Sotheby's Learning and Development Manager

About Sotheby's

Sotheby’s is an auction house founded in London in 1744. Its specialists work across fine art and collecting categories including jewelry, watches, handbags, wine, design, and classic cars. The house connects collectors through live and online auctions, private sales, and fixed-price purchases. Its work spans specialist research and cataloging, client services, marketing, technology, finance, and operations, supporting the preparation, sale, and movement of objects across its international network.

Role & Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of the organization’s Learning and Development strategy, aligning learning priorities with business and talent needs.
• Partner with team leads, managers, HR Business Partners, and other stakeholders to identify training needs, capability gaps, and development priorities.
• Design, develop, and deliver learning programs across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, professional skills, career development, manager development, and leadership development.
• Develop and manage skills academies and structured learning pathways that build critical capabilities across functions and employee populations.
• Manage specialized learning initiatives and partnerships, including auctioneer training and other business-specific development programs.
• Develop practical tools, resources, and learning experiences to help managers lead, develop, and engage their teams effectively.
• Support leadership workshops, executive coaching, and other targeted development opportunities.
• Develop programs and resources that support employees in building skills, navigating their careers, and taking ownership of their professional development.
• Manage mentorship programs, including program design, communications, resources, and ongoing evaluation.
• Partner with Talent and HR colleagues to connect learning programs with broader talent and career development priorities.
• Coordinate and support required compliance training across the organization with Legal, Compliance, HR, and other subject matter experts.
• Track training completion and participation, provide regular reporting, and work with stakeholders to meet established deadlines.
• Oversee day-to-day administration and optimization of the Learning Management System (LMS), including course assignments, learning content, reporting, and user support.
• Oversee external learning offerings and partnerships, including Sotheby’s Institute of Art courses and other educational opportunities.
• Evaluate learning vendors, platforms, and resources, and recommend options based on quality, relevance, scalability, and cost.
• Lead end-to-end learning program execution, including planning, scheduling, communications, enrollment, facilitator coordination, materials, and participant experience.
• Develop annual and quarterly learning calendars and manage multiple programs and priorities simultaneously.
• Partner with Internal Communications and HR colleagues to increase awareness of and participation in learning opportunities.
• Manage program budgets, vendor relationships, invoices, and related administrative processes.
• Establish and track learning metrics, including participation, completion, engagement, feedback, and program effectiveness.
• Develop surveys and other feedback mechanisms to evaluate learning experiences and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Prepare regular updates, dashboards, and recommendations for HR leadership and key stakeholders.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of experience in Learning and Development, Talent Development, Organizational Development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering learning programs from concept through execution and evaluation.
• Experience with manager development, leadership development, onboarding, career development, and/or professional skills programming.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills, with confidence engaging employees and leaders at different organizational levels.
• Experience administering Learning Management Systems and managing learning data, assignments, and reporting.
• Strong project and program management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into clear, engaging learning experiences.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to assess and respond effectively to business learning needs.
• Experience managing external facilitators, coaches, vendors, or learning partnerships.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive, with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative and solutions-oriented, with a genuine passion for learning, employee development, and fostering a culture of continuous growth.
• Experience with AI-enabled learning platforms and tools, including their implementation and integration into learning programs.

Skills

Experience

At least 5 years in Learning and Development, Talent Development, Organizational Development, or a related field.

Compensation

The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 110,000 to USD 130,000 per annum.

Benefits

Discretionary bonus eligibility and a competitive benefits package.

Culture

Sotheby’s describes its culture in terms of client service, specialist knowledge, curiosity, collaboration, and ethical conduct. Its careers materials emphasize working across disciplines and encouraging employees to explore internal opportunities.

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.