Global Head of Private Sales – Jewelry

Global Head of Private Sales – Jewelry

Requirements

• 12+ years of experience in high-value jewelry private sales, luxury asset transactions, or jewelry advisory.
• Proven track record of executing multimillion-dollar private jewelry sales with UHNW clientele.
• Extensive network of collectors, jewelry houses, gem dealers, and institutional buyers.
• Strong leadership and team management skills with experience overseeing an international sales team.
• Deep understanding of the global jewelry market, including historical and contemporary valuation, authentication, and provenance.
• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and relationship-building abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a global strategy for private jewelry sales, aligning with Sotheby’s broader business objectives.
• Identify emerging trends, investment opportunities, and client demand in the high jewelry and rare gemstone markets.
• Expand Sotheby’s network of UHNW collectors, jewelry maisons, dealers, and institutional buyers to drive private transactions.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with top-tier collectors, private clients, jewelry houses, and industry stakeholders.
• Provide bespoke advisory services, curating tailored buying and selling opportunities for private clients.
• Oversee negotiations and ensure seamless execution of private sales transactions, ensuring discretion and confidentiality.
• Source and place exceptional pieces, including rare diamonds, colored gemstones, vintage and signed jewelry from prestigious houses.
• Partner with jewelry specialists, regional teams, and external experts to source and place high-value pieces for private sale.
• Work closely with marketing, legal, and finance teams to ensure compliance, risk management, and innovative sales strategies.
• Develop strategic partnerships with jewelry houses, estate dealers, and gemological institutions to strengthen Sotheby’s private sales presence.
• Set financial targets and oversee the private jewelry sales team’s performance to ensure key business objectives are met.
• Provide regular market insights, valuation trends, and sales reports to senior leadership.
• Ensure operational efficiency, optimizing internal processes for a seamless client experience.
• Build, lead, mentor, and manage the international private jewelry sales team across key global markets.
• Set sales targets, provide strategic direction, and ensure team members are equipped to achieve business objectives.
• Foster a high-performance culture, encouraging collaboration and knowledge-sharing across regions and departments.
• Recruit, retain, and develop top talent within the private jewelry sales division.
• Establish and manage best in class private sale processes and tools, ensuring those are shared and applied consistently across the global Jewelry team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Gemological expertise (GIA or equivalent certification) is a plus.
• Multilingual skills are an advantage.