Christie's Senior Specialist, 20th and 21st Century Art
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Senior
- Department
- Wholesale, Commercial & B2B Sales
- Posted
- Sep 30, 2026
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.
Christie's Singapore seeks Senior Specialist for 20th and 21st Century Art to lead Southeast Asia business development in auctions and sales.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead and drive business in Southeast Asian market to attain regional market leadership in 20th and 21st century art
- Develop comprehensive business development strategies, including auction and private sales channels, in collaboration with departmental co-heads and regional managing directors
- Share expertise and develop successor talent in the Southeast Asian art category for succession planning
- Formulate and implement business-getting strategies in collaboration with heads of representative offices across Southeast Asia, optimizing channels for targeted client segments
- Proactively identify and cultivate strategic relationships with external and internal stakeholders, clients, and contacts to develop productive networks within the art marketplace
- Manage complete sales pipeline from sourcing opportunities through deal structuring, negotiation, and successful client transaction closure
- Participate in structuring and negotiating commercially viable deals and drive profitability
- Collaborate with Client Strategy, Business Intelligence, and Marketing teams to develop comprehensive understanding of client needs and drive sales strategy
- Deliver significant revenue targets through cultivation and growth of long-term client relationships
- Identify and maintain relationships with all client categories including collectors, dealers, corporations, and institutions, with capability to manage high-value transactions
- Participate in pre-sale auction activities including touring, events, and targeted marketing initiatives
- Conduct telephone bidding support and client management during auction events
- Support buyers during sale weeks for market promotion and pre-sale activities
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in fine arts
- Minimum 8 years of specialist experience in gallery or auction house operations
- Demonstrated knowledge of the auction business and art market dynamics
- Proven ability in appraising property and business development
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Strong customer-service orientation with proven negotiation and influencing capabilities
- Demonstrated ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage complex pipelines
- Strong strategic vision with documented track record of delivering successful sales
- Collaborative approach with strong conflict resolution capabilities
- Leadership experience in team management is advantageous
Skills
Experience
Minimum 8 years as a specialist in gallery or auction house operations, with demonstrated expertise in 20th and 21st century art, client relationship management, business-getting, and appraising significant property.
Education
Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional work experience in fine arts.
Workplace
This position is based in Singapore, Central, Singapore.
Benefits
Discretionary bonus, annual leave and company holidays, comprehensive group medical, dental and life insurance, comprehensive wellness allowance and wellness programs.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Christie's, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Senior Business Development Specialist», «Senior Sales Specialist», «Senior Auction Specialist», «Art Market Development Manager», «Client Relations Specialist», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.