Sr. Director, Private Sales (Collectors)

Position overview

Level & Co. is a secondary market gallery specializing in Post-War and Contemporary art, from Abstract Expressionism to Neo-Expressionism to 21st-century masters. We advise leading collectors, sell works on behalf of the two largest art funds, and broker secondary market works between collectors. We are wholly-owned by Masterworks, and exclusively represent its $2 billion art collection for sales, which includes over 550 paintings and one of the top collections of works by Basquiat, Kusama, Haring and other artists.

We are looking for an experienced New York-based Sr. Director, Private Sales who brings collector relationships of their own. You will cover a focused group of art advisors and build direct relationships with collectors, sourcing what they want to buy and the works they are prepared to sell.

You will be responsible for

• Building direct collector relationships. Acquiring and leading coverage of a book of collectors, from established names to emerging buyers, and becoming their first call when they think about buying.
• Managing advisor relationships. Owning our relationships with art advisors who represent active collectors. Gallery and auction house relationships sit with the Private Sales Specialists (Trade).
• Sourcing buyer requests. Developing specific requests from collectors and advisors (artist, series, period, size, price range) and maintaining buy lists for your clients.
• Sourcing artworks. Finding works held by your collectors and advisors' clients, working from the team's target sourcing list of priority artists and works.
• Closing private sales. Matching requests to works, leading negotiations between buyers and sellers, and hosting clients for viewings.
• Qualifying buyers. Assembling due diligence on buyers and intermediaries before works are shared.
• Market analysis. Assessing a work's current and future market potential and joining pricing sessions with the Acquisitions team.
• Developing the team. Sharing contacts, market knowledge and deal experience with the Private Sales Specialists.
• Generating new business. Attending fairs, collector dinners and exhibitions to meet new collectors and deepen existing relationships.

How you'll be measured

Revenue is the outcome: 3x your total compensation, with a goal of 5x. We also track the activity that drives it: new collector relationships, engagements, buyer requests received, works sourced, works sent, offers received, and deals closed.

In your first few months, you will

• Get fully up to speed on Level & Co.'s sales process and the Masterworks collection
• Take over coverage of our advisor relationships and set a regular engagement cadence with each
• Begin direct coverage of a group of collectors across the US, including your own existing relationships
• Build buy lists for your collectors and source private sale opportunities for existing works on the Masterworks platform
• Join weekly pipeline meetings with the Private Sales team to plan strategy around key clients and intermediaries

Requirements

• 8+ years in a specialist, private sales or sales director role at a leading gallery or auction house, or as an independent dealer or advisor
• Existing direct relationships with active Post-War and Contemporary collectors
• A track record of closing private sales at $1M+ price points
• Expertise in Post-War and Contemporary art markets, including how to segment an artist's market by series, period, medium and size
• Strong negotiator; able to manage several deals at once
• Highly organized and disciplined about keeping records current
• Excellent verbal and written communication; fluency in another language is preferred
• Able to travel locally and internationally

Additional requirements

• Must be eligible for full-time US work, no exceptions
• Must be able to work from our New York office; this is not a remote role

Benefits at Level & Co.

• Free admission to art museums and galleries
• Health, dental and vision coverage with FSA options
• PTO and 401(k)