Christie's Business Director, Pop Culture

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

• Partner with the Global Head of Pop Culture and senior leadership to shape, prioritize and deliver the department's global commercial strategy, including short- and long-term business pipelines
• Provide senior oversight of owner auctions, private sales, high-value proposals and strategic initiatives, ensuring clear ownership, disciplined execution and measurable commercial impact
• Lead cross-functional governance across specialists, operations, legal, marketing, finance and regional leadership to ensure complex projects are delivered effectively and to the highest standard
• Serve as the senior point of escalation for global Pop Culture auctions and priority projects, identifying risks early and maintaining momentum across teams and regions
• Drive organizational effectiveness by strengthening departmental operating models, decision-making processes and accountability frameworks
• Influence senior stakeholders across reporting lines, building alignment around priorities, commercial ambition and shared outcomes
• Provide clear, strategic reporting to senior leadership on pipeline, performance, risks, opportunities and resource requirements
• Partner with Commercial Finance and Legal on deal structures, guarantees, advances and commercial terms for complex, high-value opportunities
• Lead the preparation of executive-level business cases and investment recommendations for priority properties and strategic growth initiatives
• Bring commercial discipline to deal evaluation, assessing opportunities against profitability, risk, client value and competitive positioning
• Oversee forecasting, budgeting, reporting and performance analysis in partnership with Finance
• Provide senior leadership to the Pop Culture sale coordination team and support management of the wider global auctions team
• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across departments and regions, fostering collaboration and accountability
• Partner with Department Heads to lead organizational change and embed improved ways of working

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior business management, strategy, operations or commercial leadership role within a high-value, client-focused or creative commercial environment (6+ years required)
• Strong commercial judgment with the ability to assess opportunities through the lens of growth, profitability, risk, client impact and competitive positioning
• Proven ability to operate as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing clear counsel and structured thinking
• Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional programs or strategic initiatives with multiple stakeholders and high commercial expectations
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills with credibility to build alignment across senior teams and regions
• High-level strategic and analytical capability with confidence interpreting financial information, business cases, KPIs and market data
• Strong governance, planning and execution skills with the ability to bring structure, pace and accountability to complex workstreams
• Confident communicator able to produce clear executive-level materials and present recommendations persuasively to senior stakeholders

Skills

Experience

6 years of relevant experience in senior business management, strategy, operations or commercial leadership roles, ideally within a high-value, client-focused or creative commercial environment such as auction houses, art market, luxury goods, or comparable sectors.

Education

Tertiary education (Bachelor's degree) required; MBA or equivalent advanced business qualification preferred.

Workplace

Compensation

The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 110,000 to USD 150,000 per annum.

Benefits

Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision care plans (Christie's pays approximately 80% of premiums); 401(k) Savings Plan with matching contribution up to 5%; Life Insurance at 3x base salary up to $400,000 (100% paid by Christie's); Disability Insurance (100% paid by Christie's); Generous paid time off and leave policies including 100% Paid Family Leave up to 16 weeks; Fitness Reimbursement Program up to $600 per year; Annual Discretionary Performance Bonus Plan; Commuter Benefits with Christie's contribution of $21 per month; Back Up Child & Elder Care up to 10 days through Bright Horizons; One paid Corporate Social Responsibility Day per year; Perks and Discounts through Zo and Plum Benefits.

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.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.