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.
Sotheby’s seeks an Experiences Associate for its Special Projects team in New York, reporting to the Director, Programming — Art & Ideas. The role coordinates cultural experiences, private gatherings, recurring programs and special projects across global markets, from planning through on-site delivery and follow-up; proposed base salary is $65,000–$75,000 annually, with eligibility for a discretionary bonus and benefits.
Role & Responsibilities
- Coordinate assigned experiences and recurring cultural programs from planning through on-site delivery and post-event follow-up.
- Manage day-to-day logistics and operational follow-through for assigned Behind the Scenes experiences and other recurring programs.
- Maintain project plans, timelines, budgets, checklists, briefing materials, schedules and run-of-show documents.
- Coordinate venues, hospitality, transportation, staffing, guest logistics and vendor requirements with relevant teams.
- Support the Director on major cultural programs, signature experiences, international events and special projects.
- Coordinate property and venue research, comparisons, site visits and feasibility materials for seasonal pop-up houses and temporary spaces, including with Sotheby’s International Realty, brokers and local advisors.
- Track installation, furnishing, hospitality, staffing, operational readiness and de-installation workstreams for temporary activations.
- Liaise with internal Events and Production teams and external partners to track deliverables, resolve operational questions and flag risks or decisions requiring escalation.
- Coordinate vendor onboarding, contracts, purchase orders, invoices and payment tracking with Finance, Legal and other relevant internal teams.
- Maintain shared project trackers and contribute to a coordinated global calendar of events and experiences.
- Prepare status updates, meeting notes and action logs, ensuring clear owners and timely follow-through.
- Support on-site delivery, guest experience standards, vendor reconciliation and project close-out.
- Develop repeatable checklists, templates and processes to support consistent and efficient execution.
- Deliver all work with discretion, professionalism and exceptional attention to detail.
Qualifications
- Approximately 3–5 years of relevant experience in events, experiential production, hospitality, cultural organizations, luxury environments or project coordination; exceptional candidates with a different experience profile will be considered.
- Experience coordinating event logistics, vendors, venues, schedules and multiple concurrent projects.
- Excellent organizational and project management skills, with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
- Proactive, resourceful approach and ability to independently manage assigned workstreams while collaborating with senior colleagues.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills and confidence working with internal teams and external stakeholders.
- Interest in art, culture, design, architecture and hospitality.
- Experience with temporary spaces, pop-up activations, property research or international events is a plus.
- Willingness to travel and work outside standard business hours when required.
Skills
Experience
Approximately 3–5 years of relevant experience; exceptional candidates with a different experience profile will be considered.
Workplace
This position is based in New York, New York, USA.
Explore jobs in New York or in the USA.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 65,000 to USD 75,000 per annum.
Benefits
Eligible candidates may receive a discretionary bonus 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.