is to help a qualified audience understand and appreciate the art and luxury space, and make purchasing decisions accordingly. Story types include:
- Articles highlighting forthcoming auctions and buy-now marketplace opportunities
- Articles highlighting evergreen topics of interest in the worlds of art and luxury (e.g. How to Collect Rolex)
- Articles highlighting cultural trends that somehow have a Sotheby’s angle (e.g. Saltburn , quiet luxury)
- Articles reporting auction results and analyzing market trends
- Manage the editorial calendar for the New York, London, and Paris offices, which comprise hundreds of auctions and selling exhibitions per year.
- Orchestrate the weekly Sotheby’s Selects email newsletter. Report on performance and – in partnership with our Growth team – optimize future newsletters accordingly.
- Build, line-edit and proofread these articles in our Content Management System (CMS).
- Implement our SEO strategy, which may include managing junior writers focused on search.
- Distill departmental goals into Editorial strategies with measurable performance results. Achieve monthly, quarterly, and annual performance metrics based on those strategies – reporting on your progress along the way.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships, based on trust and mutual respect, with fine art and luxury specialists.
- Assist with copywriting across organization as needed, including print collateral, in-gallery material, and auction scripts.
- Partner with the Head of Editorial, Asia to ensure a unified editorial strategy.
- Partner with Video, Social, Photography and other departments to ensure a unified content strategy.
Ideal Experience & Competencies
- 8+ years of experience demonstrating superb writing and editing skills. While this is primarily an editing role, you should be able and willing (and excited!) to write when needed.
- Deep knowledge of the fine-art and/or luxury worlds. At least one is mandatory. Both are preferred.
- Experience commissioning, budgeting and managing an extensive network of freelance writers, curators, and other art/luxury experts who can contribute to our website.
- Confident pitch and presentation skills.
- Strong problem-solving, analytical and quantitative skills. Ability to synthesize findings into tangible actions that help drive business outcomes.
- Strong organizational skills. A demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and lead complex projects with a high degree of ambiguity.
- Eagerness to experiment with emerging technologies.
- Fundamental visual layout skills – understanding where photos should go and how captions should read
- Mastery of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
- Fluency with:
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Analytics tools (e.g. Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics)
- Google Suite (e.g. Docs, Sheets)
- Ability to work onsite Monday through Thursday.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in art history, journalism, English, communications, or related field.
- A quick wit, a sense of humor, a boundless creativity, and a strong point of view.
The proposed base salary for this position ranges from $100,000-$135,000. In addition to base salary successful candidates are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus, as well as a competitive benefits package. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including relevant skills, training, experience, education, and, where applicable, licensure or certifications obtained. Market and organizational factors are also considered.
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The Company is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race (including, without limitation, traits historically associated with race, such as natural hair, hair texture, and protective and treated or untreated hairstyles), color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership/union status, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic predisposition, genetic information, reproductive health decision, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, alienage or citizenship status, domestic violence victim status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province or local law. The Company complies with applicable state and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it operates.
